MILLIONS THAT NO ONE OWNS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12609, 20 November 1926, Page 11

MILLIONS THAT NO ONE OWNS

ROMANTIC FORTUNE AWAITS GENUINE CLAIMANTS

North Devon is agog with excitement over the revival of interest in the Webber millions, due to the fact that a conference is taking place between prospective American and English claimants. This is only one case of a huge fortune going begging. Wealth literally “beyond the dreams of avarice*’ lies idle. IN one case a testator bequeathed his fortune to his heirs of the seventh generation, directing that the estate was to accumulate through the intervening six. Endless complexities have thus arisen, and the real heir or heirs are still to be found. The largest fortune awaiting a genuine claimant is the colossal “Angel” fortune, which comprises the Angel estate at Brixton, and a vast accumulation of money lying at the Bank of England. The total value of tho property, which increases yearly by compound interest, is now reckoned at several millions; ■ Up to the present time over fifty applicants have come hefore th© Court of Chancery in respect of this vast fortune, hut not one of them lias been able to establish a valid claim. £90,000,000 Years ago a wealthy recluse named Page died intestate, leaving a fortune of nearly £1,000,000. and since his death claimant after claimant has built up his case in an endeavour to win the great prise. But the case always breaks down, and the “nearest living heir” to the Page millions —for the total has doubled itself in the interval —is still to be found.

It is estimated that at. the present time £90,000.000 lies in Chancery

awaiting proved claims for its distribution. . . Nearly, 200 years ago William Hayman died in Somerset, and his estate has lajd dormant in Chancery ever since, pending the discovery of a will. Now, in the thick wall of an attic room a will, dated 1739, has been discovered by a Mrs Bislioppe, living in the Orange River Colony, in South Africa. ' William Hayman is believed to have stayed in the house during his travels, and to have left the will hidden in the wall. Mrs Ajjnes Biss, wife of a master mariner living at Barry Docks, as the nearest surviving relative of William Hayman, is now endeavouring to get in touch with Mrs Bishoppe. A valuable estate is at issue, comprising property in London, in Bath, and in a number of Somersetshire villages. ROMANTIC CLAIM Two brothers, J. G. and J. A. Cottam, and their sister, Mrs Bonner, of Lincoln, have just proved their right to the fortuhe of £30,000 left over 90 years ago by Mr Robert Cottam. who belonged to an old Lincoln family and died intestate. Years ago another branch of the family foiled to establish a claim, and the tangle of tbe actual succession was only unravelled during investigations hv a relative who was winding up another estate. Eighty-five years ago Sir John Jeremy, Governor of Sierra Leone, died intestate in the colony, leaving a fortune which was found after bis death to amount to the colossal figure of £7.000,000.

Mrs M. A. Charles, who claims to he a direct descendant of the Jeremy family, is attempting to prove her I’wn and her two brothers’ right as joint owners of the dead baronet’s millions.