New York, Jan. 13. -- A Tribune Special says:

Poplar Bluff, Mo., Jan. 13 -- Miles C. Owens, of New York, a representative of the attorney who is engaged in looking after the estate of William Rice, who died in New York on Sunday, Sept. 23, 1900, under suspicious circumstances, has been in stone county, Missouri, the last week, looking for heirs of the dead man. Mr. Owens made inquiries about the children of Colonel David Rice, a former resident of Stone county, who died on Dec. 30, 1898. The children were hunted up. They are B.F. Rice, Bird Rice and Mrs. Lottie Clark, all of whom live in the southern part of the county.

Mr. Owens' appearance and the information he conveyed the poverty -stricken persons that they were possible heirs to an estate of $5,000,000 or more was a great surprise. The children of Colonel Rice are ignorant country folks, and they were not aware of their uncle's death, nor the sensational circumstances connected with it.

A story of an estrangement between William M. Rice and Colonel David Rice is told. Years ago, it is said, the brothers were in business together, and were partners in interests in Texas valued at several million dollars. A disagreement arose, and they severed business relations. David Rice was a colonel in the Confederate army, and commanded a regiment of Texas Rangers.

These heirs have been cited to appear at court proceedings in New York.

Transcribed by: Carrie Tuck {cvt1977@yahoo.com}