Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-04
lie LOST s2o,Ooo,ooO.
How 1t Fell Out of Timothy Hopkins Open
Mouth.

SAN FRANCISCO, August 3.-The story
Of Edward F. Searles, who from po or
farmers boy has come to be one Of the
wealthiest men In America, reads like
the tale of Aladdin and his wonderf ul
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
possessor of at least $40, 900, 900, but by
the still later news that young Timothy
Hopkins will make struggle to clutch
from him the whole Of this princely sum
Of money.
There is no longer any doubt that
Timothy will try to break the will OF
his foster mother. He is now on the
Pacific ocean on his way home from
Japan. When he arrives his big suit
for all Of old "Uncle Marks" millions
will begin It's destined to be famous
battle. The stake is so tremendous
that even kings might head armies and
march to war to win it,
Edward Searles is about fifty years
old, medium height and slender build.
He is handsome and aesthetic. His
tastes are such as TO win the affections
of almost any woman. He was born on
farm at Methuen, Mass, but, dis
liking the drudgery of the fields, he
became student OF books. Going
to Boston to enter business, he
imbibed culture as sponge would
soak up water. He took notion Into
his head TO be a salesman and to
handle works of decorative art. His
tastes fitted him well for such an occu-
patton. A big New York firm learned
of him and gave him first class job.
Searles knew not only how TO sell furni-
ture, but how TO arrange it In rooms to
show off to the best advantage.
Some time in 1881 he came TO Cali
fornia, where he lived quiet life, but
datbled a good deal in his old trade.
That is how he came 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
eer. He was apparently not slow TO
recognize the light Of Aladdin's lamp
when he saw IL. And so they were
married.
Timothy Hopkins when he heard OF
his foster mothers marital intentions,
grew angry. He insisted strongly that
she should not wed the house-decorator.
His denunciations Of SearIes and his in
reference with Widow Hopkins love
affairs cost the brash youth about $780,
100000. He spit out that vast fortune
with his qnarreling with the woman
who had taken him from poverty and
made him treasurer Of a mighty rail-
road.
1t is generally supposed that had
Timothy taken the marriage Of his fos-
ter 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 il by preventing
the marriage, Hopkins dropped every
penny. He was not left cent in the
will.
His effort to break the will is evil
IDENTIFY TO be based upon undue influence
Of Searles upon his wife.
BY his magnificent fortune, Seares
is placed side by side with Stanford,
Huntington and Crocker in control Of |
the Southern Pacific What deals and
combinations he will make with bis boz ]