BAKER’S TWO WIVES

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1924, Page 5

BAKER’S TWO WIVES

DISPUTE OVER HIS WILL.

A CHRISTCHURCH ROMANCE

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 7.

A peculiar position has arisen in the disposal of the .estate of the late Fred William Collins, Edgeware Road, St. Albans, baker.- He 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; one a legal wife and one illegal. r , Mr Justice Adams, at the Supreme Court, was asked to decide which wife will benefit under the will. Collins married Charlotte Jane Smart, at the parish church at Billston, Staffordshire, England, in 1885, and lived with her for about three years. Then he left her, and she never saw him again. She still lives at Billston. He came to New Zealand, and in Christchurch in 1889, he went through the marriage ceremony with another woman, \who appeared in the proceedings as Emily Sophia Collins, his widow. He often referred to her in Christchurch as “Mrs Collins.” His will was made shortly before he died in April, 1922. The Judge was asked whether in the event of his deciding in favour of the New Zealand wife, the English wife would be entitled to any provision under the Family Protection Act. Both the widows were represented, as well as several nephews and nieces beneficiaries in the residue of’ the estate. Argument is proceeding.