Leaves Huge Fortune

Famous Tahiti Artist

FRENCH Admiral du Saint Front, executor of the Will of the late Edgar Leetag, noted American artist, of Tahiti, who was killed while pillion-riding on a motor cycle near Papeete on February 7, estimates the value of the estate at 250 million francs—about $700,000, or over £200,000 Aust. The benefici aries include his mother and his children Laverne (13), Edgar (11) and Ropati (4).

The publishing house of Little & Brown had requested Leetag to write an autobiography, and the artist had made a rough draft of it.

It will be completed by friends.

Meanwhile, Herbert Case, 31, a machinist then employed as engin eer in the Fairmile launch Philante 11, who was at the controls of the motor-cycle when the accident oc curred, was arrested on his dis charge from hospital and faces charges of intoxication, and prob ably manslaughter.

Admiral du Saint Front writes: “Herbert Case and Edgar came out of Les Tropiques after dining there, some time about 11.30 p.m., and mounted the former’s motor-cycle.

Other members of the party—which had started at about 6 p.m aboard Philante —took to cars. Case says they were coming to my place, as I was unwell and unable to attend

the party, but had told Edgar he might come with a few for a quiet chat and a drink, so as to keep out of over-drinking, which he very sin cerely wished to do. According to witness he was not what can be called intoxicated, nor did Case ap pear to be. The accident happened a bare 200 yards from my house.”

*Mr. Frank C. Kugelberg, well known in Tahiti, recently retired from his departmental manager ship in Williams, Dimond & Co., of San Francisco. He was employed by the US Government during the late war as an economic service officer, and in that capacity he visited many Pacific Territories.