I would believe you've provided a solution, yes ^^ Partly because I've just read your story :P But also because I have begun to grasp how your mind works ^_^

You know, I've just thought - perhaps they could have just forged an English marriage certificate and taken that back to South Africa, and left poor Miss Smith alone. Her "husband" would presumably have had total rights to the money - Violet Smith would not need to present herself for Ralph Smith's money to be handed over. And if the authorities knew the money had been claimed, they would not need to advertise for relatives abroad. Miss Smith would never have known she had been swindled out of a fortune.

(Oh, dear God - I'm turning into a criminal mastermind. It's hanging around with you...)