£80,000 FOR FIVE POOR WOMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8349, 8 February 1913, Page 11

£BO,OOO FOR FIVE POOR WOMEN

LONDON,’December 29. A sensation has been created in a poor district of Widnes by the news or a windfall to a family named Wilpraiiaa, who live at 3i i, Major Cross street, Widnes. The intimation made to the family, which consists of a husband and wife and severaT children, is to the effect that the mother, Mrs Maria Jane Wilbraham, formerly a Miss Owens, of Llandudno, is one of a family of five who will inherit £BO,OOO left by a seafaring uncle who died recently while on a voyage to foreign parts. The others who are to participate ip the division of this fortune are; Mrs Margaret Ann Padmore, Widnes; Mm Louisa Kaeyon, of Llandudno f " Mrs Margaret Ann Evans, Liverpool; Mrs Margaret Ann Howells, Anglesey. Each will receive about £13,000. Mrs Wilbraham stated that the uncle'who had died was John Owens, a well-known seaman connected with Llandudno. The greater part of his property he inherited from his father’s mother, the late Mrs Anne Owens, of Llandudno. It was intended, she said, that the' estate should be equally divided between the family, but an important document was missed at the critical moment, and the uncle, according to law, was rightful heir. John Owens had made out his will in favour of the five female descendants of the Owens family, and the important document had also been found which strengthened their rights to the property. The story has a substantial basis, as the five heiresses have, in answer to requests, been interviewed by those who have the matter in Land. The registration papers have been admitted to be in perfect order for the purposes of identification, so that there is not expected to be any trouble on that score. The vessel bearing the deceased uncle’s papers, etc., is expected in Liverpool within a very short, period, and on its arrival details will be arranged, and after that an early division of the money is looked forward to. Mrs Wilbraham was busily “ doing the week’s washing ” when interviewed, and when congratulated on her good fortune she smilingly exclaimed, “Oh I it’s what we’ve been wanting. I have a sick husband. It’s something, too, for my children, and I’m glad, for their sakes.”