WHICH WIFE ?

Evening Star, Issue 18627, 7 May 1924, Page 8

WHICH WIFE ?

A BAKER’S ESTATE

(Per United Press Association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, May 7.

A peculiar position has arisen in the disposal of tlhe estate of the kite Fred William Collins, of Edgeware road, St. Albans, a ‘baker. Ho left a will “bequeathing £l5O a year to my wife.” It is now found that he had two wives one in England and one_ in New Zealand. Mr Justice Adams, in the Supremo Court, wos asked to decide which wife would benefit under the will. _ Collins married Charlotte Jano Smart in the parish church at Bilston, in Staffordshire. England, in 1885, and lived! with her about three years. Then he left her, and she never saw him again. She still lives at Bilston: He came to Now Zealand, nnd in Christchurch in 1889 went through tho marriage ceremony with the other woman, who appeared in the proceedings as Emilv Sophia Collins, his widow. He often referred to her in Christchurch as “ Mrs Collins.” Tho will was made shortly before he died in April, 1922. Tho judge was asked whether, in the event of deciding in favor of the Now Zealand wife, the English wife would) he entitled to any provision under the Family Protection Act. Argument is proceeding.