CHRISTCHURCH WILL CASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 6 October 1936, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH WILL CASE

FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD DR. BAXTER IN THE BOX (By Telegraph—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Further evidence for the defence was given in the Supreme Court today during the hearing of the application to have the probate of a will allegedly made by the late Elizabeth Smith revoked and the will declared null and void. Plaintiffs were Olive Judge and Ivy Cookson, both of Christchurch, and the defendant was the Guardian Trust and Executors Company of New Zealand, Ltd. Dr. Baxter said that he met Miss Smith in the office of the South British Insurance Company in November, 1933. He had been informed previously that Miss Smith had changed several of her investments, and that she had been approached by share salesmen and appeared to be rather carried away by them. Pie had conversation with Miss Smith, and after the interview said he was not satisfied with her mental condition, and for the purposes of further observation he drove her home. Partly as the result of his conversation with Miss Smith and partly as the result of what he had been told she was doing with her estate, he had formed the opinion that she was an easy prey for enterprising share salesmen and he wrote a report to that effect.

Mr Barrowclough: “What did she say in regard to these salesmen?”

Dr. Baxter; "She regretted yielding to their persuasions, but I thought it probable she would not be able to resist them if they came back again.” The case is proceeding.