A STRANGE CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1922, Page 5

A STRANGE CASE.

RECALLED BY A WILL. MOVE TO UPSET PROBATE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Melbourne, April 7. An application has been lodged for a probate of the draft copy of the will made in February, 1921, by Mrs. Lippe. The executor declares that a later will whereby Smith is the sole beneficiary is invalid. A caveat against the probate application has been lodged on behalf of the husband.

[An earlier message about the case said: “An inquest on Mrs. Lippe. whose mangled body was recently found at the foof of South Head Gap, disclosed remarkable features. The evidence showed that deceased was a Victorian society woman separated from her hpsband, who was described as a New Zealand guide living in the Dominion. She left a will bequeathing property valued at £lO.OOO to a young man named Mai inter Smith, .with whom she associated in the musical world, and who sometimes stayed at her house. The evidence of a lady companion of Mrs. Lippe alfeged that the two women were kept in a state of terror by Smith’s allegations that Roman Catholics and Sinn Feiners were after them, and had a machine-gun and other arms hidden about the house, preparatory to attacking it on a given date. Prior to this date Smith induced the women to flee to Sydney. Mrs. Lippe left a letter for Smith, stating that she had decided to end it all, adding that happiness would come to her on the other side, where she would wait for him. Smith denied the allegations about terrorising the women.and said he had tried to rea6on with Mrs. Lippe in regard to her ideas about Roman Catholics and Sinn Feiners, but found that she would not listen, so took the line of least resistance and agreed with her. He denied plaving on her feelings or suggesting that she should commit suicide. Smith admitted receiving considerable sums of money from her. The coroner in returning a verdict of suicide, added that Smith’s association with Mrs. Lippe undoubtedly acted as an unwholesome influence on her mind.]