The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-12
MRS. SEARLES' WILL.
1t is Said She Made One in Favor
of Her Relatives.
II is THE BASIS Of THE CONTEST.
The story Of Her Two Cousins-They Have
Long Enjoyed an Annual Allowance
They are not Contestants.

years ago she had made will in favor of
several near relatives, whom she had be-
friended during her life. This missing
time she married Mr.. Searles. 1t specifi-
cally described, it is understood, the rela-
tive esteem Mrs. hopkins had towards
certain persons, prominent among whom
were the now disinherited son, Timothy
Hopkins, and his wife, to whom was left
one half OF her estate. Nothing has here
tofore been said by those interested in
contesting tho will which makes Mr..
Searles sole beneficiary, of the existence of
this important document. 1t is evident,
however, from circumstances just brought
to light that the contents of this document
form the fundamental basis of the claims
now being made upon the estate. The lib
eral requests to near relatives there named
are cited TO prove the real intent of Mrs.
Hopkins before she married q second time
MeanWnle the executors intimate that
affairs will be amicably settled.
In the list of contestants filed when the
will was offered for probate at Salem,
Mass, last Tuesday, the names OF Jane l..
Smith and Harriet HebDard are mis-
sing. In point of relationship these women
nave the strongest ties upon Mrs. Searles
Tor IN her life time she gave them practicai
evidences of her esteem. TO Mrs. Smith
personally Mrs. Searles made generous
promises, which were contained in the
missing will. Mrs. Smith and Miss Heb
bard are first cousins of Mrs. Searles. Mrs
Smith was of the same age, and in their
glrlhood days they were especially init
mate.
Mrs. Searles was born in New York
seventy-four years ago. Mary Sherwood
was about twenty-five years old when she
accompanied her father TO Great Barring
ton, Mass, which had been her mothers
home Mark Hopkins had left to make his
fortune in California, and had already pro-
posed. Miss Sherwood was nearly thirty
years old when Mr.. Hopkins returned TO
his bride. Jane Hebbard had by this time
married William Smith, a jeweler. At
their house Mary Sherwood was married
about 1850 to Mark Hopkins. They cleft at
once for California. AS time passed CORE
spondence practically ceased until Mr.
Hopkins death. Meanwhile Mrs. Smith
had become a widow. Her brother, Henry
Hebbard, who had been in business in New
Y DIRK, purchased a farm near Davenport
Center, Delaware county, New York a
few years later Mrs. Smiths sister, Har-
riet, went to live with this brother.
Remittances were regularly forwarded
TO Mrs Smith by Mrs. Hopkins. Timothy
Hopkins conducted the correspondence and
often Mrs. Hopkins wrote brief personal
notes to Mrs. Smith. Nine years ago Mrs.
Smith also removed to Davenport Center
to make her home with her brother and
sister. 1t was at this house to- day that a
reporter found Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Hebbard
and Miss Hebbard. ''This amt no affair of
mine," said Mrs. Hebbard, land l don't
know anything about it. I've got nothing
to say to reporters; Pm too sharp for them.
She can tell you all about it'
Mrs. Hebbard laughed good naturedly as
she pointed to Mrs. Smith, who SPOKE in
the kindest terms of Mrs. Searles and.
with the resignation of old age, is disposed
to accept the situation without grumbliuC.
She told Of the early life of Mrs. Searles
and the family relationships.
"Wnen Mrs. Hopkins was at the Wind
sor hotel, just after her husbands death,
she seemed to take great interest in the
family" said the old lady. 81 knew her
much better than any of the rest, for we
were as intimate as girls. Why, mother
practically raised her. Mrs. Hopkins said
when she first gave me the $500 q wear
that she knew 1T was not as much as
she wished to do, but when the estate was
settled she could increase the amount. Her
first cousins, she said, were few, aud we
were all getting old together. She always
spoke as if outside of her first cousins she
had no concern. She told me repeatedly
she was glad to assist in my maintenance
and that she should remember me hand
somely in her will"
"Were you not surprised when Mrs.
Searles' will made no mention of you!"
81 should say [ was" the old lady re-
piled, letting fall her uplifted hands, en-
phasizing the exclamation in true country
style Il don't see why she cut off Timothy
Hopkins, either. He always seemed to me
like very nice young man. Eve received
letters from him often and would like to
see him. Did he say anything about coming
to see US when you met him!'
The stylish Californian who strolled
about the Brunswick hotel had not given
any such intimation, the reporter was
forced TO admit, but Mrs. Smith hoped he
would change his mind.
Mrs. Hopkins seemed to be very fond
of him. she continued, Though |
never heard her definitely say he
should inherit her property. She
always spoke of him as a son
who would share a mothers wealth. He
did all her business for her until she got
married. | have not seen her since then.
For year or so she continued sending me
the monthly remittances, signing the let
ters which were in some one eIse's hand
writing. They were always affectionate
anu SSuSL OuUdlHcu SOluS WOFu Oh per-
sonal comment or inquiry concerning the
family. When she learned that my sister
was in i'll health and entirely dependent
Mrs. Hopkins increased the allowance to
$500 a year for both of US. About three
years ago | received letter from SULLIVAN
IL Hubbard, Mrs. Searles attorneys. They
said that they would thereafter forward
the remittance. Their letters were formal
enclosures Of check for the money They
have made occasionally personal inquiry at
Mrs. Searles' request they said. Now and
then the letter closed with saying that she
would like TO hear from US, with expires
sions of interest in our welfare. Hubbard
81 Stillman sent s4l.6S the 18th OF each
month. The check for August came as
usual, after Mrs. Searles' DEATH 1t
is not time for the September
to come, but l have received no
message from the lawyers or MIR. Searles.
If the check does not come, my sister and
have no income. l thought that perhaps
Mrs. Searles may have requested her hus-
| band to continue the payments, or perhaps
increase the amount. We shall probably
know in few days when the payments ars
usually due"
! Miss Harriet Hebbard came into the
room during the conversation. She is
nearly eighty years old and evidently
feeble. She Is very deaf and talks very
| little. Mrs. Smith believes that the win
made by Mrs. Hopkins about the time of
her marriage literally remembered her.
"About three years ago." she said,
Lyman Sherwood, of Southeast, called on
Mrs. Searles at Great Darlington. She
was cordial to him and INQUIRED about all
of US. She repeated to him what she had
told US of her remembrance of her first
cousins or her nearest relatives. She told
him to tell me she had handsomely remem-
bered my sister and myself in her will.
| Not long after that gentleman in Orionta