BABY CLAIMS £10.000.000.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1920, Page 11

BABY CLAIMS £10.000.000.

THE FIELD MILLIONS. A ROMANTIC STORY. ACTRESS AND WEALTHY LOVER. Behind the legal action begun in the united States Court to decide the possession of a .€10,000,000 estate, lies a romance in which Miss Peggy Marsh, the popular and beautiful London actress, is a central figure. Ex-tlovernor Dunne, the guardian of her son Tony, claims that he is entitled to the income from a trust fund of £1,000,000, m well as to the residue of the estate of the late llcnrv Field, grandson of the famous Marshal Field, the multi-millionaire, and father of the boy. Marshal Field's will left his estate to the late Mr. Field "or his issue," and whether Tony is to be regarded as the rightful heir or not depends on the interpretation put on the word "issue" in the courts.

Love, fortune, death, a disputed will •—here are the essentials of popular romance; and it is not surprising that the story of pretty Miss Peggy Marsh, and the claim that is being made on behalf of her little son, Tony, to £10,000,000, reads like a book, writes a correspondent from London.

In 1015 Miss Marsh, then twenty years of age, was a chorus girl in "5004, Ccrrard," at the Alhnmhra. Exceptionally pretty and vivacious, she was a great favorite, and there are said to have been scrambles at the stage door among young officers who admired her.

LOVE ROMANCE. Perhaps every chorus girl dreams of becoming the heroine of a romantic story; if Peggy Marsh had time to imagine herself in that role, her dream came true. In the midst of her youthful gaiety she met a young man. just, a year younger tliaii herself, who' fell in 'love with her genuinely and lastingly, whom she loved in return. He was Mr. Henry Field, grandson of the famous American multi-millionaire, Marshal Field. He had recently left Eton and had joined the R.N. Armored Car Corps. While he was on active Service Miss Marsh left the stage. Their son was born in June, 1010.

Then Mr. Field was: called home to America, and soon afterwards his engagement to Miss Nancy King Perkins, a niece of Dana flibson," the artist, was announced. He died in 1917, four months after his marriage to Miss Perkins, who hast also since died.

His thoughts appear to have been constantly with Peggy Marsh and his little Son, and after his death his Mother, following out his instructions, established for her benefit a trust fund of £20,000.

MEANING OF A WORD.

The claim now being made on behalf of Tony, her 3 J-year-old son, by lit. Dunne (ex-(!overnor Dunne, of Chicago), his uuardian, is as follows;

"That Marshal Field's will provides that the income from a £1,000.000 trust fund, established by him for his grandson, Henry, should" bo collected by him or his issue."

Marshal Field's executors, on the other hand, contend that "issue" moans legal Usue. It is, however, arguable that Tony is entitled not only to the income of the trust fund, but also to the residue of Henry Field's estate, amounting to £10,000,000. When I interviewed Miss Marsh at her flat in Hanover Square s>he was extremely anxious that people should gTasp the fact that She is not making the claim.

"I returned from Switzerland yesterday," she said; "and was amazed to find that the story of the Field case had been revived with such intensity.

"I am glad to avail myself of an opportunity to contradict the statement that I am the plaintiff in the case. "If I were, I should be in America, and I assure you I am not going to America if I can possibly help it- Of course, the lawyers may send for me.

LOSS OF £BOOO A YEAB. "Mr. Field and I met in info, when I was playing in '5004 Oerrard' at the Alhambra. and we became very much attached to each other. "We were together whenever we could be, and when I went to America, after his return home, we spent as much time ini each othorr's company as circumstances would permit.

"This lent color to a report that we were going to be married, but there were certain facts that are of no interest to the public, and are my concern alone, so there is no need to elaborate that point." "Iu February, 1917, Mr. Field married, and in the following July he died. By his death I lost £OOOO "a year, which was the sum set aside for me by an agreement we had.

"Owing to; my ignorance nf American law 1 had a little difficulty with a trust fund of £20,000 that'had been specially created, but these points do not enter into the suit now being contested.

"There never has been any doubt bb to the question of my son Tony being the issue of Mr. Field. Mr. Dunne, the guardian appointed for him, with the consent and approval of the Field estate, is fighting the case, I have nothing to do with it"

"But you have hopes for Tony's sue' cess?" I asked.

TO ACT FOR FILM. "Well, it will he jolly for baby if he wins,'' Miss Marsh admitted, with a smile that showed her dimples. "Just now he is in Norfolk, with his nurse. I like him to spend most of his time in the country, but he will be coming up to London in a day or two. Of course, I want to see him." Asked if she had made any plans for the future, Miss Marsh said that she intends to act for the films and has already been asked by the Lnsky Famous Players Corporation to appear'in a new production. Miss Marsh is already regarded rts a millionairess by many people. Begging letters would appear to have come in. On her mantelpiece was one addres-ed to— Miss Peggy Marsh, Actress, • Some Flat, Hanover Square, W.