£6000 A YEAR LEGACY RENOUNCED

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18014, 26 November 1926, Page 11

£6OOO A YEAR LEGACY RENOUNCED

MRS V. JARROTT GIVES UP MONEY LEFT HER BY DUKE OF ORLEANS. (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, September 29. A sensational announcement has been made in connection with the will recently published of the late Duke of Orleans. The Duke, who died last March, at the age of 57, left property in this country valued at £150,490, with net personality £96,720 6s Gd. He left £6OOO a year for life to Mrs Violette Jarrott. of Oaklea, Victoria Road, Wimbledon. Mrs Jarrott, who is at present abroad, has voluntarily renounced the legacy. Her decision, it is understood, has been made out of Consideration for the other legatees, and in consequence of the fact that the Duke’s total estate proved less than he had estimated. Mrs Jarrott, however, lias made one stipulation—that, there shall be security for tlie maintenance of the Duke’s collection of big game trophies. It is understood that Queen Amelie of Portugal, who is the residuary legatee, and who is also abroad, has been informed of Mrs Jarrott’s sacrifice, and has expressed her appreciation. These facts were confirmed by Lieut.Colonel Charles Jarrott, Mrs Jarrott’s husband, to the Westminster Gazette last evening. In addition to the annuity the Duke of Orleans left Mrs Jarrott all his personal jewels and all the souvenirs given to him by her. The Duke's natural history museum and collection were his absorbing hobby for the greater part of his life. Ilis one ambition was to place the collection in a building where it would be seen to advantage. The French Government has accepted the Collection. Now that Mrs Jarfott has renounced her claim to the annuity a considerable sum will be released for the benefit of the collection. Mrs Jarrott. who is stated to be comparatively wealthy, was the first wife of the Earl of Rosslyn, by whom she was divorced in 1902 under Scottish law, on the ground of desertion. She married Lieut.-Colonel Charles Jarrott in 1905.