A FORGED WILL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1978, 21 November 1921, Page 3

A FORGED WILL.

TWO WOMEN CONVICTED. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Last Night. After a two days’ Supreme Court trial, Mary Ann Miller, aged G2, and Elizabeth Cecilia Cochrane, aged 32 (Mrs Miller’s daughter), were found guilty of forgery and uttering a will. The evidence - was to the effect that an old man named Delius boarded for many years with Mrs Miller. He died in April, 1917. Mrs Miller telephoned to a solicitor, asking him to obtain Delius' keys from the hospital, and open a box at her house to see if there was any will or notification about the burial. The solicitor could not see the will, and Mi s Miller said, “Let me have a look.” Shortly afterwards she produced a document, reading that Delius left his property to Mrs Miller. Two signatures of witnesses were attached, but they did not state that they were signed in each other’s presence. This omission resulted in enquiries for the witnesses who obtained the affidavits, but no trace of them was obtainable. It was affirmed that the will was the joint work of the two accused. Witnesses for the defence, who expressed a contrary opinion, admitted in crossexamination that there were certain similarities in the writing. The jury recommended the accused to mercy, on account of Miller’s age and Cochrane’s ill-health. Sentence was deferred.