The evening world., 1891-07-31
.INHERITS THIRTY MILLIONS.
The Vast Hopkins Estate Willed
to a New Yorker.
Mrs. Mary Searles's Adopted Son
Ignored in Her Testament.

Hopkins her husband, Edward F. Searles OF
80 Firm avenue, becomes heir 10 herimmense
fortune OF s3O,Oo0,0O0.
Mrs. Searles's will was filed for probate yes
terday at the Essex Registry In Salem, Mass.
II Is a brief document, but its succinctness Is
nevertheless effective, and the vast wealth
that was once the property of Mark Hopkins
is now entirely transferred to his widows
second husband, to the utter exclusion Of
Mrs. searless adopted son, Timothy Hopkins.
The will reads as follows:
Know all men by these presents that I,
Mary f. J.. Searles, wife OF Edward +. Searles,
OF Methuen, in the county OF Essex, and Com
mOnwealth Of Massachusetts,, being OF sound
mind and dlspOsng mind and memory, do
make and publish this, my last will and testa-
| ment, reyoking all Wills by me at any time
heretofore made. After the payment OF my
| Just debts and funeral expenses, give, de-
wise and bequeath all my property, real,
personal and mixed, OF whatever kind
and wherever situated, to my said husband,
| Edward f. Searles, his heirs, executors, admin
istrators and assigns forever. The omission
| to provide In this will for my adopted son,
| Timothy Hopkins, is intentional and not
occasioned by accident or mistake iappolnt
| Edward f. Searles, and my partners, Thomas
Z. Stillman and Thomas N. Hubbard, and
| request that my said executors be exempted
| from giving surety or sureties upon their ofi-
| Cial bond.
Whereas, my said husband this day makes
| Will In my favor, / do now declare my In
tentiOn and my understanding OF his inten-
tiOn, that he shall be free at any time during
my life, without notice to me, and after my
death, II he shall survive me, to cancel or re-
woke his said will or make any new will or
Wills cOdici or codiclls, and shall have entire
| freedom to dispose by such new Will or codicil
| or In any other manner, whether by deed
sale, gift or otherwise, OF all or any part or
his property, and ! reserve similar freedom
and rights for myself during his life and after
his death, II should survive him.
In witness WHEREOF / hereby unto set my
hand and seal in presence Of three witnesses
this sixteenth day OF July, A. d. 1888.
| (Seal) MARY f. $. SEARLEs
Methuen, July 10, 1883.
| Signed, sealed, published and declared by
| Mary II. g. SearleS, the above named teSta-
trix, as and for her last will and testament in
presence OF us three, who now, at her re-
quest, In her presence and In presence OF each
| other hereunto set our hands as subscribing
witnesses the day and year above written.
| william w. Dodge, No. ~ Sparksstreet Cam
| bridge, Mass; Charles NJ. Thornton, Law
renee, Mass; William Othniel Norris, Me-
| thuen, Mass.
With all that has been printed concerning
the wealthy lady and her fortunate husband,
1t is somewhat remarkable that no mention
has been made of the fact that Mr.. searles is
| q New Yorker.
An EVENING WORLD reporter this morning
learned that the husband, who is now many
times millionaire has a residence at 80 18th
avenue, while the other two executors named
In Mrs. searless will are also New Workers.
These executors, Thomas f. Stillman and
Thomas Hubbard, are members OF the we'll
known law firm OF Butler stillman & Hub
bard OF 81 Wall street.
Particular interest also attaches to the will
from the romance surrounding the courtship
OF Mr.. Searles and the wealthy Californians
widow.
When Mrs. Searles then Mrs Hopkins,
moved to Massachusetts she erected q pala-
tial mansion at Great harrington. The house
and the grounds are said to have been valued
at S5,00O,000.
Great Darlington was the home OF Mrs.
Hopkins's childhood, her parents removing
| there from this city soon after her birth.
After the death OF Mark Hopkins in Califor-
MIA, she came to New York and resided at the
Windsor Hotel, but her Summers were spent
at Great harrington, and because OF its pleas
ant memories she finally decided to make her
home there permanently.
Among the summer sojourners in the
pretty village in the Berkshire Hills was a
retired New York business man named Ed
|
Summers in his pleasant country home, still
retained his residence in this city.
Mr.. searles, besides being a cultured and
refined gentleman, possessed a thorough
knowledge OF architecture Becoming ac-
quainted with Mrs. Hopkins, he naturally
took an interest in the construction OF her
magnificent new house.
His suggestions so fully conceded with her
own views that Mrs. Hopkins finally induced
him to take complete charge OF the work OF
construction.
From being the master mind in the building
OF her mansion, Mr.. Searles was soon pro
NOTED to the position OF master OF the fair
owners affections The acquaintance began
In the little Massachusetts hamlet speedily
ripened into love, and on Nov. g, 1887, Mr.
Seares and Mrs Hopkins were quietly mar
ried In Trinity Chapel, in West Twenty-sixth
street, this city, by the Rev. DR.. Platt.
Shortly after their marriage the happy
couple removed to Methuen, Mass, where
they passed most OF their time, although Mr.
Searles still maintains his city residence at
90 Fifth avenue.
When Mark Hopkins died, in 1878, he left
an estate inventoried at S21, 100000. All Of
this he bequeathed to his widow, except
-, 600, 900, and when she married Mr.. Searles
she was worth rully S17,0O0,O0o.
BY fortunate and wise investments her for.
tune had nearly doubled at the time OF heI
death, and the s3O, 900, 900 that Mr. Searles
now becomes possessor OF has yet prospect.
i've value OF nearly double that amount.
Mrs, Searles's death and the entire transfer
OF her property TO her husband may contro
the destiny OF the Southern Pacific Railroad
II is well known that she had such large
holdings in the stocks and bonds OF that roaC
as 10 easily give her the balance OF power
and she was said TO have been acting steadily
with Coils p. Huntington IN his control OF the
roads management
Whether the transfer OF the estate viii
enable Mr. Huntington to continue in contro
OF Mrs. Searles's blocks OF stock remains U
be seen. IL Is not impossible that now Sena
tor Leland stanford may succeed Mr.. Hunt
ington In the possession OF the controlling
interest.
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