ORDER FOR EXHUMATION

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1933, Page 7

ORDER FOR EXHUMATION

BODY OF MRS. EDITH ROSSE HOME OFFICE INSTRUCTIONS MAUNDY GREGORY IN CASE HER FORTUNE LEFT TO HIM By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, April 29. The Home Office has issued an order for, the exhumation of the body of Mrs. Edith Marion Rosse, who died on September 14, for the purpose of a postmortem examination. At an inquiry Frederick Rosse, the dead woman’s former husband? gave evidence that he and his wife resided in the lower half of Maundy Gregory’s house for two years, when they legally separated. “Although my wife possessed a fortune,” he said, “I contributed half my income for her support, which was never under £364 yearly. She remained in Gregory’s house, passing as a sister. The inquiry was adjourned. Rosse told the newspapers that the inquiry into the death was started at the request of himself and his relatives. AMAZING CAREER OF GREGORY. PRISON FOR SALE OF. TITLES. Remarkable accounts of the amazing career of J. Maundy Gregory were recently published in London newspapers, He was in February sent to prison for two months in the second division and fined £5O for endeavouring to obtain £lO,OOO from a retired commander of the Royal Navy, as an inducement to assist in obtaining for that officer the grant of a dignity or title.' Though unfamiliar to the general public, says the News of the World, Gregory for years has been one of the most conspicuous figures in the environs of Whitehall, where he had an elegant and impressive suite of offices close to the residence of the Prime Minister. In his wide circle of acquaintances he numbered some of the most celebrated people of the day, and was on terms of intimate friendship with kings, princes, peers, statesmen and representatives of all the arts and sciences. A man of distinguished presence, he was always faultlessly dressed, and wore a conspicuous watch chain of diamonds. Mrs. Edith Marion Rosse, a friend of Gregory, left an estate valued at over £lB,OOO. All was left to Gregory. Mrs. Rosse was Gregory’s friend for nearly 30 years. On her death, on September 14 last, her personal fortune went to Maundy Gregory under the terms of her will, which read: “Everything I have, if anything happens to me, to be left to Mr. J.' Maundy Gregory, to be disposed of as. he thinks best and in accordance with what I should desire.” In the death certificate Mrs. Rosse was described as the wife of Frederick Rosse, musical composer. Her age was given as 59 years. A close friend of Gregory and Mrs. Rosse told a Daily Mail reporter that the latter always referred to Gregory as “Uncle Jim,” and it was understood that she was a relation of his. She occupied the upper half of Gregory’s premises at 10 Hyde Park'Terrace, The friend said: “I believe that Mrs. Rosse gave Gregory a good deal of assistance some years ago, when he set up in business. It was she who suggested that offices should be taken in Whitehall when Maundy Gregory was proposing to take an office on the third floor of a building in Piccadilly. That was in 1919. She had exceptional business qualities and was able to help Maundy Gregory in many ways. She had a private’income, which was largely derived from a half-share of her husband’s royalties.” The contrast between the modes of life of Mir. Rosse and Gregory is shown by a statement made by Mr. Rosse. “Unfortunately I am not working'inow,” he said. “I am writing a little music, but am what- you would call a poor man. I really crippled myself by making an allowance to my wife when we parted 10 years ago. I gave her more than I could really afford, but ’ I did not want to lower her standard of living just because we did not agree.

“I suppose in the best year I allowed my wife between £5OO and £6OO, and in another year it would only be half that, but it was a lot of money for me. There is not, much money in music now for a composer like myself. Most of the music comes out of a box of tin.” Mr. Rosse said that he would not contest the will of his former wife; “Candidly I do not see why Gregory should get it all,” he said, “but I cannot afford to contest it.” ,