The morning call., 1891-08-12
A DISINHERITED SON
Return Of Timothy Hopkins from
a Trip to Japan.
he Has Not Yet Decided Whether or Not He
Will Contest His Adopted Mothers
VILLA Negative Interview.

The Occidental and Oriental Company's
steamer Oceanic reached San Francisco yes
terday afternoon, aud came alongside the
Pacific Mail Wharf about half t-past o'clock
The fact that Timothy Hopkins with his
family was on board the steamer did not
draw n very big crowd o. people TO the dock,
but it drew large delegation of newspaper
men to Meiggs Wharf, as it was reported
that the adopted son of Mrs. Hopkins
Searle would land at that point instead of
running the gantlet of questions that
would be fired at him from all sides should
he fall into the reporters hands at the Mail
Dock.
Soon after the steamer was reported car
riage containing J. S. Severance, Secretary
of Mr.. Searle, and James Sproule, Secretary
of Mr.. Hopkins, arrived at the Pacific Mail
Dock, and the two were soon on board the
tug Millen Griffin and on their way at full
speed to meet the steamer. The tug reached
the Oceanic before she had passed Meiggs
Wharf, and after hurried consultation Mr..
and Mrs. Hopkins, together with nurse
and the baby, descended the big steamers
side and boarded the tug.
FORTIFIED WITH REPORTERS.
Meiggs Wharfi" shouted Mr. Severance
to the CAPTAIN of the boat. and the tug was
soon heading for that point. As she drew
near to the landing, however, the astute
lawyers face assumed look of dismay.
Meiggs Wharf WAS fairly lined with re-
porters, who, notebooks in hand awaited the
moment when Timothy Hopkins should set
his foot on American soil. Mr.. Hop kns
was about to resign himself to the newt
able, when Secretary Sprouie gave the or
der. in low tone of voice, To the Mail
Insf tIxyth tha tt,nbs t1r aH
away from tile wharf. and she started for
the foot of First street as fast as steam
could drive her, much to the diSmay of the
newS-gatherers who at once scattered in all
directions. One enterprising scribe boarded
the mail steamer of Vallejo street only to
tnd his man had gone.
The tug reached the Mail Dock about the
same time as the Oceanic, but all eyes being
fastened on the big steamer, the tug skipped
alongside the wharf unnoticed by the crowd.
NOT INCLINED TO TALK.
The party were soon on the wharf. and
Mrs. Hopk ms nurse and child were placed
in a waiting carriage, which at once started
for the Palace Hotel.
Mr.. Hopkins entered another, and was
hardly seated when he was accOsted by
CALL reporter. Mr. Hopkins received the
newspaper man with a pleasant smile, at
the same time remarking that he thought
all the reporters west of the RockeyS were
down on Meiggs Wharf.
OF course the subject Of paramount inter-
est was tho now famous Hopkins will and
the probability of its being contested.
The question, "Will you contest the will ?"
was asked, and Mr.. Hopkins replied, q smile
lighting up his Sunburned face, See me at
the Palace tomorrow; l will tell you moth
ing tonight"
Further conversation was prevented by
the appearance of Mr.. Sproule, who entered
the vehicle, and 1t was at once driven To the
hotel, where the party was shown to the
apartments engaged tor them.
ANSWERS RESERVED.
Mr.. Hopkins did not register. and his To-
cation was mysteriously concealed for some
time. Finally a CALL reporter procured
the delivery of card and was soon ushered
into tue presence of the Treasurer of the
Southern Pacific, and very cordially received
by that gentleman, who accorded an inter-
view, which was rather on the agnos tic
order. Mr. Hopkins didn't know what he
would do
what can do for you ?' he began.
81 will answer your question by asking
another, Mr. Hopkins Have you yet
formed decision as to your course regard
ing the will of the late Mrs. Hopkins
Searle? Every one in California will be
interested in your reply"
81 am sorry that | cannot answer that
question:" said Mr.. Hopkins, but you will
appreciate my position in the matter when /
explain that at the time l received the
cablegram summoning me home l was at
kiot0, eighteen hours distant from YokO-
hama. We left at once for the latter place,
holding the steamer one day. and after an
exceptionally pleasant voyage, arrived in
port this afternoon. l have not opened any
of my letters, and have notyet even learned
the particulars of my poor mothers death.
| have formed no resolutions as to the
action shall take"
HAS NO ATTORNEY.
"Will you seek legal advice at once as to
the best course to pursue"
That is another question / cannot
answer"
Had Russell Wilson authority to say
that he believed you would contest the
will? Did he sneak as your attorney OF
only as friend ?"
~ have no attorney. Mr.. Wilson and
have been chums for many years, but /
have not retained his services professionally.
Will do so? That i cannot say.
Were you surprised at the terms of the
will or were you prepared for the DISPOSE
ton which Mrs. Hcpkins-Searle made of
her property"
% l am sorry that must decline to answer
that question also"
DO you think that undue influence was
brought to bear upon your adopted mother
when she framed her will by Mr.. Searle or
any one acting in his INTEREST,""
My reply must be the same as to your
last query"
dressed by you to Mrs. Hopkins-Searle
were intercepted"
=" | would have no means of knowing il
such were the case, and even If l believed
that communications had been intercepted
1 should not feel at liberty to make such
statement"
NEWS TO HIM.
" Just one more question, if you please,
Mr.. Hopkins. Is there any foundation for
the statement that you intend to retire from
the Treasurership of the Southern Pacific
in the near future?"
That is the first have heard of such a
move, and it is certainly news to me-" an
swered the railroad official.
Mr.. Hopkins then chatted pleasantly upon
other topics, referring TO his trip through
the empire of the Mikado. and TO little incl
dents of the voyage home on the Oceanic.
He stated that with his family he would re-
main at the Palace for the present, his
Menlo Park residence not being prepared
for immediate occupancy.
The adopted son of Mrs. Hopkins-Searle
looked remarkably well, his face presenting
contented and untroubled expression. He
spoke with calmness and dignity, and there
was nothing in his appearance or demeanor
to indicate that he had not received the
sixty millions which his friends had thought
would be his by inheritance
Wall-street Plunger