The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-03
LAv|SHED GIFTS
Lady SackviIle Got $4,000
Often From Sir John.
MimicS AnOther'S LOve-Mak-
ing While Court Laughs.

London, July 3.-"The fight for the
millions" the suit in which the rela-
tives of the late John Murray Scott are
endeavoring to have pronounced in
valid on account of alleged undue in
fluence in the drawing of the will by
which he left the bulk of his fortune
of 100000 to Lady Sackville,, was
resumed today in the probate, divorce
and admiralty court. The audience
composed largely of women, including
several wives of cabinet ministers and
JUDGES as we'll as other notable per-
sons, filled every seat in the room
AS soon as the presiding Judge Sir
Samuel Thomas Evans, had taken his
seat on the bench, Lady Sackville re-
turned to the witness stand and under
direct examination by Sir Edward Car
son, her counsel, resumed her account
of her frie ndship with the baronet
she said 1T was in the spring of 1900
while she and the baronet were driv-
ing together that Sir John first told
her of his intention to leave her ST.
100000. He told her, now that his
mother was dead, Lady Sackville had
taken great place in his life and he
was going to leave her the million,
his furniture, his houses at Bagatelle
near Paris and at Lisbon and indeed
all except the houses in London, which
he had left to his sisters and brothers.
Later on, according to Lady SackVilIe,
he said he intended to reduce
her legacy to $75O,00O. He was going
to keep back $25O,000 to help in the
upkeep Of Knole park, the Sackville
seat at Seven Oaks, Kent during his
lifetime, he said.
This he did. Lady Sackville testi-
fled she had had nothing to do with
the will made by Sir John in 1900.
After 1901 Sir John, she said was a
frequent visitor to Knole park while
she often went to his residence in
London.
London, July s.-Lady sackville
swore she never saw the will and did
not know it had been made until much
later when Sir John spoke of revealing
it. Speaking of her father, who had
been British minister at Washington,
Lady Sackville said she was at times
depressed about the over-drafts on his
account at the bank. Sir John Scott,
she declared. noticing this gave him
$3.50 at different times. Scott she
swore, told her he could not bear to see
her worried and especially over money
matters adding your father is a poor
old man and 1 shall help him.
Lady Sackville testified that on an
other occasion, Sir John paid SIS, 900 in
to her bank in order to help her father
out of his difficulties and he spent
$4,000 in purchasing silver and gold
plate which originally had belonged to
Knole park but had been sold by var
ious members of the family. Sir John
expenses or birthday presents and
sometimes paid her travelling expenses
Lady Sackville added Scott had given
her daughter furs, which cost SIS, 900
and to herself an emerald bracelet,
which cost 5000. This was the ONLY
piece of jewelry she had had from him. |
The witness said she and family were
referred to by the Scots as the 10 |
Gusts" although they were charming |
to her face.
She said Scott threatened to revoke |
MS will on the slightest provocation.
Once when she would not lunch with
him, he said. Very well, 1 will go and |
change my will
Afterward, however, he said you lit |
lie rascal. You know 1 would never do |
hat"
Lady Sackville said that her friend |
ship with Sir John was a aplatonic |
one. When she first invited him t. |
knole park she did not know he was |
wealthy Though her father was en- |
oarraSs it never occurred to her to |
get money from him. She succeeded, |
she said, in securing all the plate be- j
sold except a gold tea set, a present |
from King George l, to the first Duke |
If Dorset which went to America. 1t |
vas valued ct $4,000.
Lady Sackville broke down and sob
,ed bitterly when she was questioned |
1 bout a letter 10 a Ir1enQ IN WHICH |
she had said Scott was making a nGw |
will leaving everything he had dan
yIed before my weary eyes for ten
years away from u.s. In a torrent OF
age, she said it was a most monstroCs |
hing for a socalled friend to give thu
etter up. The woman was one to-
whom she had been talking always
about tie SCOTS. She pointed out that
further on in the letter she had writ
.en:
Il am very sorry to have lost MS
friendship, as friends are rare 1t |
was some time before the witness could
compose herself.
At other times she kept the court in
-oars of laughter as when she describ
I'd Waiter Scott's actions in making |
ove to her and in her mimicking of |
the persons, she mentioned in the
course of her evidence. She Insisted /
Scott had left his money for knole |
park and not for her and that the great
ink between them was their knowledge
Of right.