INDIGNANT ARISTOCRAT

Southland Times, Issue 19598, 9 July 1925, Page 7

INDIGNANT ARISTOCRAT

THE SEAFIELD ESTATES. LORD STRATOSPEY COMPLAINS. (By Telegraph Press Assn.—Copyright' (Sun Cable). LONDON, July 7. Interviewed. Lord Strathspey, uncle of Lady Seafield and heir presumptive, said h* was unable to understand why the Seafield estates of 400,000 acres went to his niece instead of to him. He declares that the trustees will not respond to appe.ds for assistance, and adds: “It is strange they adopt this attitude. Most people agree it would be only just to allow me at least a portion of the estates. They are content that I should live on a mere pittance of £7OO. If they would only find me some suitable occupation like a directorship I would be only too happy, but they have never given me assistance in such a direction.” THE CANADIAN CLAIMANT. CASE ADJOURNED. LONDON, July 7. (Received July 8, 5.5 pun.) The Edinburgh Court of Session adjourned till October Grant’s claim to the Seafield Peerage. Counsel said Grant had been investigating the claim for 20 years. There were immense difficulties due to the age of the witnesses, who were to give evidence relating to Grant’s birth in 1846. There was also trouble in obtaining identifying letters bearing on that particular. A London cable of June 29 stated:—Mr Alexander Grant, a septuagenarian, exachoolmaster, is claiming in the Scottish Courts the title and the huge fortune of the- Earl of Seafield, which is at present held by Lady Seafield, one of the few countesses in her own right, whose grandfather lived in humble circumstances in New Zealand prior to succeeding to the title. Mr Grant claims to be a son of the seventh earl, who paid for his education at Aberdeen. He states that he saw his mother only ooce—in 1906. Lord Strathspey (uncle of Lady Seafield, and heir presumptive to the earldom) says that Mr Grant’s claim is one of several. An American claims the title, and already calls herself Counts Strathspey. Lord Strathspey adds: “I have contemplated claiming the earldom, but would cost 90.000, which is prohibitive. The trustees j the estate allow me £7OO a year. I have -ent a house in a London suburb when ancestral seats in Scotland are empty.”