SIR GEORGE HUNTER’S WILL

Evening Star, Issue 20671, 19 December 1930, Page 12

SIR GEORGE HUNTER’S WILL

CASE FOR THE DEFENCE [P»r Uxitbd Press Association.] WELLINGTON. December 19. Continuing his address lor tho dofence in the Hunter will ease, Mr \Vatsou said that in addition to the hinds mentioned yesterday £5,>500 would be required to pay debts and amounts owing by Sir George Hunter. _ Another reason for Lady Hunter’s objection to the November will was that there was ho provision for a home tor the child until she was 21. The evidence for the defence would show that Sir George was not only inordinately fond of the child, but repeatedly stated his desire that she should carry on the Hunter name in the' Hunter homo and bo brought up in dose contact with country life. When Lady Hunter heard of Sir George’s desire to make a will in October, 1929. Ishe had expostulated with him and cvlen communicated with his solicitors to see if something could bo done. After the will was made she urged him to mako another to undo what she believed to be wrong. Lady Hunter’s attitude was to benefit the child, even at her own expense. She would not deny that she influenced and dominated Sir George in making Ins second will in order to undo the harm done to tho child earlier. Evidence would bo given that after the wills had been signed Sir George was mentally i and physically exhausted, also that he had no testamentary capacity from tho time of the apoplectic seizure until possibly some time after returning from Rotorua. Mr Watson then road the evidence of Dr J. D. C. Duncan, who had attended Sir George at llotorna, and which was taken before a magistrate there. Dr Duncan said that tho apoplectic seizure was a severe one, which had caused considerable mental impairment, and ho was of the opinion that Sir George did not have testamentary capacity. Margaret Ellen Tansey, a trained nurse, said that Sir George had difficulty in articulating his words at the start of lira' illness, and did not improve mentally to any extent until after his return from Rotorua. ft was difficult to induce him to take an interest in any conversation, and visitors tired him. 'The attendants had to be peremptory with him. They had to speak firmly as he appeared mentally dull. Sir George confessed to witness that ho got very tired of a conversation after about ten minutes, and did not take any interest. When witness referred to Sir George’s visits to Parliament shortly before his death, he said ho knew the members sitting next to him quite well, but could not remember their names.