The Warwickshire Herald. — 1892-07-14 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

STRANGE WILL CASE.  The extraordinary case "lore the Petit Estate • nes been settled. M. Petit was an old gentleman bordering on 90, who, the Doily Teleyraph Faris correspondent says, deserves posthumous notoriety by reason of the strange distribution which he made of his property to the detriment of his natural heirs. He was long an official of the Exchequer, and died in 1830, leaving three sons, with whom he bad resolutely refused to have anything to do for 40 years, owing to certain ideas which had arisen in his mind. When M. Petit was no more his children went to his abode in order to take po ion of his property. They found no, will, however, and no money, although they rotimated that their progenitor must have been worth at least £120,000. The sons then arrived at the conclusion that their father had portioned out his prop-rty and given it to o:liers during Iliu fliey would never have recovered a stiver had it not been for M.Petit'a old and confidential valet Lebrum, who seems to be cut out for the hero of a sensational novel or a thrilling play. This man searched diligently among his master's old papers and letters uetil he found enough documentary evidence to enable the sons to see what had been done with their heritage. M. Petit had shared a large part of his fortune among five or six friends on condition that they paid him an annuity. The remainder of his money he literally gave to the first stranger whom he fancied. The lucky people who received his handsome donations were begged to accept a certain sum of money and never to open their mouths as to its origin. M. Petit's sons brought a criminal action against the beneficiaires for undue influence but they were defeated. They then carried the cas. to the Civil Tribunal of the Seine and the best talent of the Paris Bar was engaged on both aides. The Court held, however, that M. Petit had a perfect right to dispose of his property as he liked, even to the detriment of his children. 'The beneficiaries were at the same time directed to pay over to the plaintiffs sums remaining in reserve after the general distribution.  A girl of 21, who won the last prise for beauty at Turin, has tun found murdered at Trieste. The body was disfigured by two shot wounds and seven *tabs, and the face was mutilated, probably by a atone, in order to prevent recognition The murder is thought to be connected with a love affair.  • News has reached England of the death under most painful circumstances of Miss Josephine St. Aege, the well-known actress, who went out to South Africa with Miss Genevieve Ward and Mr. W. H. Vernon's company. Miss St. Ange was killed in • carriage accident near Johannesburg, where she hall just been playing as Ophelia. A ceful and Accomplished lady, Miss St. Ange an her professional career as an operatic vocalist. -- Wine LAW:IM . . . ipposing I decided to let you have the money, hi" do I know that I shall get it back at the time you mention ? " asked Steddigoe. "I paomise it, my boy, on the word of a gentleman," replied Bluffum. " MI! in that case I may think better of it. Come round this evening and bring him with you." She: "You know' doctor, that my husband Is very much opposed to my going away. Do you think (anxiously) I will be ill enough to go to Europe?" The dodos (doubtfully): "That's pretty hard to tell." Bhe: "You know, I want to make certain of it. Perhaps you had better call • low more times."