WILL CHALLENGED

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 12

WILL CHALLENGED

TESTAMENTARY CAPACITY THE ISSUE [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, October 6. Further evidence for the defence was given in the Supreme Court to-day during the hearing of the application to have the probate of a will allegedly made by the late Elizabeth Smith revoked, and the will declared null and void. The plaintiffs were Olive Judge and Ivy Cookson, both of Christchurch, and the defendant was the Guardian Trust and Executors Company of New Zealand Ltd. Dr Baxter said that he met Miss Smith in the office of the South British Insurance Company in November, 1933. He had been informed previously that Miss Smith had changecl several of her investments, that she had been approached by share salesmen, and appeared to be rather carried away by them. He had a conversation with Miss Smith, and after the interview said ho was not satisfied with her mental condition, and for the purposes of further observation he drove her home. Partly as a result of his conversation with Miss Smith, and partly as the result of what he had been told she was doing with her estate, he formed the opinion that she was an easy prey for enterprising share salesmen, and ho wrote a report to that effect. Mr Barrowclough: What did she say in regard to these sale&nlon ? Witness: She regretted yield’ng to their persuasions, but I thought it probable she would not be able to resist them if they came back again.