Straightened Out.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20359, 17 July 1934, Page 6

Straightened Out.

Lakey’s Wtll Before Court. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 16. ALL THE LEGAL complications surrounding the 'estate left by Samuel Pender Lakey, who was murdered at Ruawaro I2st October, have not been straightened out. The matter came before the Supreme Court, when evidence was produced of a will made in 1918 by Lakey in favour of his wife. This will, which is a soldier’s one, has been in possession of the Public Trustee, who recently renounced it, subject to certain conditions. The will was made in Trentham on one of the forms then commonly used by soldiers, and is dated July 26, 1918. Lakey records himself as a carpenter, No. 81873, private in the C Company, 41st Reinforcements. The document is witnessed by the Rev Fielden Taylor and A. F. Thompson, soldier. The simple purpose of the will is to bequeath the whole of his estate to his wife, Cnristobel Lakey, of Penrose. A curious legal position that has arisen is that the will has become inoperative because Mrs Lakey, being the older of the twe, is presumed to have died before her husband. Lrkey has, therefore, died intestate, and letters of administration have been granted to T. A. H. Oliphant, who was made administrator ad bona collegenda by the Court of June 26. To-day these letters of administration wer§ made permanent. The surviving relatives in England are Lakey’s mother. Mary Watts Lakey, of Trescoe, Cornwall, two unmarried sisters. Dorothy and Anne, also of Trescoe, and a brother, William Richard Lakey, mechanic, living at Morley, Leeds.