AN ECCENTRIC MAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3357, 11 January 1879, Page 4

AN ECCENTRIC MAN.

A great number of persons (says an English paper) have been visiting Dullord House, Collumpton, tho residence of the late Mr Bothol Walrond, whoso strange and eccentric life has caused much talk in the neighbourhood. The premises were thrown open to the public in consequence of the sale necessary to meet tho order of the Probate Court for the payment of legacies to Lady Janet Walrond and her daughter. The house and grounds are encircled by a brick wall a mile in circumference aud 12 feet in height. The lawn was converted into a rabbit warren, the deceased keeping thousands of rabbits. His chief companions were his rabbits and his dogs. Ho held the belief that on the death of human beings their souls passed into the bodies of dogs. As these animals died he gave them a funeral, and on the lawn there are ten graves, each having a headstone bearing an inscription setting out the name of the animal, the place and date of birth, and the date at which ho died. Until the day of his death Mr Walrond kept in hia house the embalmed body of a daughter whoso soul he believed had found a restingplace iv the body of ono of the dogs. No uno was admitted by the deceased to the premises without special permission for each visit, and tho entruncc us well as the front of tlio house was guarded by a number of cannon. The body of his deceased daughter was kcp» in his drei3ing room, and his own bedroom was fitted up with the view of familiarising him with death. Ho slept in a massive canopied Devonshire oak beadstead, on the footboard of which there were three skulls of females fixed. Over each corner of the bed there was a black feather plume. In tho bed so decorated he died. The bed, the drapery of which was crimson and gold, is now to bo Bold with tho other things. The oak furniture it* very massive, but°most of the fittings show signs of tho neglect censequont on Lho deceased's retirement. He spent tho greater portion of the last fifteen .years of his life in the study of the lawsuits in which ho was involved, and in the pursuit of which he seemed to find enjoyment. It ia remarked in the neighbourhood that he did not lirnd whom he went to law with or on what subject ho fought, and he was regardless of (Co amount of money he spent if he could only beat his antagonist. Atone time and another he employed over forty solicitors ; and he requested that in every document his full titlo as a grandee of Spain and as a member of various orders should be set out. Tho extent of the deceased's estate in Dovonsliire was 3,000 acres.