STRANGE WILL CASE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1786, 26 June 1913, Page 5

STRANGE WILL CASE.

A MISSING CODICIL. FORTUNE OF A MILLION AT STAKE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyriclit London, June 24. In tho Probate Division of tho High Court of Justice, Mr. Malcolm Scott is contesting probate of tho will of his brother, Sir John Murray Scott. Counsel alleges that Lord and Lady Sackville had spent ten years in gaining an ascendancy over tho testator, and had induced him/to finance, tliem, giving them enormous sums, and ultimately to leave them the bulk of his fortune. The Sackvilles during 1900 received ■£29,411. (Rec.'June 25, 10.55 p.m.) London, June 25. Sir Edward Carson is representing the Sackvilles, and tho lit. Hon. F. E. Smith is counsel for Mr. Malcolm Scott. Mr. Smith, in his address to the Court, said that Sir John Scott willed to Lady Sackville, in token of her goodness and sympathy, particularly at tlio timo of liis mother's death, £150,000, pictures <ind furniture in Paris worth ,£350,000, and other valuables. As all were left duty free, which amounted' to forty per centum, there would likely be little or no residuary estate for the family out of the total of ,£1,180,000. Mr. Malcolm Scott now asked the Court' to pronounce upon • the missing codicil, revoking the bequests to Lady Sackville. ' Another codiqil, dated 1908, provided that if any members of the family disputed the will, they would be disinherited.

Mr. Smith continued that Sir John was of an affectionate disposition, ami easily influenced. He met Lady Sackville in .March, 1897. He kept a diary, one entry in which, dated June, 1899, read: "Truly a' marvellous woman, clever, sympathetic." A later entry ran: told me all her .troubles and worries." Mr. Smith/stated that Mr. "Walter Scott, another brother, was desirous of becoming Sir John's private secretary. Lady Sackville, objecting, took Mr. Walter Scott for a walk. She suggested that Walter was in love with her, and Walter bluntly replied: "Ton never made a greater mistake." Lady Sackville afterwards told Sir John that AV alter was in love with her. Mrs. Scott, his mother, sought to persuade Sir John to give up tho Sackvilles. Finally, in December, 1899, Walter asked Lady Sackville to leave his brother alone, as she was alienating him from his family. Lady Sackville refused, and Walter spoke to Sir John that same evening. His mother overheard the conversation, and died of a heart attack next morning. Lady Sackville gradually _ insinuated herself as mistress in Sir John's house, used his motor-cars, gave orders to tho servants, and arranged entertainments, putting his sisters in the background. Some money was given to the Sackvilles apparently upon a mortgage upon Knowle House. Sir John also advanced .£SOOO to meet their expenses in litigation • over a legitimacy case.

SALE AT CHRISTIE'S. (Rec. June 25, 10.55 p.m;) London, June 25.. Some of Sir John Scott's valuables wero sold yesterday at Christie's day sale, for ,£57,551, including four panels of a. Beauvais tapestry, which fetched .£18,900. A reward of £10,000 was recently offered to anyone who discovered a codicil to the. will' bf Sir Murray Scott. A draft of the oodicil was found among Sir John Murrajrs pup&rs. The will leaves .£1,000,000 to Lady Sackville, but if the codicil we're found, and it corresponded with the draft,, this sum would be reduced to ,£30,000, the bulk of the fortune then going to Mr. Malcolm Scott. Sir John died in January of last.