NURSE'S ROMANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 9, 11 January 1934, Page 11

NURSE'S ROMANCE.

STORY OF A FORTUNE. Behind a brief announcement in a London newspaper to the effect that three Scotswomen have inherited the £80,000 residuary estate of Mrs. Carolyn Johnson, who died recently in America, lies a romance of modern days linking an East Coast of New Zealand family with a fortune of considerable magnitude. The fortune has been made, as many modern fortunes have been made, in the field of American production of domestic aids and utensils. Mrs. Carolyn Johnson (formerly Miss Mcßain) was the widow of Mr. J. Wood Johnson, head of the famous American firm of manufacturers which in later years has owed much of its revenue to a speciality in the form of toilet powder for children; and was also the niece of Mr. Peter Kay, a well-known resident of Tokomaru Bay. Born at Paisley, Scotland, Mrs. Johnson was the daughter of Mr. Kay's sister, and was one of a family of four girls, the other three of whom survive in the Misses Isabel and Lillian Mcßain, of Paisley, Scotland, and Mrs. Annie Brown, now resident in Canada. Mrs. Johnson took up nursing as a girl in Glasgow, and was trained there and at Greenock, becoming a highly proficient nurse long before her departure from Scotland for the United States some 12 years ago. Almost from the commencement of her work in the States she was taken into the employment of Mr. Johnson and his first wife, the latter being an invalid whom Miss Mcßain nursed until the time of her death several years ago. Later Miss Mcßain carried on her employment as personal nurse to Mr. Johnson. Died On Atlantic Liner. Mr. Johnson survived three serious bouts of illness under Miss Mcßain's care, and recovered his health sufficiently to undertake a journey to Scotland last year. This journey was his last, for while at Stratlipeffer, north of the Tweed, lie again became ill, and despite the advice of his medical attendants and the entreaties of his wife he insisted on returning to the United. States, in the hope that he would conquer his illness. A race ensued to catch the Majestic, sailing from Southampton for New York, and after employing a special train and utilising every modern facility for speedy communication, Mr. Johnson was carried aboard the liner on the eve of her departure. Within 12 hours he was dead, those at his side during his last moments being his daughter by his first marriage, and his second wife, who had for years been his nurse. Second Marriage Revealed. It was only in 1932 that the second marriage of Mr. Johnson was revealed as liaving taken place some three j'ears previously. His wife had consented to keep the marriage quiet for family reasons, it is understood, and even the most intimate friends of Mr. Johnson were not aware that he had contracted a second marriage until the announcement nearly two years ago. His death last September was a severe blow to his wife, who had been devoted to him, and her own death, which occurred recently in America, is attributed to her sorrow at the loss of her husband. Mrs. Johnson's death marks the first break in her family, and has caused much grief to her relatives. It had been her intention to visit New Zealand this year, in company with her husband, and her relatives in the district had looked forward keenly to the prospect of meeting her again. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kay, who left Scothind eight years ago, had not seen their niece for some time previously.