HC Deb 04 August 1904 vol 139 cc996-7
MR. J. P. FARRELL

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the present position of the funds of the estate of the late Mrs Helen Blake, née Sheridan, who died in London in the year 1871 possessed of funds and other securities valued for nearly half a million of pounds sterling; whether it is proposed to sequestrate this sum for Treasury purposes; whether any inquiries have been made for next of kin; will such inquiries be made before any attempt is made to sequestrate the estate; and, if so, will evidence by tradition be received.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY (Mr. VICTOR CAVENDISH,) Derbyshire, W.

The Crown's title to the real estate of the deceased was found by Special Commission of Escheat. Administration of the personal estate was granted to the Solicitor to the Treasury, and by an Order of Court dated 23rd June, 1883, it was declared that the Crown was entitled to the residue of the estate. The usual inquiries were made for the next of kin and heir-at-law to the deceased. It is not proposed to make farther inquiries of this character or to initiate any further proceedings.

MR. J. P. FARRELL

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the case of the estate of the late Mrs. Helen Blake, of London, who died intestate in 1871; whether any application has been submitted to the Law Officers of the Crown on the part of relatives and friends of the late Mrs. Blake, named Sheridan, residing in county Longford; and whether, having regard to the fact that actual evidence of birth by extract from register is almost impossible of production in this case, he would be prepared to advise the Crown to issue a Commission to take evidence of tradition in this case.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir ROBERT FINLAY,) Inverness Burghs

Two Petitions of Right were presented in 1892 with reference to the estate of Mrs. Helen Blake, who died in 1876; both were dismissed for want of prosecution. I understand that other claims have been alleged. It is practicable to issue a Commission as suggested in the Question.