A CONTESTED WILL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1929, Page 7

A CONTESTED WILL

LONDON, September 8. With the evidence of the 13th witness the English proceedings in connection with tiie Hatzfeidt will dispute concluded yesterday. Princess Hatzfeidt, the Americanborne wife of a German prince, famous during the Victorian and Edwardian periods, as one of the most beautiful women at the English Court died in London last December.

Although she inherited a fortune of £15,(X,0,0tK) from her uncle and foster father, >Mr Coilis P. Huntington, 30 years ago, her estate had been valued at only £1,000,000, nearly all of which has been left to British friends and charities.

NEPHEW’S ALLEGATION. Mr E. Whitman Prentice, of San Francisco, the nephew and sole surviving relative of the princess, is contesting the will in the American courts, alleging “fraud and undue inline nee.”

s The American Vice-Consul lias sat in private at me Consular Offices, Har-ley-strcet, W., for eight days, taking the evidence of English witnesses. These have included Commander Claud Philip Champion de Crespigny, who receives £IOO,OOO and is also residuary legatee under the will.

The examination and cross-examina-tion of witnesses has been most searching. Tt Inis touched upon the princess’s intimate life and the disposal of her money, and recently statements have gained currency that, in view of the fact that all the. evidence given before tho vice-consul will be made public when tho case comes before the Surrogate Court in New York in a few weeks’ time, the interested parties had decided upon a compromise. This was officially denied by Mr Max' D. Stoner, a prominent New York layer, yesterday. Ho said: “This is a question of honour. The will to be submitted to probate is that of Princess Hatzfeidt and not some other will winch means some people might desire to see substituted. Not a single penny will be paid to anyone. The case will he fought to a finish.”