THE STORK DERBY.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 369, 25 February 1937, Page 5

THE STORK DERBY.

MARATHON ENDS. Six Claimants for Huge Prize. Press Association—Copyright. Toronto, Feb. 23. The stork derby clause of Charles Vancjj wiiljjj bequeathing a 500,000 dollars fortune to the Toronto mother bearing the most children in a ten-year period ended October 31, 1936, and adjudged valid by Justice W. E. Middleton In Toronto Supreme Court, is upheld by the Ontario Court of Appeal, v.lhich has held, as did the Supreme Court,, that illegitimate children do not count.

Mrs Arabella West and Alexander Butcher, two elderly people from Port Burwell, Ont., challenged the will’s validity as next-of-kin.

They attacked the wili on the question of whether the “mothers’ clause” was not “contrary to the public good.” The stork derby ended at 4.30 on October 31, ten years to the hour after the- sudden death at the age of 72. Six mothers claimed a tie for the prize of 500,000 dollars. The apparent winners, who Will share equally the fortune if their claims are substantiated, are, with two exceptions,mothers who bore their babies in dire poverty. Each claimed nine babies. They are:

Mrs Lilly Kenny, whose husband has been on relief much of the time since the race began. Mrs Pauline Clark, who did not realise that she was a contender until relief workers called her attention to it last summer. Mrs Annie Smith, wife of a fireman. Mrs Isobel Mac Lean, whose husband’s modest salary in an office position enables her to maintain a cozy home.

Mrs Arthur Timleck, wife of an employee of the department of parks in Toronto.

Mrs John Neagle, whose husband has frequently been Without work during the depression years. Despite their prayers' tor a lastminute "miracle,” Mrs Peter Romas, wife of a part-time chef, and Mrs Grace Bagnato, a court interpreter, did not bear expected babies before the closing hour. Both needed the babies to qualify with nine, although the latter, with seven registered, claims to others during the ten-year period. Four of the mothers- assert that they bore ten children in the last 'decade, Mrs Kenny, Mrs Clark, Mrs Timleck, and Mrs Neagle. In each case, however, at least one birth has been questioned, and all except the first-named agreed to avoid litigation by claiming only nine each.