Evening star., 1922-08-28
NORTHCL|FFE WILL
FIGHT IS LAUNCHED
Control of London Times and
=; Associated Papers Is
: sue at Stake.

By the Associated Press
JONDON. August 2s.-The owner
shin of the London Times ana the
policy of Lord Northcliffe's leaoihs
nswspaper were questions when
dominated yesterdays newspapers
Incidentally, it was learned that tnere
is.to be contest over LORD Nor'h-
cliffe's will and three caveats nave
been entered against its propate' II
now develops that Lord Nortnciianae aa
made two wills, one dated March -,
1919, and another shortly peloIe his
death, of which the sole executor "
Lady Northcliffe.
The admitting of the will to pro-
bate will end all speculation con-
cerning its contents lhere
thbse who believe that LORD NortH-
cliffe took steps perpetually 10 aontir III,
some sort of organization similar 10
the Cecil Rhodes trust or the Rocke-
feller Foundation. 1t IS geheiais
agreed that if Lord Northcli1e
shares in the London Times are as
posed of in open market, there Will
hesa scramble like that of 1908, when
Harmsworth. by his strategy, barely
nosed out Arthur Pearson as a sue
cessor to the Walter interests, "hlch
controlled the newspaper Tor cen
tury.
Possible Purchasers.
Jamcs l.. Garvin, in the observer
mentions possible buyers OF the
Times. naming Sir Jonn ElIerihin, an
the second largest shareholder III the
paper, and Lord Rothermere. vlscount
NorthcHffe's brother who. II conul-
tions permitted. would buy the lliues
for his heir, Esmond HarmSWortn
Garvin also considers Sir william
William is also power IN fleel
street as the owner of the SUNDAY
Times Among Garvin's guesses IS
Lord Beaverbrook, owner OF the EA-
press, whose development in recent
years has been comparable with that
other dark horses" among them
foreign publishers. have been men
toned, but Garvin says that any at.
tempt by outsiders to get control Oh
the Times VIII fail
The Express asserts that LORD
Northcliffe's estate is estimated at
$4,000 900, of which heavy death
duties must be paid. This will likely
compel the trustees to dispose OF GER
tain of his interests and, therefore, IL
is anticipated that control OF tne
Times will eventually pass into other
hands.
Protest Wills Probation
Lord Northcliffe's affairs by the en-
tering of three caveats against the
: admission of the will or the granting
of. letters of administrator TO the
Northcliffe estate. This Will preVent
the adm inistration of the estate until
the persons entering the caveats nave
been heard. Appearances TO the
caveats were made by Henry Preuss
Amholz Lord Northcliffe's solicitor
md an old friend. and by Sir George
sutton. who was chairman or the
Amalgamated Press. ArnholZ and
Sutton are executors and trustees OF
TIE will dated March 22. 1919.
Lord RiddeIrs News of the World
is authority for the statement tnat
Just before his death LORD North
clfffe executed another will. OF whlch
Lady Northcliffe along is executr1x.
A writ of summons has been issued
thus beginning a suit to decide Whlcn
offthese wills shall be admitted. The
first will is being put forward on the
grounds that Lord Northcliffe was OF
unsound mind when the second VIII
was executed and this Is the question
that must be decided by the court
. if the case proceeds. The News OF the
World asserts that the probat1ng OF
the will has more than private In
terest for upon it's decision depends
the ownership and policy OF the Wnole
Northcliffe press.
Doctors May Decide Issue.
Doctors. not lawyers. probably will
have the last word in the approaching
legal contest over the estate, according
to the Daily Express.
The executors Of the first will, dated
March %, 1919, contend that the sec
ond will, made just before the pub
Hsher's death and witnessed by the at
tending physicians. was drawn up while
hs was not in his normal mind. The
doctors and mental specialists are ex-
pected, therefore, TO decide the issue.
Besides four prominent British doc
tors, celebrated American physician
summoned from New York was also at
the deathbed and is expected to testify.