COPPER KING’S MILLIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 115, 11 April 1930, Page 5

COPPER KING’S MILLIONS.

\ LUCKY NEW ZEALANDER. Per Press Association. : BLENHEIM, April 10. In reference to the Christchurch telegram recently telling of the good fortune of Mr Jack Watson, of Springston, Canterbury, .who inherited £60,000 from a long-dead American uncle, it is interesting to note Mr Watson was formerly a resident of Blenheim.- He was employed for a number of years in Wairau apple orchards. More recently lie had been conducting with success a small itinerant drapery business in the Canterbury district. Mr Watson’s £60,000 is but a small earnest of the ’enormous fortune of nineteen millions which is about to deluge his relatives, with gold, and the story reads like a romance. Many years ago John Andrews left Ireland as a young mail with the avowed object of making liis fortune. He made it with' a vengeance, for he became known as “The Copper King.” He died 17 years ago, leaving behind him between £15,000,000 and £19,000,000. He had not been married and had no- known relatives, so the American Government took possession of the money in trust. Tltree years ago a claim, made by a nephew in Glasgow whs recognised by the American Government, which undertook to pay over the money in yearly instalments. The Glasgow claimant’s family tree showed that John Andrews died leaving 17 nephews and nieces, aniong whom the money is being divided equally. One of the nophews was Mr Watson’s father,' but lie is now dead and left his share, worth about £1,000,000 or more, to his widow, Mr Watson’s mother. Oiie of tho sisters of Mr Watson, senior, an aunt of Mr Jack Watson, also died, leaving no will, so that half her million goes to her sister, the other half-million being divided among her next-of-kin, Mr Watson and Ins brothers and sisters, in the ratio of £60,000 each. Mr Jack Watson’s father was a cousin .of the late Mr W. H. Atkinson, of Hillersden, who died suddenly in church in May last. Whether Mr Atkinson’s family will secure a share of the wealth which is floating about is not yet quite clear, though there seems every possibility that they will have a claim. The f.amily consists of Messrs Atkinson Bros., of Wairau Valley; Mrs Buselil, of Springlands, and Mrs I. W. Barton, of Leefield.