HELD TO BE VALID

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20505, 25 August 1936, Page 12

HELD TO BE VALID

WILL RETRIEVED FROM FIRE HUSBAND’S FIT OF TEMPER LONDON, July 7. A will that was torn in six pieces and thrown on the kitchen fire by the man who had made it was admitted to probate by Mr Justice Bucknill in the Probate Court. It was retrieved by his wife in the presence of the testator, who afterwards kept the torn pieces in an envelope. The testator was Mr Albert Bulmer, a company director, who formerly lived at Stoke-on-Trent, and who died leaving estate valued at £BOOO. The executors named in the torn-up will applied to have it admitted to probate. Mr Justice Bucknill, giving judgment, said that the widow and all the nine children of Mr Bulmer wanted the will admitted to probate. It appeared that in 1932 Mr Bulmer took papers, including the will, into the dining-room of his house. Mrs Earner asked him for a little money for household expenses. At that time he was worried about finance, and he said he "ould not afford the money. To Annoy Wife Mrs Bulmer said: “If that is the case, there will not be anything for anybody, and the will you have made will not be enough for nine children. Th will not be enough for toys for t>e grandchildren.” That made him angry. Mrs Bulmer also was and went into the kitchen. After a time her husband followed her. He tore the wall up and threw it on the fire. Fortunately the will was only scorched in one place before it was t-’:en out by Mrs Bulmer. “I am inclined to the view,” added Mr Justice Bucknill, “that what the dead man did was done in a temper, possibly to annoy his wife, and that the wife took the pieces out of the fire with his consent.”

There was no evidence of an intention to revoke the will; therefore it would be admitted to probate. An order was r-de accordingly.