New-York tribune., 1920-08-20
Nephew Makes
Move Against
Searles Will
Request for Special Admin
istrator of $4,000, 900
Estate Is Said to Forecast
Contest of the Document
His Share Only $25O,OOO
Other Kin of Man Who Left
Bulk of Riches to New
Yorker Expected to Fight

TfoPtVueWt
BOSTON, Aug. l9.-The first move
in the fight for the riches of the late
millionaire Edward f. Searles
has been started with the fling of a
formal request with the Essex County
Register of Probate by Currier e.
Young, State Street attorneys, repre-
senting Albert Victor Searcs, the
nephew, cut off with S250,oOO, asking
that they have an opportunity to be
heard on an application for special
administrator for the $5o0OO,0 900 estate.
Former Senator Guy w. Currier,
head of the law firm, said last night
that this initial move does not neccs-
sarlly' mean that an attempt is to be
made to break the will by his client
1T IS an action primarily intended 20
protect the interest of Albert Victor
Searles in the big estate, he explained
Further action will depend upon cir
cumstances and on tie Developments
of the next few weeks.
Probate lawyers regard the request
to the Register of Probate as virtually
a notice of contest against the will
Special administrators, they point out.
are appointed only for estates which
are IN dispute, and it is known that
the younger Mr.. Searles is ANYTHING
but satisfied with the will, which leaves
nm only small share of the estate
while giving its bulk to Arthur r
Walker. of New York
Stands to Lose $250,OOO
Albert Victor Searles stands to lose
me 100000 left to him by his uncle
II ne contests the will. Even assisting
or cooperating with others who NAV
wish to break the will would mean. ac-
cording to its explicit terms. cuttinr
nm or any Of the other bencficiarics
or entirely. Attorney Currier, there
tore, maintains that the fling of the
paper before the Essex County Court
is Dut tentative move that cannot be
construed. as opposition to the Will of
the eccentric Methuen man.
In fact it is hoped by ATTORNEYS for
the present benefciaries of the Searles
Will that it may not be necessary at ali
Tor them to file suit to break the docu-
ment, for other relatives, ready and
Wiling to fight, have appeared in the
arena. Dennis +. MARI, of Mechanics
rails, Me-, seventy-seven-y year old
cousin of the dead millionaire, has en-
gagged as counsel former CONGRESSMAN
Daniel j. McGillicuddy, of Lewiston,
we: Whether he will attempt to con-
test the will is problematical. AS he
is not now named in the instrument
he has nothing to lose, it is pointed
out
Another claimant that Mr.. Searles
forgot in his last testament is Mrs.
Susan <. Allen, of ,4518 Delmar Boule-
ward, St. Louis. She is cousin and
her attorneys have been active in
securing information in Lawrence re-
garding the will. They were particu-
larly anxious to get the names of the
executors, but they would scarcely
have time to file suit.
Contest Regarded Certain
Dissatisfied claimants have until
September to file formal objections
and ask for hearing. 1t is believed
that before that date papers will be
filed for or with the consent of claim
ants, and an effort will be made to pre-
vent Mr. Walker from securing the
bulk of the $5o,OO0o0o property. What
form the campaign will take is a ques-
tlon OF expediency.
Servants at the six-thousand acre
Metnuen estate are under orders not
to speak about the affairs of their
former master. Inquirers are referred
by them to Mr. Walker, whom they re-
gard as their new master.
Arthur T. Walker declined yester-
day to comment on rumors which
make him the agent of the late Ed
ward F. Searles in public welfare plans,
to such an extent that Walkers pri-
vate fortune, as principal beneficiary,
would be considerably reduced.
"Whatever rumors may have been
started by the newspapers themselves"
he said. II have nothing to saw"