FROM THE GRAVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23085, 9 July 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

FROM THE GRAVE

. REVENGE ON WIFE J A GRIEVANCE WEALTHY MAN'S STRANGE WILL A rich merchant of Bordeaux, states a Paris journal, devised, before his death, an ingenious but effective revenge on his wife, against whom he fancied he had a grievance. He made it a term of his will that the capital of the family fortune should not be paid to his wife until after eighteen months. The interest, however, was to be paid every month; but before it was paid she had to go to the notary's office and, listen to a gramophone record which he had mad© before his dentil.

Last autumn lie died. A month later, in trepidation. his widow went to the notary to receive the month s interest. She noo<l not have worried. .The niessa«jo from the grave was friendly and affectionate. The second record was also friendly. The third was mildly abusive. The fourth was unprintable. Xow six records have boon played, and the poor woman is at her wit's end. She does not know what can possibly lie coming next. The records are kept in a fire-proof, burglar-proof safe, preventing their destruction. The notary is sworn not to listen to the records beforehand, so that he can warn the widow of what is coming. Moreover, under the terms of the will, if the widow fails to listen properly to a record, or to present herself 011 the first of each month to collect the interest, the entire fortune shall lie forfeit.

Ami there are still twelve records to come