A NORTH OF IRELAND ROMANCE.

Western Star, Issue 319, 18 October 1879, Page 7

A NORTH OF IRELAND ROMANCE.

The Master of the Rolls had before him in Dublin on Friday week a case presenting features of a somewhat romantic character. Sir Agustus Abraham James Stewart, of Fort Stewart, in the iu the county of Tyronne, who succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of Sir James Stewart, at the age of 94 years, on the sth of April last, sued Isabella Dunnett and the Belfast Banking Company for the recovery of £4OOO lodged upon deposit receipt in the joint names of Miss Dunnett and Sir James Stewart, and which the plaintiff claimed to be portion of the asset of the deceased baronet, to which he was entitled as I’esiduary legatee. The Solicitor-Greneral moved for an injunction to restrain Miss Dunnet from drawing out and the Belfast Banking Company from paying the money. At the death of James Stewart it was discovered that the amount mentioned stood in his name jointly with that of Miss Dunnett, and tnat the latter claimed it as survivor. Miss Dunnett was daughter of a laud steward of the deceased baronet, in the immediate vicinity of whose residence he lived. Sir James Stewart was on very intimate terms with the family, whom he had visited every day, continuing his visits to Miss Dunnett after the death of her father and mother. Lady Stewart is aged about eighty years, and has been for a lengthened period of infirm mind. In the year 1870 Sir James directed his solicitor, Mr Martin, to prepa'e a mortgage, charging his property with £SOO in favor of Miss Dunnett, who is about 50 years of age. The reason of the mortgage was that Sir James Stewart heard that reports for which he said there was no foundation, were set aflo.it prejudical to her character, and he desired to make a money compensation to her. The mortgage was perfected, and it is now a valid charge on the lands. The last few years of his life Sir James Stewart was deprived of the use of his memory. In the year ld7B he had £IOOO standing upon deposit account in the Letterkenny Branch of the Belfast Bank, and also a sum of £3OOO to his ordinary current account. On the Ist of October 1878, Mr King, the local manager of the Belfast Bank, went to Sir James Stewart, and inquired respecting a letter received by him requesting him to hold the entire sum of £4OOO upon deposit in the joint names of the baronet and Isabella Dunnett. Mr King pointed out that in the event of his death Miss Dunnett would become solely entitled to the fund. Upon this Sir Janies told him to m ike out the deposit receipt in his own. own name, and Mr King left with the intention of doing so. Some days afterwards, however, Mr King received a second letter directing him to hold the money in the joint names. The letter was in Miss Dunnett’s handwriting, but was signed by Sir James Stewart himself. The lady insists on holding the money, and resists the injunction. Mr Keyes said he could not resist the injunction. The Master of the Rolls: Then let the bank be restrained from paying over this monev or any portion of it to any person pending the hearing of the cause.