In November 2003, Lifetime aired the case of Dorothea Allen, an English businesswoman who destroyed all remnants of her past, leaving no information on heirs after she died. This UM story, which must have originally aired in 1990, mentioned that if no heirs were found, her fortune would be turned over to the British Government in 2002. I find it interesting that Lifetime aired this story in 2003, as who her heirs are might be a moot point if the money went to the government. I wonder if some money could be turned over to an heir if found at this date.

Good point. Maybe there was a glitch and the money wasnt turned over for whatever reason. I know that here in America there is a website you can enter your name into to see if there is any money owed to you thru an estate, lawsuit, etc. Ive done it and there is nothing there for me:(

This case was apparently solved --- but remains a mystery at the same time. The only reference I've been able to find about it on the internet aside from mentions on this site has the following to say:

Betty [Smith, a local historian] also recounts the mystery surrounding the identity of Dorothea Allen of Sutton-under-Brailes, a woman who made her fortune after she and her husband Captain Eric Allen founded Banbury corset makers Spencer Corsets, which still exists today.

However, when Dorothea died in 1990, after becoming increasingly reclusive in old age, it was discovered that she had changed her name three times, opening up claims to her estate from claimants across the world.

Eventually, assiduous detective work by a researcher uncovered the millionairess' true identity. But why she had sought to cover her tracks, and whether or not she was really married to Capt Allen, we shall probably never know.

There is no mention of who Dorothea really was! I guess I'll have to buy the book...

EDIT: Just checked Newsbank, and the article I quoted here is all they have on Dorothea Allen. Grrrr.

This case was apparently solved --- but remains a mystery at the same time. The only reference I've been able to find about it on the internet aside from mentions on this site has the following to say:



There is no mention of who Dorothea really was! I guess I'll have to buy the book...

EDIT: Just checked Newsbank, and the article I quoted here is all they have on Dorothea Allen. Grrrr.

Very interesting her identity was found out. I couldn't find much at all online either. Did find a blurb via the Washington Post on www.highbeam.com that mentions 31 different people filed a claim to her fortune. Of course you had to register (a free trial subscription though) to read the entire article so if anyone out there wants to go that route, it would be interesting to know.

Btw what is the name of the book Mozart?

Here's an article about Dorothea:

or this link:
http://www.corsetiere.net/Spirella/Sp_prewar.htm
and then click on the name "Dorothea Allen" in the paragraph.

She was trying to hide that she was a daughter of a Sheffield steelworker. Everything about her was fiction, made-up. She was
never actually married to Eric Allen, because he was already married. They lived as if they were married.

:cool: Well, one of my links didn't work, so cut & paste this:

http://www.corsetiere.net/Spirella/DailyExpress55_290196_Dallenx.jpg

News article!

:cool: Well, one of my links didn't work, so cut & paste this:

http://www.corsetiere.net/Spirella/DailyExpress55_290196_Dallenx.jpg

News article!

Thanks so much for digging that up crochetbuff...you're the best!! :)