MYSTERY OF LOST SON.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1705, 24 March 1913, Page 10

MYSTERY OF LOST SON.

\ ■ v ' QUESTION OF EXISTENCE-OF AN HEIR. The mystery of a lost son, involving the ownership of six acres of • land in Cambridgeshire. the rents of which had been accumulating in the hands of an agent since IS9G, was discussed in Wisbech County Court on February! 3,' when .Tudgo Mulligan gave judgment in favour of local claimants in an application based 011 a will by William Goodson, farmer, .Tlpwell, dated 1850, the year in which the testator died. Under this will the land was devised to his son for life, and then to the son's children, but thero was a stipulation that, should his son die without issue tho land should go to tlio 'testator's brother. Thomas CJocdson, and Jano Redding, of Benwick. William Goodson, tho second went to America in 185G, and, after a brief visit Home in 18!)2, died in New- .York in 1890, leaving a will in which he referred to his "son AVillinm," but left all his property to a Mr. Dav. at whose house lie had stayed since 1882, and who said William Goodson the second left 110 issue. The question to bq determined was whether this son existed at the time of his! father's death] in which rase *vho heirs of Thomas Goodson .and Jane 'Redding would be defeated. .Tudg>? MulliVan found that the will raised a preemption that the son hod existed, but as thero wes 110 'trace of the William Goodson the third for seven years from ISB2. tho nv«sumplion was Hint he v-as do.nl in VHl'i. when tho father died. The Judge, therefore. found that the heirs of Thnn-rs Goodson and Jane Redding Were entitled iva tho land, and the rents.