AN UNSIGNED WILL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 98, 25 April 1912, Page 2

AN UNSIGNED WILL.

The absence of the signature '‘Edwin Hawley” from a will discovered by the family of tins “railway king,” who died recently, has meant iho difference between aflhionec and poverty to Ml* Frederick Crandall, nephew ol the late Mr Edwin Hawley.- Mr Hawley left an immense fortune, which is estimated at nearly £10,000.000 and in a will executed some ion. years ago he bequeathed £500,000 to 1:; i nephew, of whom he was vc-iy fond.

Unfortunately for himself, however, Mr Cramvell fell in love with hiu uncle’s stenographer, a pretty girl of twenty-three, and married her in defiance of Mr Hawley’s opposition. Highly enraged, the “railway king ordered him from the house, and declared that ho would disiuher't him. The young couple fell upon hard times almost immediately, hut Mr Crandall refused to try to conciliate his. uncle, and secured work as a stevedore at tinsalary of £2 a week.

Hearing that his undo was -orio mb ill, Mr Crandall decided to call on him and endeavour to secure his forgiveness. Before he did so, however, Mi Hawley died, and the young man had to borrow a shilling from a comrade in order to pay his fare to the house and. pay his respects to the dead man. to whom lie was greatly attached. The other .members of the family could not give him much encouragement, for they told him that there had been no “death-bed rcpontenco,” and that the “railway king” had adhered to his determination to cut him off.

On the lawyers examining Mr Hawley’s papers, however, it was found that the now will, which would have condemned Mr Crandall to lifelong poverty, had not been signed, though the draft was all ready. The, “railway king’s” nephew accordingly benefits under the old will and inherits £500,000.