A WIDOW’S WILL

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVI, Issue 89, 12 November 1936, Page 3

A WIDOW’S WILL

ESTATE OF £lB,OOO PALMERSTON N., November 9. In a reserved judgment, Mr Justice Ostler granted Arthur Tahu Gravenor Rhodes, of 10 Old Jewry, London, letters of administration in respect of the will of the late Catherine Wilson, a widow, of Palmerston North, as trustee for the legatee, Brinsley Sheridan Bushe Plunkett, a son of a former Go\ernor of New Zealand. Mrs Wilson died in January. 1935. being discovered lying at the foot of the stairs in her house by the police, who had to break into the dwelling. For a number of years hpfore that. Mrs Wilson lived the life of a recluse, and during the hearing of the case evidence was given that she was eccentric. Wills dated October, 1915, and February 8, 1922, were found; but a will dated February 17, 1922, was undiscovered, although a solicitor had a copy. Rhodes claimed that he was entitled to probate of this third will; but on the other hand the Public Trustee submitted that the will had been revoked by destruction. His Honour stated that this presumption by the defendant was based on the premise that Mrs Wilson retained her testamentary capacity; but in the last few months of her life she suffered from delusional insanity which caused her to entertain an unreasonable hatred of the aristocracy as a class, and that hatred was calculated to poison her mind against Plunket. She accordingly was incapable of revoking th;will. The estate is valued at between £lB,OOO and £20,000.