ESTATE OF MRS MERRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 28 October 1941, Page 4

ESTATE OF MRS MERRY

SEARCH FOR WILL BELIEF THAT ONE WAS LEFT Auckland, Oct. 27. “There is no doubt that Mrs Alice Merry left a will,” declared Mr Pres colt H. Jensen, formerly of Wellington and now living in Auckland, referring to the elderly widow who was found dead in bed at her home in Wellington, leaving a large sum in bank - notes in the house. Mr Jensen said that he had known her for seven years, visiting her house to do odd jobs three times a week, and the fact that his birthday coincided with the anniversary of the death of her son in 1929 caused her to take a particular interest in him. “On several occasions Mrs Merry told me about the contents of her will,” said Mr Jensen. “Several charities and old tenants were remembered, as well as her relatives. She frequently questioned me concerning the activities of the Wellington City Mission, the Home of Compassion, and the Wesleyan Church, Taranaki street, which she had attended with her late h,usband and son. At one time she intended to leave half of her estate to the church, but through a certain incident this amount was considerably reduced.” BANKNOTES UNDER LINOLEUM Once. Mr Jensen said, he took down a picture for Mrs Merry, and at the back of it were what seemed like property deeds. On pulling back the linoleum to sweep up ashes from the fireplace ho was amazed to find rows of bank-notes lying there. He replaced the linoleum and said nothing of the incident. Though Mrs Merry owned 45 houses, two shops in Courtenay Place, and numerous sections, she would have passed for a poor woman but for the fact that from 1929 to 1934 she was involved in litigation. Mr Jensen said that Mrs Merry was most frugal, never turning on the lights till twilight had gone. She had an old-fashioned radiator for warming the room, and cooked on a small spirit stove. She did not allow people to get to know her too well and received no visitors on Sundays. She required Mr Jensen, when he came on other days, to knock three times on the door to indicate his identity. Mrs Merry took a keen interest in world affairs and followed closely the activities of the National Party. “I have frequently been in touch with Mrs Merry since coming to Auckland,” he said. “She had been invited to visit Auckland for the Labour weekend.” —P.A.