Evening star., 1924-09-30
CONTEST PLANNED
ON ACTRESS WILL
Relatives of Lotta Crabtree
Prepare to Fight for
S4.OOO,0OO Estate.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BOSTON, September 5O.--A contest
over the will of Lotta Crabtree, the
actress, who left approximately 34-
100000 to charities, cutting off rela-
tives with 100000, was indicated to-
day.
Relatives who were not mentioned
in the will. Mrs. Robert Glenn of New
York, Maude Louise Crabtree of Bos-
ton. Mrs. Charlotte l.. Beitmuller Of
Newark. n. j.; Mrs. Ethel Harmon OF
Scranton, Pa, and others have either
sent attorneys here or have notified
counsel for Miss Crabtree of their in
tention to contest the document
The $1,000, 900 fund set aside by the
actress for the relief of disabled
World War veterans and their de-
pendents may be matched in amount
by her provision for the promotion OF
farming. The residue Of tho estate
was left to aid graduates Of Massa
chusetts Agricultural College.
In establishing the Lolita Agricul-
tural Fund the actress, who had pro-
vided elsewhere for the care of dumb
animals, discharged convicts, NEEDY
actors and actresses, hospital, as
sistance to music students and Christ
mas gifts to the poor, said:
To Provide Employment.
ct believe it is my duty to aid in
some of the great social and economic
questions of the times, and IL is my
belief that the best method to reduce
the cost and expense of living and to
provide a generally more prosperous
and larger employment for the peo-
pie lies in the intelligent and active
promotion of agricultural pursuits;
and that / may render real practical
assistance in this direction, I author
ize my trustees to loan the semi-an
nual income of this fund, without in
terest, to such graduates OF Massa-
chusetts Agricultural College at Am
herst as have completed their course
and who have the desire TO follow
agriculture"
The 100000 estate which Miss
Crabtree acquired in d colorful career
of song and dance, real estate invest
ment and theater operation goes 10
charity under the terms of her Will
which was filed yesterday, and half
of the sum goes TO form a trust fund
for World War disabled and their de-
pendents.
Funds for War Veterans.
The will establishes trust fund
en- in the service of the United States
during the World War who were dis
abled. MANNED, wounded or sick. and
extends assistance also 10 their de-
pendents.
Il thoroughly believe that In the
making of this particular trust I
have selected the noblest and most
deserving philanthrophy to which my
estate can be put the tcstatrix said
in the will.
Il have great pride and admiration
rendered by our soldiers, sailors and
women who were in the service OF
the United States during the late
World War and l have given great
consideration TO the sacrifices ano
sufferinES that have come to SO many
of them in the performance of their
duties and 10 the hardships and diffi
culties which they must continue TO
suffer in years to come.
II am fully aware of the fact that
they can never receive adequate COM
pensation and reward for what they
have helped to accomplish for the
honor and well being of their coun-
try and mankind
The trustees-Maj. Gen. Clarence Il.
Edwa rds u. =. A. retired; Judge Will
liam g. Wait of the Massachusetts
Superior Court and William A.
Morse, attorney for Miss Crabtree--
are empowered TO aid also any hos
pitfalls or other organizations per
forming a similar service to veterans
and are directed to use the income
from the fund semi annually.
Allows Use of Principal.
'Tnasmuch as at the present time
and in the immediate years TO follow
there will be greater occasion and
demand for aid and assistance than
there will be as the years 60 on" the
will directs the trustees further TO
use the principal of the fund if neces-
sary to accomplish the purposes OF
the trust.
A life of 40 years for the trust is
set by the donor, after which the
funds are to go as residue of the
estate to graduates of the Massachu-
setts Agricultural College. AS Miss
Crabtree was most closely identified
with the States of Massachusetts,,
California and New York, the will
says, the preference shall be given
to veterans in those States. but this
request is not mandatory.
a fund of 100000, to be. known
as the '1.otta dumb animal fund is
created for the care and relief of
dumb animals, and particularly for a
continuous and vigorous opposition
to yivisection. Under this trust
drinking fountains for men, horses.
birds and dogs are to be set up and
maintained in New York and Boston as
"Lotta foundations.
Theatrical Fund.
The "Iotta theatrical fund" OF
100000 is set aside to help those
members of the theatrical profession
who through sickness or misfortune
need assistance. Part of the income
of this fund may be used for the ed
ucation of young women in the the
atrical profession.
Christmas gifts of clothing. food.
coal, medicine or small donations in
cash to needy persons are provided
for in a fund of 100000 established
in the name of Mary A. Crabtree, Miss
Crabtree's mother. Convicts dis
charged in the cities of San Francis
CO. st. Louis, Chicago, Washington,
Louisville and New Orleans will benc-
fit under another 100000 fund set
aside as the "Lotta fund for aiding
discharged convicts."
A sum of 100000 is to be invested
and the income is to be paid in in
stallments of $1,000 per year to Mrs.
Edwin Fretwell and Miss Sophfa
Livesey. both of San Francisco; also
Il similar amount to Miss Crabtree's
three cousins in England-Mary Alice
Shuttleworth of Shipton, Yorkshire:
Sarah A. Crabtree, Bacup. Lancashire,
and John Henry Crabtree of Pendle-
ton, Lancashire.
For Poor In Hospitals.
The sum of $4,000 is set aside for
a. fund to be known as the Lolita hos
pital fund" the income to be paid an
nually to hospitals in Boston to ba