LATE LORD NORTHCLIFFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19508, 11 December 1926, Page 11

LATE LORD NORTHCLIFFE.

SPIRIT COMMUNICATIONS. CLAIM OF LADY SECRETARY. DRAMATIC MOMENTS IN COURT. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received 7.10 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Dec. 9. The hearing was continued to-day of the law suit, in which Miss Louise Owen, who was the late Lord Northcliffe's confidential secretary, and a beneficiary under his will, is claiming that the sale of newspaper properties by Sir George Sutton to Lord Rothermere in September, 1922, for £1,643,000, should be declared void. Plaintiff claims that the properties were really worth much more, as shown by the fact that Lord Rothermere sold them one year later for £5.600,000. There was a dramatic turn in the case when Miss Owen was cross-examined. In the course -of her evidence she said Lord in, recognition of her services as confidential secretary, gave her 1000 shares in Associated Newspapers, Ltd., advising her never to sell them as they provided a nice nest egg. • She had not done so until it was necessary to begin this case.

Witness recalled that Lord Northcliffe, in a codicil to his will, valued the shares at 140s each, instead of 80s, which Lord Rothermere paid. When the cross-examination began interest was tense. Mr. A. F. Lusmoore, on behalf of Lord Rothermere, asked if witness claimed to be in communication with Lord Northcliffe now.

Witness dramatically protested against the bringing in of religious views, and, waving a silver cross, cried: "Here's my religion." Mr. Luxmoore insisted upon an answer, and witness appealed to the Judge, who told her to answer.

Miss Owen then said: "I claim to be in communication with Lord Northcliffe, as I am with my mother and father, who have gone over, but who are looking after me."

Mr. Luxmoore proceeded to read extracts from the Psychical Gazette containing Miss Owen's letters describing Lord Northcliffe's appearances by means of a medium since his death. Mr. Luxmoore asked what the circumstances were under which Miss Owen refused to sign an agreement with the executors which the other beneficiaries accepted until the executors admitted her as a creditor in Lord Northcliffe's estate for £4OOO a year. Witness replied: "I signed under compulsion, but this compromise is a fraud." Miss Owen added dramatically: "I am ready to be penniless, as I stand to be as the result of this case, in order to see my chief's wishes carried out."