DEAD WOMAN’S BOX

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 221, 15 June 1931, Page 11

DEAD WOMAN’S BOX

Entrusted to Friend HUSBAND’S CLAIM A Bedside Marriage Dominion Special Service. Auckland, June 13. A large wooden box, said to contain a savings bank book and other contents, to the value of over £2OO, was the subject of an action commenced here yesterday. The box was the property of a woman who died a few days after her marriage a year ago, and it was claimed by the husband from a woman friend, to whom It was entrusted by the owner shortly before her marriage. The plaintiff was Benjamin Herzog, administrator in the estate of Emily Herzog, and the defendant Mrs. Sarah Billings. It. was claimed that the plaintiff, ou May 20, married Emily Carbines, a widow, who died on the following June 5. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Carbines entrusted the box, with securities and cash valued at £215, to Mrs. Billings for safe keeping while she was in hospital, to be re-delivered to her. The defendant had retained possession of the box, and the plaintiff asked either for its return or the payment of £215, including £2OO shown in the savings bank book. The defence was that the box was a gift made in contemplation of death. The plaintiff denied that there was difficulty in getting a clergyman to marry them while the wife was sitting up in bed in hospital. Before her marriage to him, his wife was known as Madame Duke, a fortune-teller. The plaintiff (a wine salesman) admitted that he now sometimes went by the name of Duke. ■ The hearing was adjourned Till Monday.