RICH U.S. WOMAN'S WILL

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1923, Page 3

RICH U.S. WOMAN'S WILL

BRITISH INTERPRETER'S LEGACY

LONDON, May 21. The story of a fortune which, il is said, was bequeathed by a wealthy American woman to a chance acquaintance who was aide to render her a service. was told to a Daily -Mail reporter yesterday by the legatee. Captain llarrv l.elo Zeituu.

Captain Zeituu, who is 50, was horn a British subject in Northern Alrira, was educaled ill Italy, was for many years all interpreter at West London am) liow-streel Police Courts, and served in the war in the Essex Regiment. I n at the beginning ol In-t year, lie met Mrs Julia Stowe Woods Davies, the daughter of William Stowe Woods, a millionaire hanker of Mi-souri. and her husband, M r Davies. "1 learned that they had only boon married six months and that lie was her fourth husband, ’’ Captain Zeituu said. “I assisted them in some business transactions and tin* husband departed for the United Slates. Shortly after I had returned to England 1 received a cable from Mrs Davies asking me to help her, as she was again ui business diliielllties. I had io Pel Ill'll to Rome, where f found her very ill. and alone, except, lor two maids. ''Doctors who were called in despaired of her life, hut she made a good recovery. She was grateful to me foi what f had done, and asked me to bocome her secretary, and an agreement was drawn up. In the spring she came io London.

‘•On May 2! she sailed in the Olympic for America and 1 was to have gone with her, bul at Ihe last moillenl she received a cable and direeled tin* to

-lav behind to clear up some business 111 Italy. Two wireless mcssae.es came to me from her in Ihe Olympic and one cable from the oilier side. and alter that there was a blank. ! could hear nothing from her and no reply came to my letters or (aides. ‘•There was a little money owing to me under the agreement, and one day I showed it to a friend in tin' City who had lui'iness dealings villi America and asked him whether !»• roiiM learn am thing h,o w beve.i iio; o - tin on Hi ills American agents. Mien I called

on him alter a moil’ll ,»r sn to ask it he had heard anything 1 was greeted With the news that she had died and left me a fortune."

Airs Davies lei i i"o "ills made in this country, one dealing with Iter «•*- taio in the Uniied Slat, s and the other with anv properly outside that country. They were prepared by her solicitors and attested ill (lie presence of Mr I). Campbell Leo. a barrister who is an expert on American law.

After making provision for some bequest-, the will dealing with the Fnited Slates property e,included by leaving all the “rest residue and remainder ~l my estate, wherever situated ill the United States of A to ('apt. Zeituu.

Air Campbell Lee tnld a Daily Alai! reporter last night that the will was j effectl v sound and that: Airs Davies w.-i- in pc I'e, t health at the time she t ; iad *' it. lie iindei s("od. lie said that t be amount of her estate would depend ~u the i n lerfiret a l ion ol tier lathers will, which had not yet been settled. Her lather, who died eight years ago. left her £3,1X111.0! 3 "after 'he end of ton .veal’s." A representative of the firm e! Ashurst. .Morris. Cris|> and Co., solicitor-, who arc acting in the mailer lor ( apt. Zeirun. said he could say nothing except that they had learned from America that there wa- an Amciic.in 'ill prior to lbe tv.o "ill- made in ibis country ami that it was possible there wetdd be litigation over I hem.