WEBBER MILLIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19620, 26 April 1927, Page 12

WEBBER MILLIONS.

DOUBTS CAST ON STORY. PROPERTY IN NEW YORK. AN UNSUCCESSFUL INQUIRY. Doubts regarding the existence of any fortune for the seventh generation of the Webber family, which frequent reports in the last four years have assessed at £loo,ooo,ooo—said to have accumulated under the eccentric will made by a Dutch merchant in the early part, of the 18th century—are expressed in a letter written to the Herald by an Auckland resident, who says he is a member of one branch of the Webber family. The news that nine Auckland children were the latest claimants led this gentleman, who signs himself " Fudge," but submits his name and address, to supply "information that will enlighten the many descwndants in New Zealand and elsewhere, and save them further worry and trouble over their expected share." The writer states his father, approached bv a number of the Webber family to sift the origin of the story, made a lengthy search of parish registers while on a visit to Devonshire. He constructed a family tree which showed that whatever the truth of the claim, there would be so many claimants throughout the world that alter the legal expenses there would be hardly £IOO each. It was found the only evidence of the existence of a fortune was a very doubtful story in a very old book in one of the libraries in New York. The book gave no clue to the suggestion that property in Broadway supposed to have been part of the Webber estate ever belonged to the Webber family.