Photos from open sources
October 31, 1926 in Toronto (Canada) died 73-year-old Charles Millar. How long do you think it remained in the memory of the inhabitants cities? Year? Two? For 10 years (!) His name regularly appeared on the pages of city newspapers: scandals, judicial processes, rallies and demonstrations – and the scandal was to blame Millar’s testament.
Merry Millar
Charles Millar was a successful lawyer and successful businessman. He bought apartment buildings, was a co-owner of the ship and holder a controlling stake in a beer company bought a firm engaged in transportation, loved excitement, horse racing and had stocks several jockey clubs.
Millar was a cheerful person by nature, loved jokes and practical jokes that often amused the whole city. Recognizing the sad news, residents sincerely sad: “We will be bored without merry fellow Millar. “They did not suspect that their main life businessman prepared in reserve.
Will
As a practical man, Millar did not build illusions about his future, knew that sooner or later he would die and prepared in advance for his care. According to the will of the deceased, the will was made public on the day burial in the cemetery – and the newspaper men present, not expecting the end of the mourning ceremony rushed to their newspapers so that as print amazing details about the last will as soon as possible the deceased.
He did not have his family and children, Millar with his wealth ordered very original.
Every priest in Sandwich, Walkerville and Windsor received shares of the jockey club. To the delight of the newspaper people, among the ministers of the church, reckoning excitement to sinful passions, there was not a single one who would give up his share of the inheritance!
He bequeathed shares of the beer company between parish Toronto priests – active champions of drunkenness. To indignation hierarchs of the church, condemning drunkenness and the love of money, the Toronto priests went in vain for “their share. “Since the merry fellow Millar deliberately did not name anyone by name, among the priests, a showdown began, whom exactly had mind the dead man. Shares had to be divided through the court.
Three acquaintances of Millar, who could not bear each other, got in shared ownership of his luxury home in Jamaica, with a sell none of the heirs could share their share.
But the funniest was the last point, according to which the rest of the fortune (over $ 500,000) was supposed to get Toronto resident who will manage for 10 years after death Millara give birth to the maximum number of children from one man.
Subsequently, Millar’s relatives repeatedly tried to challenge testament, but Charles was an experienced lawyer, had 45 years behind him seniority and even the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the will of the deceased in force.
Big stork race
Now the woman who gave birth to twins or triplets was examined Toronto residents as a contender for Millar’s inheritance. IN the city newspaper appeared heading “Big Stork Race”, in which the fate of every mother of many children was closely monitored Toronto, divorce or pregnancy any of them became an occasion for gossip.
Ontario government tried to paw money Millara, but the women rebelled. A wave swept through the province protests. Feminists rightly raised the question: why the last authorities intend to revise the testament clause, while all previous performed?
The church declared the will immoral and urged women not to participate in a shameful competition. “What does it mean to not participate?” women were indignant. – Who can forbid us to give birth to children? ” it was reminded that the leaders of the church received their share, why should women be infringed?
In print, lawyers led discussions, figuring out whether to consider children, deaths during childbirth, does a resident retain her inheritance rights Toronto, who left the city, should this “only man” must be an official husband and which suburbs are in the line Toronto? In heaven, Millar’s spirit enthusiastically rubbed his hands: the inhabitants Toronto had fun at all.
On October 31, 1936, a city judge announced the completion of “Stork race” and the blow of his hammer put an end to it. IN 4 women who gave birth to 9 children each reached the final. Legacy was divided between them, each received $ 125,000.
One can only guess for what purpose Millar arranged the “Big stork race. “He left no explanation for his action. But someone close to him joked that it’s possible in Charles fatherly feelings spoke. If you accept this version, then the plan businessman succeeded: Millar did not have his family and children the reason for the birth of 36 children – the result is how rare the man boasts.
Posted by Klim Podkova
