PEDLAR’S HUGE WEALTH

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 16

PEDLAR’S HUGE WEALTH

T ONG search for the heirs to a fortune of £500,000 has brought joyful news to two Irish families. They are to share in the estate which was left by Mr Edward .1. Boyle, an Irishman, who emigrated to America penniless, was amazingly successful in business, and died without making a will. As a pedlar going from house 'to house selling Bibles, Mr Edward J. Boyle commenced his life in the United States. Having accumulated a little money by that means, he opened a small shop, in which he carried on a clothing instalment business and established the slogan “No money down.” That was the beginning of a big career, for from that time he made so much money that he ran six great stores. Binding the next of kin was a difficult task, for apparently all the Boyles in England and Ireland thought they had a claim. The result of the search was made known by Major Thomas L. Walsh, of Boston, who arrived at Southampton a few weeks ago. Major Walsh stated that there had been a long drawn-out lawsuit, but they had the

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Fortune of Half-a-Million

satisfaction of having found out which of the .32 claimants who contested relationship were entitled to the fortune. “Time has enabled us to confirm that there are only five people who can share in the fortune,” added Mr Walsh, “and of these four are Mr John M. Boyle, Mr James Boyle, at present living in Ireland, Mr William A. Boyle, and the late Mrs Mary O’Doherty, of Charlestown, Ireland, whose share will be claimed by her widower, Mr John E. O’Doherty, on behalf of his children.

“ Considerable expenses have been incurred in the lawsuits which have been carried out to find the rightful heirs, but even now fully £400,000 remains for the heirs. There is still one other person who has a claim on the fortune,, but, despite the most exhaustive search, no trace of that person can be found.” Major Walsh intimated that he would make the final arrangements before handing the fortune over. “With the exception of Mrs Mary O’Dohertv,” he remarked, “the people who benefit have never seen the deceased man.”