De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona Part 9

Show how the Estate of Sir John Hopper will be divided.

PROBLEM No. 27.

Colonel Filbert, stepson to the late Sir Hazel Knut, paid a brief visit to the Brazils, and died on the voyage home on the 1st January, 1914.

He left a considerable Estate, and bequeathed many useful Legacies, all free of Duty, to deserving Relations and Friends. One of the provisions in his Will was to the effect that a sum of 5,300 should be placed on Deposit at the Bank to be paid over by instalments at regular intervals to his two Executors, John Bunting and Nathaniel Whittel, and was to be regarded by them as a Salary for their services.

Each was to receive a Starting Salary at the rate of 500 per annum, but whereas John Bunting's Salary was to be increased by 100 per annum, Nathaniel Whittel's Salary was to be increased by 25 half-yearly.

As soon as the 5,300 was exhausted the Salaries were to cease, and in the meanwhile the Interest on the Deposit was to be paid over to the General Estate.

The Salaries were to be drawn half-yearly, the first to be payable exactly six months from the date of Colonel Filbert's death.

Write up a Cash Account, showing how the Legacy of 5,300 was divided between the Executors.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Miss Tulip's heart was forthwith pierced."]

PROBLEM No. 28.

Every Sportsman will admit that it is immoral to bet upon a certainty, and most business men will endorse the maxim that only fools speculate without inside information.

Now Mr. Hunter never gambled, but he was open, like most other men, to a sound speculation, and when he learned in his capacity of Clerk to a well-known Solicitor that Miss Rose Tulip had inherited a fortune of 60,000 odd, he naturally felt interested.

Many obstacles separated Mr. Hunter from the object of his choice, but he persevered, and on one particularly sunny afternoon he let loose a chance arrow with such well-directed aim that Miss Tulip's heart was forthwith pierced.

The Engagement caused some little flutter in the Dove Cot, and Lady Tulip, Miss Rose's widowed Mother, at once changed her Solicitors in spite of a promise on their part to decorate Mr. Hunter with the "Order of the Boot,"

a promise which was promptly converted into an accomplished fact.

Every effort was made to induce Miss Rose to reconsider her decision, but this only seemed to lead to further complications, for on the 14th July Mr. George Tulip announced his engagement to Mr. Hunter's only sister, Rebecca.

This was the last straw and the lamentations of the proud Tulip Family were only exceeded by the rejoicings of the Family Hunter.

The prospective Bridegrooms met and made all the necessary arrangements, and Mr. Hunter, who had had a legal training, drew up four simple Wills whereby each left to the Widow, or Widower, all the worldly goods of which he, or she, was possessed.

These doc.u.ments were signed and witnessed, and four days later the double wedding was solemnized quietly at the Church of Saint Augustine.

After the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Hunter and Mr. and Mrs. Tulip journeyed to Liverpool Street Station and caught the 2 o'clock train to Clacton, where the honeymoon was to be spent.

They arrived comfortably in time for tea, and Mr. Hunter insisted on treating the whole party to Winkles.

Now, whether it was the Winkles or whether it was the pins, is a matter upon which the two London Specialists who were called in failed to agree, but the fact remains that within a very short time of devouring the aforementioned delicacies, the whole party became alarmingly ill, and two days later Mr. Tulip and Mrs. Hunter died.

Mr. Tulip's Estate, which consisted entirely of Personalty, was valued for Probate at 8,420, and Mrs. Hunter's Estate, which consisted entirely of Realty, was valued at 72,422.

What Legacy and Succession Duty was payable on behalf of Mrs. Tulip, and by Mr. Hunter?

PROBLEM No. 29.

The Rev. Stephen Collins delivered a very moving address on Total Abstinence at the Mothers' Meeting on the 14th June, 1913, and three weeks later Mr. Gunter died.

Now some of the paris.h.i.+oners were inclined to connect the two events, particularly as Mrs. Gunter happened to form one of the band of Mothers on that memorable occasion, and was known to have given her husband Toast and Water for Supper on the following evening.

Be that as it may, it is an undoubted fact that Mr. Gunter, in a codicil to his Will, nominated the Rev. Stephen Collins in place of Mrs. Gunter as Life Tenant of the Income arising from the property of which he (Mr.

Gunter) died possessed.

After the payment of all Duties, Debts and Expenses, this property consisted of a.s.sets producing Income as follows:--

(1) 300 per annum, free of tax, payable quarterly on the usual quarter days.

(2) 160 per annum, free of tax, payable half-yearly, on the 30th June and 31st December.

(3) 140 per annum, free of tax, payable yearly, on the 29th September.

The Income was received regularly on the due dates and the Reverend Gentleman had given a formal receipt for everything due up to and including the 31st December, 1913.

On the 30th April, 1914, Stock No. 1 was sold c.u.m. div. at a profit of 500, and the proceeds were re-invested in a security, the income from which was 320 per annum, free of tax, payable half-yearly on the 30th June and 31st December.

On the 20th June, 1914, Stock No. 2 was sold ex. div. at a loss of 100, and the proceeds were re-invested in a Stock ex. div. bringing in 140 per annum, free of tax, payable quarterly on the usual quarter days.

The Rev. Stephen Collins recognises that the Trustees are honourable men and that their intentions are worthy, but nevertheless he is anxious and wishes to be in a position to rea.s.sure Mrs. Collins as to the income which he will receive for the year ending 31st December, 1914.

It is interesting to note that Mr. Collins has now published the Address delivered at the Mothers' Meeting on the 14th June, 1913, trusting that the seed sown broadcast may find its way into fruitful soil.

PROBLEM No. 30.

A prosperous Solicitor usually occupies very dirty offices, and his furniture is mostly Mid-Victorian and rickety.

Mr. John Storalore was no exception to this rule and never seemed to object to such surroundings, but on the contrary always appeared to be surrounded by such objects.