Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-11
ADVISED BY SPIRITS.
How Searles Won the Widow Hop
kins' Heart and Millions.
FAILURE OF THE COMPROMISE.
Timothy Refuses $3,25O,OOO to Settle and
Stop the Contest.
HE WANTS AT LEAST HALF THE. E.ESTATE

offer to prove the unsound mental condition
of Mrs. Hopkins-Searles at the time she
disinherited him. He or his numerous at
torneys never intlmated how they expected
to prove this in court. Family gossips
have, however, unfolded the plan of cam
paign. 1t appears that the influence which
the obscure paper-hanger is said to have ex-
erted was similar to that of the high spook
priestess, Ann O'Delia Diss Debar, when
she led Lawyer Luther r. Marsh pretty
lively dance.
1t is generally understood that Mr.. Searles
is an apostle of spiritualism, and that most
of his associates are engaged in fathoming
the mystery of communication with de-
parted spirits. When he went to San Fran
cisco it is said he found the old lady deeply
engrossed in the mysteries of spiritualism
AT her house were the two sons of DIR. Crook,
who in Jest amused Mrs. Hopkins by pre-
tending to converse with the invisible in
habitants of spookland. These conferences
began to take on q serious aspect, for Mrs
Hopkins became devout believer, so when
Mr.. Searles proclaimed himself an apostle
of the faith ne was invited to join their
evening circle in the drawing-room
A SPEEDY CONVERT.
Spirit rappings and slate writing were
produced by the paper-hanger, and the old
lady became enraptured when he summoned
the spirits of her departed friends and
transmitted messages from them to her.
One of the Crook boys in relating the Incl
dents that occurred at these family reunions,
tells this story:
"The gift of house to Timothy Hopkins
came about in a peculiar way. Mrs Hop
L Coz Ri md col of ha
seance table one night when suddenly she
asked the spirit of my father If she should
deed the Menlo Park residence to her son
Timothy at once or wait until it was owned
by the State. Searles heard the question,
and quick rs a flash l saw that he wanted
negative answer.
'Something told me then that Searles had
his eye on the widows estate, and did not
want Tim Hopkins to grow any closer to his
mother. also knew that If SearleS won lie
would have no further use for me. Answers
always came by the able tipping and de-
termined it should be in favor Of Tim. 1t
then became question of muscle between
Searles and myself, but was too much for
him, and in spite OF his efforts to hold the
table down tipped it. As soon as this an
swer was given Searles proposed to close the
seance for the evening From at time on 1
watched Searles efforts to influence Mrs.
Hopkins, and when he had carried his point
he found an excuse for sending me away. G.
P. Huntington knew all about this, and be-
licve he. too. was believer in Spiritalism
at one time"
PRIVATE SEANCES
An old friend of the Hopkins family says
it has been generally known for several
years that Mrs Hopkins-Searles was firm
believer in spirituelism and in Mr.. Searles'
power to communicate with the dead. Pri-
vate seances we're often held at the Great
harrington house and at MeUhuen, he says
the worshipers including some of the most
celebrated mediums.
81 have frequently heard,r said this gen.
tleman, "that it was through spiritualistic
communication that Mrs. Hopkins married
Mr.. Searles, and that the same influence is
what caused the adopted son to be disinher
tied.
Gas the story goes there was spirit writ
ing in Mrs. Hopkins drawing room one
night. Mr.. Searles was the medium. When
the slate was opened he was the first to read
the message. 1t was an injunction from
spiritand that Mr.. Searles should marry
Mrs Hopkins. OF course Mr.. Searles was
greatly embarrassed and he started to rub
out the writing, but Mrs. Hopkins snatched
That ended the seance for that evening.
"It was not long after that Mr.. Searles, in
the presence of several friends, put his arms
affectionately around Mrs Hopkins and
him as her aff1anced husband"
Timothy Hopkins has furnished himself
with afIldavits concerning his foster
mothers spiritualistic tendencies, and he
will endeavor. through his attorneys, to
convince the Massa chusetts courts that Mr.
Searl,s obtained absolute control over the
old lady by fraudulent spirit manifesto
tionS.
LOCATION OF THE BLAME.
1t will also be contended that Searies used
the same influence to keep him out of his
rightful inheritance Timothy Hopkins will
also try to prove that during her last illness
Mrs. Hopkins-Searles was isolated from her
friends and relations, and that Mr.. SearIes
stood guard over her day and night until she
died.
This spirItualistic phase of her life, and
the fact that she was brought under its con-
troll by Mr.. Searles. is the basis of the charge
OF undue influence. 1t will also be urged
that, as Mrs. Hopkins became so easily con-
verted in her old age, it should be proof
positive she was of unsound mind.
1t has been stated that no attempts have
yet been made toward a settlement of the
He RoWS o 'fS 15s
negotiations between the attorneys on both
sides was true in every important particu-
lar The negotiations were opened by Rus
sell Wilson, Mr.. Hopkins California law
yer. He called on Messrs. Stillran
and Hubbard, attorney for Mr.. Searles
and managers of the estate, and they
tion to contest the will. Mr.. Wilson wished
to know what sort of proposition Mr.. Searles
would like to make toward a settlement of
his clients claim, Mr. Stillman replied that
L.
Hopkins. On the contrary, Mr.. Searles had
spolzen of liberal settlement, and the at
torney said he was satisfied that an amicable
could be reached without re-
course to the courts.
FAILURE TO COMPROMISE.
Nothing further was done until Mr.. Hop
kins arrived. Then MI. Wilson and his asso-
ciate counsel, Judge Boalt, we're informed
by Messrs Stilman and Hubbard that MIR
Searles was willing to give Mr.. Hopkins
So. $50, ,OOO in full settlement of his claims.
When the amount was mentioned both of
the California lawyers looked surprised, and |
then returned to the Hotel Brunswick to re-
peat the proposition to their Client The |
next day they told Messrs. Stiilman and |
Hubbard that Mr.. Hopkins would not even |
consider the offer.
"How much does Mr.. Hopkins ask?n said |
General Hubbard
"Well, really. gentlemen, the meager offer |
made to us takes MS so completely by sur |
Inent can possibly be made outside Of the |
courts" was Mr.. Wilson's reply.
The result was telegrnphed to Mr.. Searles |
at Methuen, who telegraphed back that he |
did not care to continue further negotiations |
with Mr.. Hopkins attorney. If Mr.. Hopkins |
would come to Methuen and talk the matter |
over Mr. Searles telegraphed, he thought |
thew would have no difficulty in reaching a |
understanding
Mr.. Hopkins went to Methuen that night |
and last Saturday spent part of the day with
Mr.. searles. They did not, however, come
an equal share OF the estate and
would listen to no other proposition, He
left Mr.. Searles and Joined Joseph H Choate
Mt the latter's country house in Stockbridge,
Mass. where he will remain until the case is
called in the Probate Court at Salem on
September p.
Debating Balmaceda's Paper Currency.
New YORK, Sept. 1O-Private advices re-