The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-03
THE HOPKINS MONEY
The Fortune for a Share of Which
Timothy Will Contest.
Eow sEARLE WON THE WIDOW.

And How the Child Who Had Been
Lifted from Poverty to Afluence
Got Himself Disliked by His Pro-
tests Against His Foster Mothers
Second Alliance.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3.-The story
of Edward f. Searles, who from poor
farmers boy has come to be one of the
richest men in America, reads like the
tale Of Aladdin and his wonderful
lamp. A strange power has seemed to
guide him through his so years of life,
attracting him ultimately to the side OF
Mark Hopkins widow just in time to
reap the harvest of her millions. Re-
newed interest in this son Of fortune has
been aroused not only by his wife's
death week ago, by which he became
the possessor of at least $40, 900, 600, but
by the still later news that young Tim
othy Hopkins will make a struggle to
clutch from him the whole OF this
princely sum of money.
Timothy Will Contest.
There is no longer any doubt tia
Timothy will try to break the will of his
foster mother He is now on the Pacific
ocean on his way home from Janan
When he arrives his big suit for ali Of
old "Uncle Marks" millions will begin
1t is destined to be famous battle Tha
stake is so tremendous that even lyings
might head armies and march to war fo
win it.
Edward Searles is about so Years old
medium height and slender build, He l.
handsome and aesthetic. He was horn
on farm at Methuen, Mass, but. dis.
liking the drudgery of the fields. he be.
came student of books. He took a no.
ton into his head to be salesman and
to handle works of decorative art. His
tastes fitted him well for such an occn.
patton. A big New York firm learned
Of him and gave him a first class lob,
Searles knew not only how to sell furni-
ture, but how to arrange it in rooms tc
show of to the best advantage.
searIes Married the Widow.
Sometime in 1881 he came to CaIifor.
mia, where he lived quiet life, but dab
bled good deal in his old trade. That
is how he come in contact with the
Widow Hopkins, He decorated the
walls and floors of her mansion so much
to her liking that the old lady fell in
love with the fastidious Searles. She
gave him employment to keep him near
her, and they were finally married.
Timothy Hopkins, when he heard of
his foster mothers marital intentions.
grew angry. He insisted strongly that
she should not wed the house decorat Or.
His denunciation Of Searles and his in
reference with Widow Hopkins love
affairs cost the youth about SEQ 900, 900.
He spit out that vast fortune with his
quarreling with the woman who had
taken him from poverty and made him
treasurer of mighty railroad.
Where Timothy Was Foolish.
1t is generally supposed that had Tim
othy taken tho marriage of his foster
mother calmly he would certainly have
gotten an equal share of the old
woman's money with Searles. BY try
ing to get the whole of it by preventing
the marriage Hopkins dropped every
penny. Hopkins was not left cent in
the will.
His effort to break the willis evidently
to be based upon undue influence of
Searles upon his wife.
By his magnificent fortune, Searles is
placed side by side with Stanford, Hunt
ington and Crocker in control of the
Southern Pacific. What deals and com
binations he will make with his bonanza
fortunes is yet unknown. At all events,
the place he occupies and the figure he
has made cannot be matched by anything
more modern than Monte Cristo.