ARNOLD BENNETT’S ESTATE

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19314, 21 July 1934, Page 8

ARNOLD BENNETT’S ESTATE

LITIGATION INSTITUTED. ACTION IN CHANCERY COURT. Urrited Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, July 19. A dispute regarding the Arnold Bennett’s will was opened at the Chancery Court, the widow claiming that several deeds of gift in favour of Miss Dorothy Cheston should be set .aside. Sir W. Jowitt, K.C., said the Bennetts were married in 1907 and separated in 1921 under a deed providing that his executors should pay the widow £SOOO and two-thirds of the capital balance remaining in the estate and also two-thirds of the royalties payable to the executors. Sir William added that Bennett later lived with Miss Cheston, who took the name of Bennett by deed poll and bore a •child in 1926. Bennett sent a letter to Miss Cheston in 1925 saying: “Although the bulk of my possessions is going to my wife, I will take every means to put as much as possible into other hands.” Bennett made a will in 1926 giving Miss ’Cheston “all my possessions except such proportion as I covenanted to give my wife,” but Bennett’s deed of gift to Miss Cheston in 1927 apparently handed over his rights in certain plays while the disputed gifts to Miss 'Cheston include several manuscripts.

LATER.

WIDOW’S CLAIM DISMISSED. THE LATE ARNOLD BENNETT. United Press Assn.—Eicc. Tel. Copyright. (Received Julv 21, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 20. The late Mr Arnold Bennett’s widow estimated bis gifts to Miss Bennett were .securities £7900, copyrights £4220, and manuscripts £7500. She did not- wish to disturb the settlement whereby Mr Bennett’s child benefited. Mr Justice Clauson dismissed thdt part of the action, and added in the course of his judgment that testator clearly contemplated that though Miss Bennett was to be the owner of the copyright in certain of bis plays and manuscripts 'the inco-mn from them would remain his during his life-time.

The widow’s claim to stocks and securities given lo Miss Bennett would be dismissed. The copyright in testator’s journal manuscripts were treated as part of the estate. Miss Bennett pays three-fifths of the widow’s costs.