London, Feb. 26,
lover what have become known as A preliminary point inthe, fight the "Blake Millions" came before the High Court, to-day.
The "Blake Millions," estimated in different quarters from £1,000,000 £9,000,000, represent the accumula fortune left by Mrs. Helen Sheridan Blake, an_ Trish woman who was the wife of General Blake. She died intestate 60 years The suppliant in the present case is Annie Martha Minarin, of Charles town, Massachusetts.
Helen Blake died in 1876. She left £75,000, which was paid over, lurider the order of the Court, to the Crown, there being no next of kin.
There have been six petitions of rights so far, all of which have been dismissed. The present case fs. the seventh.
The Solicitor-General, the Hon, Sir Stafford Cripps, said it would be a merciful act on the part of the judge if once and for all people jeould be convinced that the "Blake Millions" do not exist or that, if they do, the Crown has a right to them now which cannot be challenged owing to the Statute of Limitations.
Tadgment was reserved—Reuter. i AWARDS,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.