ECCENTRIC MISER’S WILL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 November 1937, Page 9

ECCENTRIC MISER’S WILL

FORTUNE BUT MUST CONTINUE TO WORK bricklayer who hoarded THOUSANDS (By Air Mail—From a Special Correspondent) LONDON, 16th October. A Buckinghamshire hricklayrr will enjoy a fortune of many thousands in eight years time, if lie continues to work hal’d. That, was one of the clauses in the \'ill of liia eccentric bachelor uncle, eighty-nine-old .Job Collett. "My uncle lived in this cottage and left it to me when he died." said Isaac Collett. "He hoarded thousands of pounds, but his only worry was his grave. To make sure that lie would have a good funeral, lie supervised the building of an expensive marble vault in our churchyard, sixteen years before he died. Once a year he took (lowers to his own grave. "He walked about like a tramp, wore my old clothes Candles were his only light at night, and he spent hours sticking the ends of wicks together to burn again "I have seen him boil apple and orange pee) and drink the juice. "Ho got up at two o'clock every morning. to walk to work, rather than go by train "He started as a bird scarcr. Later, ho became a master builder. Every penny he earned he invested in Government stocks. ‘‘During the war he kept all his money at home, in case he should have to escape to a foreign country. I have seen him carrying about £1,500 in gold in a bag. "Once he sent me to a bank in Uxbridge. to withdraw £IOO. When 1 brought j it home he told me to go back and bank i*. again; lie only wanted to make sure it was there. "He said no one would ever inherit his! fortune unless lie earned it by the sweat j of his brow. That is why I must never ! stop working. "After I have finished my job in the j day 1 am working on my cottage. "When that’s finished 1 shall have to, start another job. "1 don't know how much money is to! come to me, but it will be many thou-! sands of pounds. . "I have three children and we arc look-! inc forward to the day when we will be: rich. , am the executor of the will. Aly , uncle appointed me because 1 was the eldest nephew (o benefit. He always told J me that I must see that the benefisiaries had all married and that they had work, ed hard all their, lives to earn the money before thev inherited it.”