U.S.A. COPPER KING

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1930, Page 3

U.S.A. COPPER KING

NINETEEN MILLIONS

N.Z. RELATIVES TO SHARE IT

l imed Press Association—By Eluctm Telegraph.—Copyright. J

BLENHEIM, April 10

In reference to the telegram recently received telling ol the good ior tune of Air Jack AVatson j ol £-pringston, Canterbury 7, who had inherited £(>0,000 from a long-dead American unde, Air AVatson was formerly a resident of Blenheim, and he was employed for a number of years in Wnirau apple orchards. More recently., he had been conducting with success a small itinerant drapery business in the Canterbury country districts. His £60,000 is but a small earnest ol an enormous fortune of nineteen million, pounds, which is air-tit to deluge his relatives with "old. and the story reads like a ro-

mance. Many years ago John Andrews

; ft Ireland, as a young man, with the avowed object of making bis fortune—and he made it with vengence, for he became known as “The Copper King.” He died seventeen years ago, leaving behind him between fifteen and nineteen million pounds. He was unmarried and had no apparent relatives, so the American Government took possession of his money in trust.

Three years ago a claim was made by a nephew in Glasgow, and it was recognised by the American Government, which undertook to pay over the money in yearly instalments. The Glasgow claimant’s family tree showed that John Andrews died leaving seventeen nephews and neices, among whom the- money is being divided, equally. tOiie of 'the nephews was Mr Watson's .father; but he has lied leaving his share, worth about £1,000,000, or more, to his widow who ’’r Watson’s mother. One of M’ Watson’s senior’s sisters, and aunt of Mr Jack Watson, has also died leaving no will, so that one half of .her million goes to her sister, and the other half million is being divided anmng her next-of-kin, who are Mr and his brothers and sisters. : n Hie ratio of £(10.000 each. M« 'Watson’s father was a cousin T +ho late Mr W. FT. Atkin«on, of nni P ,. u .] mii who died suddenly in Hiorch, in May last.

Whether Mr Atkinson’s family will secure a sliaro of the wealth which is ''nn+Nirr about ifi not yet quite clear. fho”"h there seems every possibility Mof tUny will have a claim. The are Messrs Atkinson Tiros., of 'V ■ " Valle” • Mrs Puschl. of of Leelield.