A FORGED WILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2359, 24 November 1921, Page 4

A FORGED WILL.

TWO WOMEN CONVICTED

Auckland, Nov. 18

After a two days’ Supreme Court trial, Mary Ann Miller, aged 62, and Elizabeth Cecilia Cochrane, aged 32 (Mrs Miller’s daughter), were found guilty of forgery and uttering a will. The evidence was to the effect that an old man named Delius boarded for many years wilh Mrs Miller. He died in April, 1917. Mrs Miller telephoned to a solicitoi-, asking him to obtain _Delius’s keys from the hospital, aiul open a box at her house to see if there was any will or notification about the burial. The solicitor could not sec the will, and Mrs Miller said, “Let me have a look.” Shortly afterwards sh# produced a document, reading that Debus had left his property to Mrs Miller. Two signatures of witnesses were attached, but they did not state that they were signed in each other’s presence. This omission resulted in enquiries for the witnesses who obtained the affidavits, but no trace of them was obtainable. It was affirmed that the will was the joint work of the two accused. Witnesses for the defence, who expressed a contrary opinion, admitted in cross-examination that there were certain similarities in the writing. The jury recommended the accused to mercy on account of Miller’s age and Cochrane’s illhealth. Sentence was deferred.