PLAINTIFF SUCCEEDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 26, 10 November 1936, Page 8

PLAINTIFF SUCCEEDS.

PALMERSTON NORTH WILL CASE, WIDOW LEAVES £IB,OOO. i? (Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., November 9. In a reserved judgment, Mr Justice Ostler granted Arthur Tahu Gravenor Rhodes, of 10 Old Jewry, London, letters of administration in. respect of the, will of the late Catherine Wilson, a widoAv, of Palmerston North, as trustee for the legatee, Brinsley Sherri dan. Bushe Plunket, a son of a former Governor of NeAV Zealand. Mrs Wilson died in January, 1936, being discovered lying at the foot of the stairs in her house by the police, Avho had to break into the dwelling* For a number of years before that, Mrs Wilson lived the life of a recluse, and, during the hearing of the case evidence Avas giA-en that she AA : as eccentric. Wills dated October, 1915, and February 8, 1922, were found; but a will dated February 17, 1922, was undiscovered, although a solicitor had «* copy. Rhodes claimed that he was entitled to probate of this third will; but on the other hand the Public Trustee submitted that the Avill had been revoked by destruction. His Honor stated that this presumption by the defendant Ayas based on the premise that Mrs Wilson retained her testamentary capacity, but in the last few months of her life she suffered from delusional _ insanity which caused her to entertain an unreasonable hatred of the aristocracy as a class, and that hatred Avas calculated to poison her mind against Plunket. She accordingly was incapable of revoking the will. The estate is valued at betAveert £IB,OOO and £20,000.