A YOUNG WIDOW'S LOVERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11644, 4 May 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

A YOUNG WIDOW'S LOVERS.

A BANK DIRECTOR'S PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP. Is the Probate Division, on March 20. before Mr. Justice Barnes and a special jury, the hearing was resumed of the case of '•Richardson v. Wood," which had reference to the testamentary dispositions of the late Mrs. Edith Alice Briscoe, a widow, who died on September 6. 1399. at Clacton-on-Sea, aged 33. Defendant, Mr. Tom Wood, formerly a bank manager at Croydon, propounded a will bearing date September 1, 18S9 (probate of which had already been granted). The plaintiff, Mr. Henry Adair Richardson, a bank director, opposed probate on the usual pleas, and he also alleged undue influence, which was denied. The plaintiff sought to have established a will dated June 9. 1893, under which he was the residuary legatee. The property in dispute is over £5000.

Mr. Foote. K.C., opening against the last will, said it had been stated tha■; his client was an eccentric old gentleman, who was accustomed to visit the deceased on " platonic" grounds in order that he mightamuse himself on »a chessboard in her presence, but that was a grotesque criticism and absolutely untrue. Mr. Henry Adair Richardson, the plaintiff, deposed that he was now out of business, In 1885 he met Mrs, Briscoe, whom he kept until shortly before her death. In 1893 he found out that she had been married to Mr. Briscoe, who had left her. Prior to that witness left her for a time, as he had suspicions of her; but she became very penitent, and, in the result, they resumed their old relations. From time to time he gave her money to invest, and encouraged her to save. In February, 1893, he received an anonymous letter, and in consequence he wrote to Mrs. Briscoe. She replied: "I shall take a dose to-night and settle it all," meaning that she would commit suicide. He taxed her with infidelity, an 1 in the tod he forgave her. A-< to a hone at Clacton-on-Sea, he gave her £1000 to ! iiild one on the condition that after her del.a she left the money to him. About that time he had left her a considerable sum of money—£soooin trust. In 1895 for the first time he heard of the existence of Mr. Wood. Cross-examined by Mr. Deane, K.C., for the defendant, plaintiff said his age was 54. He was in business in India until 1892, and was director of the Anglo-Egyptian Bank and of a company. The slander action brought by Mr. Wood against him was commenced on June 2 Inst. Why did you not bring on this suit to revoke this probate earlier? i did swear an affidavit so as to have the action brought on, but it was postponed for a reason. Did you go to the bank where Mr. Wood was employed and make a statement against him because you thought he was unfit to remain manager of the branch? I did not. What was your motive'.' I thought Mr. Wood had cruelly wronged me, and I ,vas not prepared to have it hushed up. Do you want the money under the first will? No; I would not take a penny of it. If I am successful I will give it to a charity! Why did you bring this suit'.' Because! thought it was my duty, and a painful duty it was to me. In 1885 he made the acquaintance of Mrs. Briscoe, at which time she was 18 or 19. When he visited her he had sometimes been called "Uncle." She had told him she would not lead a respectable life. Naturally he did not l'ke being supplanted in this lady's affection by Mr. Wood. He gave up his relationship with her some mouths before she died, absolutely against her wish. He knew Mr. Wood used to be in her society, but not that he was her lover. He disputed the will, because he thought there was some dishonest action in so far as she had not left him his own money. In 'the result the jury found for the last will on all the issues. Mr. Justice Barnes onioned probate to be redelivered out, and pronounced for the will.