Legacy in a Tangle.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 212, 12 September 1904, Page 4

Legacy in a Tangle.

BROTHERS' MIXED FORTUNES CAUSE BEWILDERMENT. Litigation over a tangled legacy of ] more than £160,000 was commenced c in the Chancery Court at Liverpool recently. The late Mr Charleg IluttOn Lear, of Seafield, West Ivirklby, died in September last, leaving a large estate. Besides landed peoperty his personalty was proved to he worth £161,282, There were no children or near re- 1 lations, for Mr Lear's only brother, James Goddaiid Lear, jire-deceased him, leaving to him the whole of his property, which was valued at £150,000. Three years ago Mr C. 11. Lear is said to have made a will bequeathing his estate 'to Mr John Elliot, tt tobacco broker, of Hojlake, but requesting hlim to give effect to any notes o r memoranda which either he or hia brother James Goddaivj Lear might "have left. This will was lost, and letters of administration were taken out by the next of kin. When the box supposed to contain them was opened no notes or memoranda could lie found in the testator's handwriting. A number of memoranda were found, however, in the handwriting of Mr Jaines G. Lear, which were without date, and dealt witih legacies of nearly £IOO,000 to charitable institutions. Recently Mr Jo/ui Elliot asked the court to decide if he was entitled to the residuary estate, whether I there was a resultant trust for the next of kin and heir at law, and what effect should be given to the memoranda. Tho hearing was adjourned on the ground that the heir at law had' commenced an action in tho Probate Court with a view to revoking - the probate.;