LATE ARNOLD BENNETT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 305, 22 November 1934, Page 8

LATE ARNOLD BENNETT.

PROVISIONS IN WILL. Received November 22, 11.15 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 21. Miss Dorothy Cheston Bennett’s appeal against ‘ Mr Justice Clauson’s judgment in July has been allowed. Lord Hanworth stated that the covenant under which the late Mr Arnold Bennett’s wife was allotted, after her husband’s death, £SOOO, also two-thirds of the capital balance remaining m the estate, left Mr Bennett free to deal with his property during his life-time. It was right that he should make provision for Miss Cheston Beilnett’s child. Mr Justice Romer agreed that Miss Cheston Bennett be given the absolute property of the novelist’s journals which had a sentimental value to her apart from their pecuniary worth.

The late Mr Arnold Bennett’s widow estimated his gifts to Miss Bennett (formerly Miss Cheston) were securities (£7900), copyright (£4220) and manuscripts (£7500). She did not wish to disturb the settlement whereby Miss' Bennett’s child benefited. Mr Justice Clauson dismissed that part of the action and added in the course of his judgment that testator had clearly contemplated that, though Miss Bennett was to be the owner of the copyright in certain of his plays and manuscripts, the income from them wpuld remain his during liis lifetime. The widow’s claim to the stocks and securities given Miss Bennett would be dismissed. The copyright in the testator’s journal and manuscripts would be treated as part of the estate. Miss Bennett was to pay three-fifths of the widow’s costs.