AFTER TWENTY-THREE YEARS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19532, 15 July 1925, Page 8

AFTER TWENTY-THREE YEARS.

MISSING HEIR TURNS UP. CLAIM TO LEGACY ESTABLISHED. (Per United Press Association.! AUCKLAND, July 14. A story with a touch of romance about it was revealed when a simple matter-of-fact document rn tho form of an affidavit was filed at the office of the Supreme Court. This document, properly attested, identified beyond a shadow of doubt a middle-aged man. Alfred Duncan Glass, who, in the course of the proceedings m tho Supremo Court about a month ago involving the interpretation of the will of his father, tho late John Glass, was stated to have disappeared in 1902, and had not since been hoard of. Tho point which the court had to determine was whether Alfred Duncan Glass, or' his son, Alfred George Douglas Glass, was entitled to a share of the estate of the testator, considerable doubt having arisen owing to the extraordinary mistakes made in the names of several of the descendants of the testator. ' After going closely into the case, Mr Justice Rood came to the conclusion that tho son of tho testator, Alfred Duncan Glass was entitled to a share in tho estate, and ruled accordingly. It then became necessary to locate the beneficiary, but a series of advertisements failed to disclose any trace of the man, who had not been heard of by his nearest relatives for 23 years. , , , This produced a rather complicated position, but last Monday the missing heir reported his arrival in Auckland. He explained that he left. Auckland about 25 years ago, leaving his wife, who had since died in Auckland. Ho wont to reside in Hastings, and had since remained there continuously, going under the name of Alfred Campbell, his mother’s maiden name Having seen Campbell about a month tgo, an acquaintance who had known him at Dovonport and Ngaruawahia as Glass, and as Campbell at Hastings, drew his attention to the newspaper report of the will case. He and his friend lost no time in coming to Auckland, travelling overland by motor car. He was readily identified by his elder brother and by an aunt who had been appointed executrix under the will. These facts were legally set out and lodged with the Supreme Court in an affidavit. Thus by a lucky chance, and the reading of a newspaper report by an acquaintance, the fortunate beneficiary is placed in a position to receive a legacy of over £7OO.