ROMANCE OF BANK BALANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15646, 27 June 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROMANCE OF BANK BALANCE

WINDFALL FOR CLERGYMAN

The romance of a forgotten bank balance that had grown into quite a respectable sum was revealed in the course of a case heard in the Lancashire Chancery Court recently. It resulted in a windfall of £1400 lor a Worcestershire vicar, the Rev. Frederick Lawson.

For Mr. Lawson, Mr, Frith said in the year 1832 two sums of £125 16s and £94.7s were paid to the Lancaster Banking Company to the credit to Robert Lawson. There thev remained, and interest was added periodically until the amalgamation of the company with the Manchester and Liverpool District Bank in 1907. Tho matter then came to light, and in duly of last year Vice-Chancellor Stewart Smith directed an inquiry. As the result a report was issued by the registrar of the court. It appeared that a Mr. Robert Lawson had on Juno 24, 1828, given his solicitors power of attorney to receive any dividends due to him in winding up the affairs of Messrs. Dilworth, Archington and Birkott, a firm of bankers who had failed, and it was in respect of this arrangement that the amounts in question had been paid in. The Robert Lawson died intestate at Cheltenham in 1867, leaving two children, Catherine and Robert. The latter died in 1897, and his son is tho plaintiff now. This Catherine Lawson informed plaintiff that her father had between £2000 and £3000 in the bank at the time of the failure.

The statement agreed with the fact that tho two sums originally paid into the account of Robert Lawson in 1823 represented dividends of Is 9d in the £ respectively on £2561. Unfortunately Miss Catherine Lawson had died since making that statement.

The vice-chancellor said he felt justified in making an order for payment to the plaintiff of the amount now' in the bank, after deducting the costs of the bank. For the bank, Mr. Glover said it was in consequence of the bank investigations that the matter came to light. Mr. Frith added that, as the original Robert Lawson died intestate, half the amount recovered Would go to tho estate of his daughter Caroline.