RECLUSE’S HOARD

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 409, 16 April 1937, Page 2

RECLUSE’S HOARD

oA FORTUNE AMASSED. People Thought Him Poor. London, March 27. Regular dividend cheques from Australian companies may provide a clue to the nex!t-of-kin of a man who lived among working-class people in Islingi.pn, London, and has left a forune e£timatted at about £20,000 in investments and property. Since so much of his money was invested in Australia, it is thought hat he may have had relatives there. For years John Thomas Willmott, university man, r Cired bank manager, lived alone except for his housekeeper in a big house. People thought him strange; tales began to spread 'that he was a miser—tales which were founded only on idle gossip—but no one except a few people suspected that he was weal!\y. The house was filled v.'i'th cats which the housekeeper looked after. There were rooms which were scored ; with lumber. The old bank manager j hardly ever spoke to his neighbours, land never mixed' w’(h them. Few I people came to see him. He dressed in clothes which were jf good cut, but he always looked shabby. Possibly about 'three people were aware of his secret. One was Jie manager of a shop where for ; years Mr WillmcClt changed the cheques he received from dividends. “They used to range from £2 \o £7,” the shopkeeper stated. “They Were from a couple of dozen different holdings, and I don’-t suppose he changed all the cheques 1 with me. “Many of them were with Austra- | lian compani. s. In his early 'days I | understood, he had studied for tihe | Church. His housekeeper was devotied to him. He always said ho would •see that she was provided for in his will when he made one. But he kept putting it off and putting jjt off, and died without making one.”