BIG FORTUNE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1927, Page 3

BIG FORTUNE

HEIR TO £2,250,000. SYDNEY, June 9. Byron, it is said, woke to find himself famous. David White, a. Sydney businessman, approaching middle age, woko otto day recently to find himself heir to a cool '£2,250,060. This inheritance came to hint through an uncle who died last year, after amassing his wealth in diamond dealing and speculation. The inheritance represents something like £256,0(10 in cash and £2,000,000 in property. *

Behind this announcement lies a story covering many dusty pages of history, and revealing bleak depths of human 'bitterness and buffering. 'lt starts at Nishni-Novgorod, Russia, in the middle of last century, when Solomon Whcinsky was a young .Jewish fur dealer. The tax-gatherers of the CzajIst days made Jews their special mark and Solomon’s business suffered through their attentions. At last lie revolted. Solomon’s brother disappeared into the mines of Siberia, and Solomon and two sisters fled to Riga which they reached after many days of bitter cold and hunger. Aboard a smugglers’ boat they went to Amsterdam, whence Solomon Wheinsky went to London and the two-sisters to America FEUDS AND PERSECUTIONS.

Solomon settled in Whitechapel in 1852 as a> “kosher” butcher. He married a Russian girl and changed his named to White. He had two sons, Abel and Aaron. Abel committed the unforgiveable sin in the eyes of the Jews of London of marrying outside his faith, and their persecution of him lasted for decades and extended to his son, David. Their only sympathiser was Abel White’s brother, Aaron, but ho left London for South Africa. David White, at last sickened of the feud of his co-religionists, left London for Australia, with nothing,■ worked his passage as a. steward in 1913, mid after fulfilling various poorly paid-jobs, saved enough to launch out on a business career. At the time of his inheritance lie had built up a reputation, and comfortable business as the representative of a London company.

DIAMONDS AND SPECULATION. In the meantime, Aaron White, in South Africa, had lie come a member ot a group of men associated with Cecil Rhodes. Of idle building of Aaron’s fortune there were many wild tales of encounters with illicit diamond buyers, of bloodshed, of thefts, of murders, hut out of the welter, Aaron White emerged a wealthy man, to become rich ibv speculation. Aaron never married, and when lie died last year, be did not forget the son of that brother who had commiteed an indiscretion which he alone had been able to overlook. With the exception of some small bequests, lie left the whole of bis huge wealth to David.