A Miser’s Will.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume IX, Issue 1198, 24 February 1902, Page 3

A Miser’s Will.

A recent cable message stated that an insurance agent lias been sentenced to eighteen months imprisomeiit, at Edinburgh for forging a will purporting to be that of the late George Johnston, the Hermit of Lathrisk. In connection with this case a London correspondent sends the following extract from a London paper of tho 4th January :—“ Only a few weeks have elapsed since the public was startled by the announcement that the will of the late George Johnston, the hermit millionaire, of Luthrisk had been discovered. The document wa3 said to be found in tbe hem of an old skirt by a party in Dundee, and a firm of Dundee solicitors registered the vyill in Edinburgh. Examination by experts proved that the paper on which tbe will was written had been .manufactured a year ago, whereas tho document had been dated 1869. The will was therefore clearly a fraud, but the authorities did not move in the matter at the time, aud it was believed that nothing more would be heard about the matter. The other day however, David Pitbie, Williamstreet, Forebank, Dundee, was arrest ed at his house in connection with the alleged will. Pithie is said to be a relative of the Aon Preston mentioned in the will as having been left half the belongings of the late eccentrio laird. As Mr Aguew, procurator fiscal of Dundee, was a witness in the case, the prosecution is being undertaken on behalf of the Crown by Mr Nixon, Solicitor, Dundee, and Mr Straehan, solicitor Dundee, is reserved for the defence. The arrest was quietly effected.