Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-24
SEARLES WILL CASE
The Examination of Mr..
Searles Concluded.
Testimony for Timothy Hop
kins Finished.
No One Else Heard in Opposition to
the Will.
General Hubbard Put ON the witness
Stand for the Defepse-He Tells
All About the Famous
Copartnership.
Associated Press Dispatches.


Associated Press Dispatches.
SALEM, Mass, Oct. 23.-At the OPEN
ing of the Searles will case this morning,
Lincoln recalled Searles. Witness tes-
tilted that at Mrs. Hopkins's request be
first called in Mr.. Stillman to look up
her securities, in October, 1887. Witness
testified to the visit of Stillman to
Methuen before the last will was made.
Mrs. Searles said she wished to leave all
her property to witness, and would
provide for Timothy in her lifetime. In
case anything happened to her she was
willing to leave matters in witness
hands. She knew witness would be
more generous to Timothy than she
would. Witness testified that during
Mrs. Searless last sickness he visited
New York and while in conversation
with Stillman, referred to her condition
and said if her condition was
critical it would be well to transfer the
Southern Pacific and Improvement bonds
and stocks to him, so in case OF Mrs.
Searles's death it should not lose it's
voting power. Stillman said he would
attend to it. Witness denies most en-
phatically that he at any time astempt-
ed, by himself or through others, to in
any way influence his wife in the dis
posal of her property. He never
noticed anything to show she was in
any other than strong mental con-
dition.
Burley, on cross-examination, asked
witness ii he intended to say he never
had any private conversation in regard
to the disposal of her property. Wit
ness replied, "None."
Searles stated that in June, 1887, he
had property of his own amounting to
100000. The ross-examination by
Burley brought out nothing new. Wit
ness knew of no memoranda additional
to the will being left. At least he has
not discovered any.
This concluded Searles's testimony, he
having been on the stand for five days
and over, under most searching ex-
animation into all his affairs.
Burley then called for the check books
showing checks to Stillman or Hubbard.
This request the court was not disposed
to grant.
Counsel for the will then rendered the
original copies of letters which had been
read for comparison, and the contestants
rested their case for Timothy Hopkins.
Judge Harmon asked if any one else
wished to be heard in oppo to the
instrument, and there was no response.
Lincoln then called General Hubbard,
of New York, who testified that he had
known Searles for some time prior to
1882, but had personally done no busi-
Co.. 10 rc% a. I've orIa
in the spring of 1888, but had heard
something of field matters in conversa-
ton with Stillman.
General Hubbard gave in general
way Mrs. Searles's property as consist
ing of some sixty different kinds of
stocks and bonds. The property is such
that any one who attempts to attend to
either one of the properties requires
all of his time. Witness had a
large and prosperous practice, and
when Stillman came to him and said
Searles wanted him to take the manage
ment of the property, and asked il he
would go in with him, he told him it
was serious matter, as it would in
short time at least involve the abandon
ment of the practice of law. Finally he
consented to take itup with him. The CO.
partnership was suggested by Stillman,
who had found as attorneys they had
met with rebuffs in getting the informa-
tion necessary to cope with the question
before them, but as principals, as well
as attorneys, they could insist on their
rights to it. Witness knew that five
per cent. would be much less than his
professional income and finally after
much discussion the co-partnership as
drawn, was made as the most just and
reasonable arrangement.
At the afternoon session General Hub
bard testified that the management of
the estate had taken nearly all his time
for the last year and a half and
fully as much of Stillmans time.
He saw Mrs. Searles about June
5, 1888, and she wanted some one to
manage her business who was near at
hand. In the latter part of May, 1890,
witness went to Mrs. Searles and re-
marked that she appeared to be drawing
but little, while Searles was drawing
quite literally. She asked if that was
not right. Witness said yes, il she
wished it so. She said Searles paid
all her bills and she wanted him to.
She did not want to keep bank ac-
count or have anything to do with mat
ters of business.
were any changes made IN the rec
ord OF the title OF co-partnership, Just
before Mrs. Searles's death?" was asked
witness.
Eyes. In the Southern Pacific and
Pacific Improvement companies; both
had been transferred to the partnership,
but they had remained on record as in
the name OF Mrs. Searles. They were
transferred on the books OF the COM
pany."
Witness had ne. personal knowledge OF
the wills, and had never attempted in
any manner to influence Mrs. Searles in
regard to making her WILL Mrs. Searle:
always impressed him as a woman OF
alert mind, and spoke as woman OF
quite decided opinions when she spoke
on matters Of business. Witness never
ADVISED keeping matters secret from
Timothy Hopkins.
Terrible Collision.