HEIR TO MILLIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 157, 2 January 1912, Page 6

HEIR TO MILLIONS.

. DIBS IN A COTTAGE. Auckland, December 29. An interesting story was told to the city coroner (Mr. T. Gresham) this morning by two witnesses at the inquest concerning the death of an old man named Richard Walters, who died suddenly at Point Chevalier a few days ago. > Something of a mystery attached to the life of the deceased, who was a man of evidently good education and good family, but who, at the time of his death, was filling the position of gardener to Mr. Dignan at Point Chevalier. The impression had apparently prevailed that Walters was an old army officer, but' this the old man was always averse to discussing, and' would never admit.

Some months ago, however, a next' of kin was advertised for in the name j of Richard Walters, and the estate involved (which had passed into chancery) I was declared to be worth nearly three j millions. An Auckland solicitor also ' communicated with' the deceased in con- j nection with the estate, and Walters, it was stated to the coroner, was clearly able to prove that he was the person advertised for, he being the only remain-: ing member of a well known Exeter family. j Waiters, the witnesses added, had refused to proceed with his claim, declaring that at his age (7.4 years) the time and worry involved in proving his title would not be commensurate with the ultimate reward, particularly as a good deal of money would no doubt require to be spent in making good his claim b* the millions locked up in the close grip of chancery. The announcement that an heir was wanted was only madie known a few months ago, anct Walters, an ardent gardener, declared''that the few remaining years of his life he would prefer to spend as he had lived, free from publicity. The jury found fn accordance with medical evidence thaifc d/eath was diue to senility and acoKolismv