The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-22
SCRIPPS' SUIT
BARES PAPERS,
PROFITS, VALUE
Widow OF Publishers Son
Claims 100000 Due
His Estate.

CINCINNATI, March 22.-The in
crease in receipts, profits and value
OF the Scripps newspapers between
the years 1908 and 1920 inclusive.
were brought out in Federal court
here today by witnesses for Mrs.
Josephine S. ScrippS in her suit for
an accounting against Robert p.
ScrippS, executor Of the estate of his
father, the late F. w. Scripps.
just before the midday recess, the
plaintiff rested her case.
Testimony, designed to establish
the amount Of money and increment
she alleges is due her through what
she claims was partnership agree
ment between her husband, the late
James G. Scripps and his father, was
offered by Jay W. Curtis of Oakland,
Cal. He was formerly general coun-
sci for the Scripps interests and is
now counsel for the newspaper in
terests of Mrs. Scipps.
Sues for S6,OOO,OOO
he testified that the properties,
which James Scripps was managing
under agreement with his father.
between 1908 and 1920 increased
their circulation and advertising
receipts from $3,4OO,O00 to $16,7OO.-
600; their cash operating profit from
$351,00O to S1,269,OOO and the in
crement on the value Of the prop
erty over $13,O0O0O0.
1t is on the basis of these figures
that Mrs. Scripps contends there is
due the estate of her husband "in
excess Of $6,O00,OOO"
j. c. Harper, who was personal
counsel for f. w. Scripps, was close
ly examined by the defense in the
effort to develop that the elder
Scripps, even when he had his
working arrangement with his SON.
James, did not "abdicate" from the
management of his properties.
Harper said there was no differ
ence in the fathers activities after
his son came into the business.
Didn't Want Contract
He would drop out for a con-
siderable time and come back"
Harper testified. "He had dropped
out at times even before his son
came in, but always returned. None
of us ever knew when he would
reappear"
Of the contractual agreement,
the elder Scripps had proposed to
his son, Harper said:
Jim said he did not like the plan
and was not willing to sign it. He
thought it was a bad proposition.
He thought it would be better to
go to his father from time to time
and ask for a distribution he did
not desire a contract
The breach between the elder
Scripps and son James appeared
from evidence introduced in the
trial to have started noticeably in
1917, and by 1920 had become
sharply defined. In the latter year
in fact. E, w. Scripps drafted what
he described as a statement and
sent it to James.
He told his son he would give
him a salary of $4,000 a year, but
added that there is no occasion for
my making any further distribution
along the line I have practiced for
some time; namely, an increment
division
Howard Named Chairman
The father then advised James
that the latter no longer would con-
tinue as his attorney and agent in
fact, a prime reason being accord
ing to the elder Scripps, that his son
had developed INTO a man of such
force and Independence Of CHARGE
ter that he finds it extremely diff
cult to subordinate himself to any
superior authority
James promptly wrote his father
in reply asking that the statement
be withdrawn, AS l consider it ln-
justified
But 1t was not withdrawn. E. w.
ScrippS, even before writing then
statement" had authorized that
Row w. Howard be chairman of the
beard Of the ScrlppS newspapers east
Of the Rocky Mountains and Robert
p. Scripps placed in editorial charge.
James was to retain control Of the
Western newspapers.
Previous testimony had been in
PRODUCED to show the elder Scripps
had promised James he would pro-
vide for the sons share of the in
creased value Of the properties in his
will.