MYSTERY AND ROMANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1929, Page 12

MYSTERY AND ROMANCE

“POOR MAN’S” FORTUNE. UNKNOWN SOURCE OF flO,OOO. A fortune of between £lO,OOO and £ll,OOO, left bv an apparently poor man, William Frederick Emery, has been discovered in England under remarkable circumstances. Emery, who died in August, 1927; was employed at a small salary by the Civil Service Supply Association. • He had, however, amassed securities in Consols-and Post Office deposits. The story, which combines elements of mystery and romance, is revealed in the report of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies for 1928. The report states that he lived with his sister, Martha Ellen Emery, and apparently had no means except his salary. “At or about the time of his death,” proceeds the report, “there were found in his possession ten deposit books and a large number of certificates for securities in the Post Office Register. “No one knows where the money came from. One deposit bok and some of the certificates were in the name of William Emery, printer, at the address at which William Frederick Emery lived. The others were in fictitious names at various addresses. “A private address was given in each case at the opening of the account, but on the application for the purchase of securities an address was invariably given at some post office. “The Chief Registrar was of opinion that the whole of the deposits the securities formed part of William Frederick Emery’s estate, and awarded them, subject to payment of the Treasury fee, to Diana Frances Sutcliffe, as administratrix of his estate.”