De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona Part 10

He was sitting in his office one June afternoon and was dozing over some particularly dusty doc.u.ments when his clerk announced Sir Pufferby Pawstone. Now Sir Pufferby was an important client who always had his hair cut and called on his Solicitor when he found himself with nothing better to do. It is not surprising, therefore, that Mr. Storalore should receive him with open arms and a.s.sume a very profound expression.

After the usual courtesies had been exchanged, and Lady Pawstone's health touched upon, Sir Pufferby announced that he desired to make a Will.

Mr. Storalore was all attention and took elaborate notes of Sir Pufferby's testamentary wishes, which were extensive and complicated. This done, Sir Pufferby begged Mr. Storalore to give him a brief and concise account of the steps which it is necessary for Executors and Trustees to take in the administration of the affairs of a deceased person from the moment of death up to the final distribution of the Residue.

Do not worry about what Mr. Storalore actually said to Sir Pufferby, for Sir Pufferby was an old woman, and Mr. Storalore knew his client, but say what he would have said to you in answer to such a question.

PROBLEM No. 31.

Mr. George Huggins died on the 31st October, 1913, and with the exception of a few legacies, bequeathed free of duty, he left the whole of his property to his Widow for life with remainder over to his friend Mr.

Giblets, provided that gentleman outlived Mrs. Huggins.

Now this arrangement placed Mr. Giblets in an embarra.s.sing predicament, especially as Mrs. Huggins' health improved so wonderfully after her husband's death.

It appeared to Mr. Giblets, therefore, that matrimony was the only safe solution of the difficulty, and so he went on his knees before the Widow.

But the lady grasped the situation immediately, and declined the honour.

Friends.h.i.+p being thus early at an end Mr. Giblets resolved to worry the Widow, bearing in mind the saying that "Worry kills." So he set himself to quibble about every detail in the administration of the late Mr. Huggins'

Estate, particularly as regards the apportionment of Revenue between Capital and Income. But the Widow would not worry, and wisely suggested to the Solicitors that all matters involving accounts should be left to some first-cla.s.s Firm of Professional Accountants to settle.

This was done, and the following are the Cash Receipts and Payments made by the Trustees up to the 30th June, 1914.

What amount was paid to Mrs. Huggins on the 30th June, 1914?

_Receipts._

1913. s. d.

Oct. 3 Cash at Bank and in house 532 17 4 Nov. 5 Yorks.h.i.+re Coal Co., dividends half-year ending 30th September, 1913, free of tax

1914.

Jan. 5 Dividends on India Stock, less tax 47 1 8 " " 14 Sale of Investments 1,764 8 9 Feb. 8 Caledonian Railway Dividends, half-year ending 32 19 2 31st December, 1913 March 3 Sale of Furniture 243 6 8 " " 25 Quarter's Rent of Property to date, less tax at 16 1 10 1s. 2d.

" " 31 North British Investment Trust Dividends, 6 70 0 0 months to date, free of Tax " 31 West Ham Gas Co., half-year's Debenture 47 1 8 Interest, less tax Apr. 5 Dividends on India Stock, less tax 47 1 8 June 15 Sale of Jewellery 32 5 0 " " 25 Quarter's Rent of Property 20 0 0

_Payments._

1913.

Nov. 7 Medical Attendance and Nursing fees 31 10 0 " " 25 Mrs. Huggins, on account 50 0 0 Dec. 31 Estate Duty 532 6 8 " " 31 Interest thereon 2 13 3

1914.

Jan. 16 Valuation fees 15 15 0 Feb. 1 Widow, further on account 50 0 0 " " 16 Funeral Expenses 31 10 0 March 25 Half-year's Ground Rent, due this day, less tax 4 18 11 " " 31 Debts due at death 73 6 8 Apr. 1 Widow, further on account 50 0 0 " " 30 Legacies 250 0 0 May 3 Duty thereon 20 0 0 " " 31 Executors.h.i.+p Expenses 5 6 8 June 1 Solicitor's Costs re Probate 32 6 8 " " 15 Mason's Expenses, restoring, &c, Tombstone 15 15 0 " " 30 Paid Widow Balance due to her.

PROBLEM No. 32.

Mr. Nathaniel Soworthy, a great breeder of prize pigs, had the misfortune to be knocked down one day by his favourite Berks.h.i.+re Boar, and his head was cut open on the corner of the pig-sty. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Soworthy prided himself exceedingly on the extreme cleanliness of his pig-sties, where, as he was often heard to say, he would be quite ready to eat his own dinner, he discovered on that lamentable occasion what must have been the sole surviving microbe on the premises which, entering his circulation, set up blood poisoning with the result that he pa.s.sed away a few days later, viz., at 6 p.m. on the evening of the 31st January, 1914.

Mr. Soworthy was a man of many hobbies, and in addition to his prize pigs he possessed a unique collection of silver salt-cellars reputed to be one of the finest in the country. This was valued for Probate at 5,000, while the pigs were estimated to be worth 2,500.

In addition he died possessed of the following property:--

5,000 India 3% quoted at 75-3/8-7/8.

10,000 Ordinary Shares of 1 each in the Improved Pork Pie Factory, Ltd., valued at 25/- per share.

4,000 Mortgage at 4-1/2% on the farm known as "Little Watchem,"

interest payable 30th September and 31st March, paid to 30th September, 1913.

Cash in the house, 15.

Cash at the Bank 355 on Current Account and 2,000 on deposit at 3%, interest payable 30th June and 31st December.

5,000 Policy in the Live Stock Breeders' Mutual a.s.surance Society, upon which the Bonus at the date of death amounted to 190.

Household Goods, Horses, and Motor Car, 3,500.

Implements of Husbandry, 150.

The Freehold Estate, comprising Mansion House, Park, and Home Farm known as "The Piggeries," valued at 15,000, subject to a Mortgage of 10,000 at 4-1/2%, interest payable 30th November and 31st May, paid to 30th November, 1913.

He was also life tenant of Real Property producing 3,000 per annum, in respect of which there was income accrued due but not received prior to death amounting to 900.

By his Will he left the following bequests:

1,000 in trust to the President for the time being of the Royal Society for the Propagation and Improvement of Pigs, to be invested and the interest awarded annually in prizes for the best sucking pigs.

100 to the Perennial Society of Whole Hoggers, of the local branch of which he was the esteemed and Honorary President; and

His famous White Sow, known as the "Soworthy Sow," to his lifelong friend the celebrated judge of pigs, Mr. Anthony Golightly Wackenbath.

The prize pigs were directed to be sold and realised 2,690. The collection of silver salt-cellars was bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum on condition that it should be shown as a whole and named the Soworthy Collection. This bequest was accepted.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "His famous White Sow, known as the 'Soworthy Sow.'"]

The debts due at death amounted to 215, and the funeral expenses to 45.