Eccentric Heiress

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 9

Eccentric Heiress

END OF A STRANGE LIFE A £1,000,000 will—under which an ex-Scotland Yard detective receives £SOOO a year—has been held valid by the New York Supreme Court. It is the will of Mrs. Florence A. Pratt, eccentric heiress of the Singer sewing machine fortune, states the Sunday Graphic, London. Thus "finis" is written to the story of an amazing woman whose life read like fiction.

The man who receive £SOOO a year is Mr. James Stockley, who acted as Mrs. Pratt’s bodyguard. Mrs. Pratt died in London in 1932. Since then her sister, Mrs. Margaret Alexander, has disputed the will on the ground that Mrs. Pratt was of unsound mind. It was said of Mrs. Pratt that she treated her husband like a Nero, hastening his death. That she mashed potatoes with her fingers, insulted the Duko of Connaught and persecuted her sister. She led a strange life on the Riviera and other parts of Europe. She was said by somo to treat her servants as equals. But in fact they were her slaves.

From her male employees she demanded ceaseless attention and devotion. James Stockley, who became famous in the Jack the Ripper case, and accompanied King Edward on many Continental tours, was for many years her "bodyguard" and her constant companion.

Major Stanley Williams was her secretary, Leonard Kay was her chauffeur. She was jealous if any of them a 3 much as looked at another woman. Not long after Major Williams left her he was attacked at Juan les Pins. As soon as ho recovered in hospital he accused Mrs. Pratt and Kay, and they were arrested.

Alibis were produced, and the affair was dropped. That Mrs. Pratt was a woman of courage there was no doubt. She and Kay were attacked by bandits in 1927 between'Monte Carlo and Mentone. A man armed with a bludgeon leapt from the roadway, and struck and injured Kay. Two other men then attacks him, but Mrs. Pratt went to his assistance, and they held the bandits at bay until police arrived. In the end Kay left her, glad, it was said, to "get away from her domination." He is one of the beneficiaries under the will.