THE RHODES CASE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 126, 27 May 1880, Page 4

THE RHODES CASE.

; The Wellington Post gives the following ? pajctjicujtars: of the caso Rhodes v. Rhodeß, referred to in our last week's telegram:— " The plaintiff is^Mar.y-, Ann.Rb^bdeß, the daughter of the late, Barnard Rhodes of Highland Park, and the defendants are Mrs Sarah Rhodeß, Mr. Waring Taylor, Mr Thomas Maßon, and Mr John Studholme, the trustees of the estate, tbe three surviving brothers of the testator, and the children of the two other brothers, George Rhodes and John W. Rhodes, deceased. On February 9, 1878, William Barnard Rhodes made his last will and testament. Ha died on February 11, or two days later. After setting forth the various legacies and bequests, the will, as proved, contains the following words:— 'And from and after the. decease of my said wife, without leaving issue of our said marriage, and subject to the foregoing devises, legacies, bequests, and directions, I direct that my said trustees shall stand possessed of all the undis-ppsed-of residue of my real and personal estate in trust for my said natural daughter, Mary AnD, for and during the term of her natural life.' This plainly constitutes Miss Rhodes residuary legatee only in the event of her surviving Mrs Rhodes. But the plaintiff intends to produce evidence to show that the words 'and from and after the decease of my said wife, without leaving issue of our said marriage,' were inserted in the said will contrary to the instructions of the deceased, and were retained without his knowledge or approval. In other words she will try to prove that she is now the absolute residuary legatee, and therefore is now entitled to the income arising from property to the extent of nearly £300,000. A very formidable array of legal talent is engaged in the case. The Attorney-General and Messrs Conolly and Edwards are the counsel for the plaintiff ; Mr Travers will appear for the trustets; Mr Chapman, (instructed by Mr Cotterell, of Napier) for Mr J. Rhodes, Mr Gorden Allan for Mr and Mrs Wright, and Messrs Izard and Bell (agents for Messrs Harper and Scott) for the other defendants. Should the verdict be in favor of the plaintiff, a demurrer raised by the defendants will then be argued. This takes exception to the legality of bringing rf n^fc^r*£«riP xo ise_worda from a will __wjoicnjiajijbej3n^^^ — _ Ils _ 4ho plaintiff's favorTa decree^lft^'inovecr for to give her immediate possession of the property. Tbe trial itself, although involving the disposal of such an ... immense fortune, is not expected to last more than one day."