The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-13
sPooKs ASKED HBR TO WE'D.
How Searles Won a Widows Heart
and Millions.
From the New York World.

From The Net0 York World
1t has been frequently stated, since
Timothy Hopkins first determined to con-
test his foster-mother's will, that he would
claim undue influence, and offer to prove
the unsound mental condition of Mrs. Hop
kins-Searles at the time she disinherited
him. He or his numerous attorneys never
intimated how they expected to prove this
in court. Family gossips have, however,
unfolded the plan Of campaign. 1t appears
that the influence which the obscure paper
hanger is said to have exerted 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 apostate of spiritualism, and that
most Of his associates are engaged in faith
oming the mystery Of communication with
departed 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 DR.. Crook,
who in jest amused Mrs. Hopkins by pre-
tending to converse with the invisible in
habitants of spo okland. These conferences
began to take on serions aspect, for Mrs.
Hopkins became devout believer, so when
Mr.. Sesrles proclaimed himself en- apostle
of che faith he was invited to join their
evening circle in the drawing~room.
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 trans
mitted messages from them to her. One of
the Crook boys, in relating the incidents
that occurred at these family reunions,
tells this story:
1.-THE gift of a house to Timothy Hopkins
came about in peculiar way, Mrs. Hop
kins-Searles and myself were seated at the
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 1t was owned
by the state. Searles heard the question.
and quick as a fash | saw that he wanted a
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 he
would have no further use for me. Answers
always came by the table tipping. and l de-
termined it should be in favor of Tim. 1t
then became question Of muscles 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 answer was
given Searles proposed to close the seance
for the evening. From that time on l
watched Searles in bis efforts to influence
Mrs. Hopkins, and when ne had carried his
point he found an excuse for sending me
away. C. P. Huntington knew all about
this, and / believe he, too, was q believer
in spititualism at one time"
An old friend of the Hopkins family says
it has been generally known for several
wears that Mrs. Hopklns-Searles was firm
belisve- in spiritualism and in Mr.. Searles'
power to communicate with the dead.
Private seances were often held at the
Great harrington house and at Methuen, he
saws. the worshipers including some of the
most celebrated mediums.
81 have frequently heard" said this gen.
tIemau, " that it was through spiriluallstic
communication that Mrs. Hopkins married
Mr.. Searles, and that the same influence is
what caused the adopted son to be disin-
herted.
LAS the story goes, there was spirit
writing going on in Mrs Hopkins drawing
room one night. Mr.. Searles was the me-
dunn. When the slate was opened he was
the first to read the message. IL was an
injunction from spiriJland 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 the slate and quickly
scanned the message. That ended the
seance for that evening.
at was not long after that Mr.. Searles,
in the presence OF several friends, put his
arm affectionately around Mrs. Hopkins
aud kissed her. while she in return an
pounced him as her affianced husband"
Timothy Hopkins has furnished himself
with affidaYits concerning his foster-moth
er's spiritualistic tendencies. aud he will en-
deayor, through his attorneys. to convince
the Massachusetts, courts that Alr. Eearles
obtained absolute control over the old lady
BY fraudulent spirit manifestations.
Il will also be contended that Searies used