Romance of a Will.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 28 August 1914, Page 2

Romance of a Will.

A remarkable case of a missing will being discovered ac the result of the depredations of a rat has just been discovered at Chats worth, Derbyshire. The facts read like a page from a romance. Some twenty years ago Mr. William Chester, head gardener to the Duke of Devonshire, engaged a house- . keeper Miss Prince, a native of the village, and a young lady of charming personality. Mr. Chester, who died seven years ago, had often made the statement that he had provided for his housekeeper, for whom he had a high regard. A search among his papers revealed no document disposing- of his estate, valued at about £-5,000, and under the belief that he died intestate steps were taken to ascertain his next-of-kin. These were discovered to be a nephew and cousin resident in Australia, and after dvi: legaj formalities had been complied ; with the estate was handed over tv % the two, "lock, stock, and barrel." A week or two ago, however, Mi Jennings, the present heart gardener. and his clerk discovered a rat in the ceiling of the storeroom next the office. It was decided that the rat should be caught, and this recesr; was selected as the most desirable spot to place the trap. A short pair of step-ladders and the objo' 1 was achieved. The clerk, howevir, slipped in reaching upwards, and in an endeavour to recover his bal ance clutched the edge of the ceil Ing. Under the sudden strain t!.< lath and plaster broke, and dov.\" came a large cloud of dust and — a document. When he had carefully dusted tho document, the clerk was astounded to find that he held in his hand the properly attested last will and testament of the late Mr. Chester, in which he unconditionally bequeat \\<*<\ the whole of his estate to Miss Prince. A newspaper interviewer subsequently had a chut; with the he^d ■ gardener, who said he regarded the whole affair as a miracle. "Think," he said : "if it had not been for that rat the will might never have been discovered !" , "Do you regard it as a genuine I document ?" the interviewer asked. Mr. Jennings was emphatic. "Certainly," he said ; "so genuine that if you could show me the estate intact I would buy Miss Prince our. for for several thousands of pounds, and take the risk of recovering the money with a little interest." As to what action will be taken, . it is impossible to say. The usual legal formalities will be gone through to prove the will, but whether it will be possible to recover all or even part of the estate remains to bo seen.