DISPUTE OVER WILL

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 252, 21 July 1934, Page 7

DISPUTE OVER WILL

— 1; Bequests by Novelist*

London, July 19.

A dispute regarding the late Mr. Arnold Bennett’s will onened in the Chancery Court, the widow • claiming that several deeds of gift in the favour of Miss Dorothy Cheston should be set aside.

Sir William Jowitt, K.C., said that the Bennetts were married, in 1907, and separated in 1921 under a deed providing that the executors should pay the widow £5OOO and two-thirds of the capital balance remaining in the estate, and also two-thirds of the royalties payable to the executors. Counsel added that Mr. Bennett later lived with Miss Cheston, who took the name of Bnnett bv deed poll and bore a child in 1026. Mr. Bennett wrote a letter to Miss Cheston in 1925. saying: “Although the bulk of my possessions are going to my wife, I take every means to put as much as possible in other hands.” Mr. Bennett made a will in 1926, giving Miss Cheston “all my possessions except such proportion as I covenanted to give to mv wife.” but Mr. Bennett’s deed of gift to Miss Cheston in 1927 apparently handed over rights to certain plays, while the disputed gifts to Miss Cheston include several manuscripts; The case was adjourned.