EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12765, 5 February 1910, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

A LOST HEIRi [United Pres* Association.] Welington, Feb. i. An extraordinary case of a lost heir and impersonation came before the Supreme Court, in banco, to-day, on the petition of the, Public Trustee for directions as to the disposal of £900 held by him on : behalf of George Tuckwell, due under the will of Richard Tuckwell, who, died in 1882. George, the eldest son, had gone to Australia -two years before, and lias not been /heard of -since 1883. In 1893 a leter purporting to^Jbe from ihim, reached a Wellington solicitor, wno accordingly executed a deed of conveyance, and paid over a sum of money due to George. Tuckwell. It is now quite clear that Tuckwell was impersonated, and the money obtained by fraud. Tuckwell's relatives in New Zealand and Australia had j long concluded that he was dead, but inquiries were being continually made about his share in the estate by one Robert Gillespie, who claimed to know him: in Cobar, and who said he had power of attorney from him -to collect the (legacy. Then in 1901 a letter, signed George Tuckwell, but whioh Gillespie afterwards admitted to have written, though at Tuckwell's dictation, : claimed tho legaoy. The relatives by this time were thoroughly suspicious, and police and other inquiries were made, utterly failing to reveal the whereabouts of Tuckwellj who seems to -have died, and beer buried under an assumed name. Ac no record of the registration of hit death can be found, a petition v has been before the Court for five 3 r ears and to-day Mr Justice Cooper allowec the Public Trustee to presume. Tuckwell died intestate, uumamedj anc without issue; and ordered the Trustee to pay the money to the next oi kin, should there bo no claim on- behalf of George Tuekwell during th< next six months.