Evening star., 1931-06-17
Counsel Makes Vigorous Fight
to Protect interests of
Her Children.
PRESENT OWNER SHOWS
FAVOR FOR WIFE'S OFFER
Court Permits Delay for Further
Negotiation With Leading
Newspaper Men"

wife Of z. 3. Mclean, owner of the
Washington Post, today launched a
vigorous court fight to prevent the
paper from passing cut Of the Mclean
family and secured a delay in the fnal
court decision on sale of the paper
until Friday, June 26, when another
hearing on the sale petition will be
held.
AT hearing before Justice Adkins
In District Supreme Court today on
the petition Of David Lawrence, WASH
ington newspaper man, to buy the Post,
Frank j. Hogan, counsel for Mrs. Nc
Lean, made an unexpected and yieor-
GUS argument to delay the sale of the
paper until a hacker Of Mrs. Mclean,
who was identified by Hogan as lone
OF Americas leading newspaper men"
mas had an opportunity to get an offer
IN shape that would preserve the rights
OF the Mclean children in the
property.
Interested in Wife's Offer.
At this hearing an offer from VIII
liam Randolph Hearst and other offers.
from unoisclosed clients, were present.
eu through counsel.
Just before Hogan opened his talk,
julius /. Peyser, counsel for Mclean,
had announces that McLeaA str the
present had no interest in any offer
other than the one that might be made
by Mrs. Mclean.
The nearing today was also marked
by q spirited clash between j. S. Flan-
merry, counsel for the American Sc
curtty and Trust Co., which is co-trus-
tee with Mclean for the Post, and
George B. Fraser, of McLean's counsel.
The clash came when it was an
nounced by Fraser that Mclean was
opposed to the amended Lawrence offer,
which was submitted today. There
was no change in the financial provi-
sions by which Lawrence offers 5000
600 for the property, but Lawrence's
original oner was to purchase the as
sets but not the stock of the Washing
ton Post Co. This would have left the
stock without supporting assets and
would eject the dissolution ~ the
washington Post Co.
Withheld Objection.
The amended offer, to which Mclean
objected. was for the purchase of the
stock, which carried with it the assets.
This offer would preserve the Identity
OF the company.
Fraser said that such a transfer was
not possible under the will of John r.
Mclean, late owner of the Post, and
he asked that Edward B. Mclean be
given time to give it further study, sug-
gesting that the hearing go over until
tomorrow. He would not disclose what
Mr.. McLean's specific objection to the
amended offer was.
Mr.. Flannery was quick to object,
saying that Mr.. McLean's objection,
which was not stated, should be given
no consideration, adding that Mclean
had had time to make his objections
more fully known.
Fraser replied that Mclean was sick.
and that not only did he want to ex-
anime the amended Lawrence offer, but
that he also wanted to examine the
Hearst offer.
InterrOgated by Guardian.
Ralph D. Quinter. who is one of the
guardians ad litem of the Mclean
children, asked whether McLean's OBJ
lection to the amended offer might
possibly result in increasing his own
income at the expense of profits which
otherwise would go to the estate. Fraser
declined to discuss specifically McLean's
objection.
w. w. Spalding, counsel for Lawrence,
suggested that the postponement would
result In the expiration of the amended
a withdrawal of the original offer.
Justice Adkins attempted to learn
whether there was any possibility the
original offer might be Withdrawn
Spalding said he could not speak for
his client on this point.
The hearing began with galaxy Of
counsel, representing dozen interests,
present.
Corcoran Thorn, president Of the
American Security 6E Trust Co., was
put on the stand and under question:
ing by Mr.. Flannery explained that the
trustees had received the amended
Lawrence offer, and had also received
an amended offer from Hearst, whose
previous bid had been rejected. The
Executive Committee of the trust COM
pany, he said, had put its 20. k" on
the amended Lawrence offer, but, he
said, he had been informed that Mr..
Mclean had not yet had time to con-
slider it.
Lawrence Offer Preferred.
He explained the amended offers from
both Lawrence and Hearst, and said
that he had not yet had time to con-
slider the Hearst offer In detail, but that
he would give as his "ofhand" opinion
that the Lawrence offer was preferable.
The original Hearst offer, which was
for $4,000, 900 In bonds, guaranteed by
a first mortgage against the Post and
Times-Herald properties, and Hearst's
personal guarantee, contained no provi-
sion for q cash payment.
AS amended. it was said, Hearst pro-
posed to buy in 100000 worth Of the
bonds on July is, but not cancel the
securities, leaving them as lien against
the property. Lawrence has incorpo-
Continued on Page 2, Column 3D.