TWO WIVES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXII, Issue 60, 8 May 1924, Page 4

TWO WIVES

CHRISTCHURCH BAKER'S WILL, Per Press Association Christchurch, May 7A peculiar position has arisen in the disposal of the estate of the late Fred. William Collins, of Edgeware Road, St. Albans, baker. He lefti a will bequeathing £l5O a year to "my wife." It is now found that ho had two wives, one in England and (ne in New Zealand, one being his leg 1 w le and the other illegal. Mr Justice Adams .t the Supreme ('curt was asked to doc de which wife will b3nefit under th? will. Collins married Charlotte line Smart at the ravish church H"st n. Staffordshire, P'g'a d, an I live" with her for übr.it three years. Then he left her aid she never sHv'h'm again. Sfiie still lives ;•! Bils on. Wo came to New Zealand and at Christchurch in 1899 he wont through the marriage ceremony with another woman, who appeared in the proceedings as Emily Soplr'a Collins, h : s widow. He often referred to her in Christchurch as "Mrs Collins." Hh will was made shortly before he d ; ed in April. 1922. Tlie iudge was osked whether, in the event of his deciding in favour of the New Zealand wife, the English wife WMild bo entitled to anv provision under the Family Protection Act. PHh widows we— represented, as w>U as several "ephnvs and nieces, •'•> tho duo ' f + he OS* tat\ Argnivnt is rroceediug,