WIDOW’S BIG BEQUEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20952, 15 February 1930, Page 27

WIDOW’S BIG BEQUEST.

TOLD TO MARRY AGAIN. NOTE TO HUSBAND’S WILL. A contrast to the numerous husbands who in, their wills have threatened their widows that if they marry again their legacies will be reduced was provided in England recently. Mr Edward Earle Meugens f of Edgbaston, Birmingham, added this note to his will:—“In the event of my wife marrying again, I wish it to be known to all my friends and relatives that it is my earnest desire that she should doso. In fact, the more quickly she thus demonstrates that she finds life intolerable without a husband, the greater will I consider this compliment to her memory of me.” Mr Meugens, who was 56 years of age, was a partner in the firm of Messrs PeatMarwick, Mitchell, and Co. He died on October 16, leaving Hie whole of his £32,264 estate to his wife absolutely. Inquiries by a newspaper representative in Birmingham showed that Mrs Meugens had not expressed any intention to remarry. Mr and Mrs Meugens were devoted to each other,” said a friend, “ and I have no doubt that the reason for the husband’s wish was that he feared that she would grieve too • much if she remained alone.

“Mr Meugens was one of the best men I knew. Ho was generous almost to a fault both to his business friends and those in humble circumstances. Even in Kolf—he played at Edgbaston—ho conceded his opponents longer putts than was necessary.

“ One of his caddies lost no fewer than nine balls during a first round, and when Mr Meugens complained the boy said it was duo to defective eyesight. Mr Meugens scut the boy to a specialist, and bore all the expenses both of the examination and spectacles.”

.An example of a penalty placed on a wife if she remarried was presented in the will of a shipowner who left £900,000. He left £IO,OOO a year to his wife during widowhood, or £3OOO a year if she married again.