COUNTESS' MISSING WILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 2 (Supplement)

COUNTESS' MISSING WILL.

INHERITED TWO FORTUNES.

Search is now being made for the" will of the Comtesse de Bremont, who, at om time a rich and celebrated beauty, died in apparently straitened circumstances in an Earl's Court (London) apartment house.

"It has always been something of a mystery,." said an intimate friend of the Comtesse, "as to what became of her money. She had two fortunes left her. One she inherited as a child from ha.' father, who was an Irish-American in a big way of business. In addition, her husband, the Comte Emile de Bremont, a famous French army surgeon, was a very wealthy man, and on his death left her the bulk of bis money. I cannot quote figures, but in each case the sums bequeathed are known to have been very considerable. And yet she dies in London to all appearances a very poor woman. " For a long time the League of British Artists was instrumental in obtaining engagements of various kinds for the Cort.* tesse, who was a highly-gifted woman. In her happier days she was a striking figure in literary, musical and artistio circles in Paris' and other Continental cities. " The Comtesse was buried in the Roman Catholic section of Kensal Green cemetery. After the funeral, the searck for a will was begun, and has been carried on throughout the week-end by two old friends of the Comtesse, both being members of the League of Brit sh Artists. " They have had no luck, however, although they have examined every scrap of paper belonging to the Cpmtesse, turned out every box and drawer, and searched every possible hiding place in her bedroom. "As it is practically certain that the Comtesse did leave a will, inquiries «• _ now being made at other places in London where she is known to have lived ■ since she first settled over here, just before the war. Before she came to London tho Comtesse lost a lot of money through b,-J speculation, but it is believed that these losses would not account for the whole of her fortune. j'Xer misfortunes may have made her over careful, and latterly, at any rate, she was very largely dependent on" the kindness of friends.