The morning call., 1891-10-23
LETTERS And BOOKS.
Testimony for Contestants in The SearlGS
Will Case.

SALEM (Mass.). Oct. 22-The second day
of the adjourned hearing in the Searles
will case began with the same crowd as
heretofore Another lot of business letters
from Stilman & Hubbard to Mrs. Searles
were read. Under date of October II, 1887
was one in the form Of a note to Hunting
ton, in which Mrs. Searles says she must
repudate the agreement signed by Timothy
Hopkins until she knows what it is. The
other letters were of no Importance. Burley
then asked for the letters from Mr.. or Mrs.
Searles to Hubbard aud Stillman. They
were read and showed deposits to Mrs.
Searles' credit in the banks TO the amount
of S24G,O00 in three months. The last was
the telegram which announced Mrs. Searles'
death.
After reading the letters Mr.. Burley
asked for the journal kept by Mrs Searles
while abroad, and it was given him for eX-
animation. Mr.. Burley then called for all
the books OF accounts OF the partnership.
Mr.. Butler objected aud Bailey finally
called in SearleS and interrOgatei him in
regard to the books, tut Wit eSs stated that
he did not know anything as TO the con-
tents of the books. The letters signed
PEREZ were written by Edith Littlefeld,
who did some writing for him. Witness
does not know where the suggestion came
from to drop TimOthy's name from TIE eX-
ecutOrs Of Mrs. SearleS' cOdicil of June Is,
1SSS. Witness never knew a physician by
the name II Hayward; never attended
lectures On me>merism or made it study.
He thought there we're COPIES kept of some
letters sent 10 Mrs. Timothy Hopkins by
Mrs. Searles. Mr. SeaTles had not had any
direct correspondence with Timothy sine Q
his marriage. Mr.. Stillman visited Methuen
about week before the execution II the last
VIII, by request of Mrs, Searrs and through
Z rs.f is h.l1
nothing to do with the Information that
Timothy was about to start East. Witness
would not say whether he gave any direc-
tons as tu his will at that time, but believe d
he did. When Timothy arrived witness had
already made arrangements to 20 away, but
delayed in order to welcome him, and wit
ness then told Timothy that he had to 90 to
Darlington 10 look after some WORK, and he
went. Witness learned that Timothy had
managed his mothers atfai rs for a number
of years. but never heard any discussion as
to whether he had received any cOmpensa-
ton or not. There was no secrecy about the
copartnership. He never heard his wife
between June 1st and July Is, 1883, express
any wish as to the disposition OF any part Of
her property.
AT the afternoon session Mr., Burley called
for the chpck-buOks of the cOpartners hip.
The Court ruled that they need not be pro-
duced, except special checks. The diaries
kept by Mrs. Searles on her trips abroad In
1887 and 1855 were read. The first entry in
the first vas November Sth: Married al
Trinity Chapel" The diaries are mostly
filed with personal matters and deScrip-
lions OF the lrIp. January II, 1883, there Is
an entry, - thought my self Of secondary
consideration, and expressing it, found 1t
so. This is experience No. l.
The re u tai tn IA began. Searlps testi-
fed when lie left his employment II 1882 he
had been in receipt OF IS 900 to $50, 90 a
nd !, fro. Ii.l D.lA "a
000; SJ000o cash and the balance in real es-
ta;e ard stocks. He left his business on
account OF his health and to live at home
with bis mother. The firm did the work on
tie Hopkins mansion in California, and lie
was going West for his health and to look
after mining property. He got letter from
Baumgartrn, the foreman TO induce him to
look over the house. lie visited the house.
presented his letter, and was invited by
Timothy Hopkins to come with his family
that evening 10 supper. Tie was told while
there that If he would call in the evening he
would be shown over the house. The next
time he met Mrs. Hopkins was when limo
thy asked them to accompany him 10 Menlo
Park. At the depot Timothy was unable to
90, and he was asked TO escort the ladies,
which lie did They visited Sherwood Hall,
which Mrs. Hopkins subsequently, puT-
chased and gave to Timothy. 1t was a
large place OF about $50 acres with a mali-
sion, but out # repair and is said to have
cost s1.0OO,000 He also visited Stanford's 5
ranch. He dined once more with
Mrs. Hopkins by invitation during his
four weeks stay in California. That fall
he received word from Timothy that Mrs.
Hopkins was coming East to attend to her
affairs at Great Darlington, and asking if
he would assist her. In 1888 he went to
Great Darlington to meet Mrs. Hopkins and
registered at the Berkshire House. When
he was going out TO supper servant came
and said Mrs. Hopkins expected him al the
house. He said he would stay where lie
was, but while he was at supper the servant
took his luggage to her house without his
knowledge. Mrs Hopkins gave him COM
mission TO furnish the chapel at cost Of
about S12 600. and he gaveit 20 his former en-
ployers and received 10 per cent commission.
In 1884 Mrs. Hopkins decided to have him
build a house at Great harrington. He sup
posed he would be paid as usual, but learned
later that he would not, Though | would
be in the END some way" remarked the wit
ness In the fall Of 1887 Mrs. Hopkins said she
had letters from Timothy that the railroad
properly was in peril, and she thought she
ought 10 know how much she ought to spend
before going furt her. Three letters from
Timothy to his mother to this effect were
81. a