COPPER MAGNATE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 30 August 1927, Page 6

COPPER MAGNATE

LEAVES MILLION DOLLARS TO NURSE AND ONLY 25,000 TO HIS MOTHER. New York, Aug. 18. Miss Ethel M. Sears, who was revealed by the third will of the late Sherwood Aldrich, vice-president of the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company, as his sole beneficiary with the exception of 25,000 dollars set aside to provide his mother with a small income, told the story to-day of how an acquaintanceship of less than one year with the copper magnate had led to the unusual bequest. Nothing was left to his estranged wife. While denying that she intended to turn over the entire fortune to Mrs. Josephine M. Aldrich, the testator’s mother, of Riverhead, L. 1., she confirmed a report that she was not satisfied with the way the mother had been treated and intended to provide the older woman with a considerable income despite the provision of her son’s will. While the estate has not yet been settled, Miss Sears said she believed it would amount to about 1,000,000 dollars. Miss Sears told the story thus: “I came here from my home in Brantford, Ont., ten years or so ago and worked, off and on, as a trained nurse. My means were modest, but I met people and at a gathering about eight months ago I made the acquaintance of Mr. Aldrich.

“He told me about his fancy for yachting and confided to me that he had been suffering from cardiac troubles. He learned that I was a nurse and a little later when he feared an attack of heart trouble, asked me to give my professional services.

“He was fond of motoring and frequently I would accompany him on visits to his mother at Riverhead. I learned to know her and liked her. His health became increasingly had and last winter his physician recommended a trip to Bermuda. I accompanied him there as his nurse and we spent three months, returning in April. “It was no surprise to me when his will was filed for probate and I was found to be the principal beneficiary. He told me of his intention. His mother knew of it also. I don’t think she knows yet that I intend to share the income with her. I haven’t had a chance to tell her.”