FORTUNE IN JEWELS

Evening Star, Issue 23861, 16 April 1941, Page 2

FORTUNE IN JEWELS

NEPHEW AND NIECE WILL SHARE

When a wealthy Golders _ Green widow died intestate, the police appealed to any relatives to come forward in order to assist in dealing with her affairs, states the ‘ Nows of the World.’ Loudon.

A middle-aged brother and sister, both in fairly modest circumstances, have now established their relationship as tho next-of-kin of Mrs Lilian Barnes, aged 70. who lived at Exehanpe M ansions, Golders Green, and will

share her fortune amounting to at least £IO,OOO. ■ ' ‘ Mrs Barnes, an ,eccentric old lady, was found dead in her flat with a bag beside her containing valuable jewellery. She always dressed in black, which was rusty with age, yet in her wardrobe were some very valuable clothes, including a sable coat' worth 200 guineas. ■’ , The first to answer the' police appeal was Mr George Gray, an estate agent’s, clerk, of North Cheam, Morden, Surrey. He claimed to be a nephew but was unable: to identify his, aunt when shown her body.- I Later, Mr Gray’s sis+er, Mrs: Julian Blanche Burley, of Sidcup. attended the, mortuary and took with her . a photograph which satisfied the. authorities that the claim was genuine. Most of Mrs Barnes’s property is in jewellery, and is lodged with a bank. She had .it heavily insured. One necklet of large diamonds is alone worth several thousands of pounds, and there are also some expensive rings and brooches. ■ It is thought, that the property will he sold, arid the proceeds equally divided between Mr Grav and Mrs Burley after rim-ment dt death duties