The Warwickshire Herald. — 1887-03-24 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

REAL ROMANCE.  THE petition in the matter of the Brigham estates for the appointment of a receiver came before Mr. Justice Kay in the Chancery Division on Saturday, but was ordered to stand over till next Saturday. It is alleged that young De Tourville, who, if alive, is entitled to the estates, is (lead. a bo iy resembling his having been found on the shore of the Bay of Naples. Counsel appeared for the guardian ad Went, when Mr. Justice Kay inquired how such guardian could have been appointed by the Court, as Order 13, Rule 1, laid it down that the infant for whom the guardian is required should have been previously served with notice of the application for appointment. An affidavit of a chartered accountant at Manchestsr was handed up to his lordship, who, seeing, that the requirements of the said rule and order were complied with, in adjourning the case remarked that he should require the fulle-t explanation how the gentleman could have sworn that the child had been served when he knew the child was dead. The circumstances are of a very peculiar and romantic nature. The petition asks that the petitioner or some other person or persons be appointed trustees under the will of William Brigham, dated 31st October, 1851 ; that all money connected with the estate be paid into Court; and an inquiry be made whether Ilenri (le Tourville—who, if alive, would be absolutely entitled to the estate—was living or dead. By this will the testator bequeathed all his personal estate to his wife absolutely, and the freehold estate, consisting of a public-house and about twenty acres of land, situate at Brigham, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, to his wife for life, with remainder to his , daughter Henrietta Felicia Helen Elizabeth for life, with remainder for the benefit generally of her issue whom she should by will or deed appoint. In ease there was no issue attaining the age of 21 or marrying, then the estate was to be held in trust for the benefit of the issue of the testator's brother, Edward Felix Brigham, who should be living at the time of the decease of the (laughter. The testator died on July 27th, 1861, and his will was proved in October following. In or about the year 1868 the daughter of testator was married to Henri Pierreau de Tour- i ville. who was now a convict undergoing a sentence , of penal servitude in Austria for murder, and there was issue of the marriage one child, Henri de Tour- ' ville, who WAS born in or about the year 1870. Henriette de Tourville made a w ill, but did not exercise the power of appointment, and that will was proved after her death in 1871. The infant who in the event of attaining the age of 21, or marriage, would be absolutely entitled, was until the year 1883 at school at St. Joseph's College, Clapham, but about that time he disappeared, nothing having been heard of him since until the year 1885, when a dead body was found on the shore of the Bay of Naples which the petitioner was informed strongly resembled the infant. The petitioner and his sister being the only children of Edward Felix Brigham, would be entitled to the property if it should transpire that the infant Henri de Tourville was dead.