The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-23
MRS. SEAMLESS MILLIONS.
mr.. SEARIES TELLS HOW HE DE.
CAME CONNECTED WITH THEM

oAAbhms oOu1 SSs-Ak tHo bplT1L OF MRS. marx
Hopkins-Searles was present in the Probate
Court room here to-day there must
have been oommotion within her spirit
ual breast whom she heard Mr. Edward
+. Searles testify that she made tho flrst pro-
posal OF marriage. The statement created q
sensation In tho court room. and thoro
was general craning OF necks as
the spectators sought . better view
OF the man who so fascinated tho
millionaire widow Of "a years. There was
another sensation when Mr.. Searles testified
that he had declined tho proffered honor. only
to plead for 1t himself year later.
These wero tho most Interesting features OF
the opening day Of the great legal struggle
over the will. The contest involves tho owner
ship Of about $50. 900. 900. and incidentally the
control OF the Southern Pacific Railroad in
which the tcstatrix was interested with c. +.
Huntington. The contestant Is Timothy Hop
kins. the adopted son Of Mark Hopkins. hus-
band OF the tostatrix before she married Mr..
6earlcs. There are also several nieces. ono
vito OF Mr.. Hopkins. who have been dlsin-
herited by the will.
Tho story Of the strange life OF the people
most prominently mentioned in the case was
published in THE Sun this morning. Many
Interesting details in the intricate case were
brought out to-day for the first time. and 1t Is
evident that there is much moro coming.
There wore many tits over legal points.
That was expected In Wow Of the brilliant ar
ray Of counsel. For the executors. Of whom
Mr.. soarles ia one. there have been
retained Col. Solomon Lincoln. Jr. Frcd-
crick Dodge. Thomas +. skillman. Thomas l.
Hubbard. William Allen Butler. and welhemus
Minders. Opposed to them. and fighting for
the probating Of an older will set up by
Timothy Hopkins. are the Hon. Joseph
II. Choate. Judge William E Endi-
cot, the Hon. Elbridgs 7. Burley.
Russell Wilson. Judge John Fl. Boult, and
Frank L. Rodgers Ten other heirs are repre-.
scented by F. 8. Barnham. L. F. Preston. and II.
/. Harding.
The contestants called for a previous will
made by Mrs. Searles in 1887. and inter a sharp
tilt between the lawyers. the Court ordered 1t
to be produced. 1t was dated at Albany.
and Gavo Mrs. searles's former coach
man. John HARDWOOD Of San Francisco. $4,000.
one-half OF the rest Of her estate to her hus-
band. Edward g. Searles. and the remaining
half to her adopted son. Timothy Hopkins. ab-
solutey and forever.
Mr.. Hopkins's counsel asked for a oontem-
poraneous will Of Mrs. Searles made at the
same time with the will in dispute. This re-
quest was even more sharply contested than
the other. but Mr.. Hopkins again won. and the
will will be produced later.
After the formal presentation OF Mrs.
6earles's will and the perfunctory examination
OF the witnesses. Mr.. Durley opened the case
for the contestants. He said:
The grounds on which we object to the pro-
batting Of the will are: First. no proper attesta-
ton OF the will: second. 1t was obtained
through undue influence and fraud on the
part Of Edward Z. Searles and his confed-
crates: third. the lady who signed It was not
Of sound mind whom she executed the docu-
ment.
1T is competent for us to try this case on
these several propositions. but We are not pre-
pared to offer our entire case now. Many Of
our witnesses are scattered throughout the
country from one coast to the other. But
we have some evidence here which we desire
TO produce on all these propositions: but
whether or not We shall be justified in contin.
KY; = Satp W. dssi.s 70 ,asSodass ' Some 3 3
reach. ana Tor this purpose We haye summoned
several witnesses: We say that the will which
oss been Pse mot The free f
aSe End that it is case OF gross injustice to
Mr.. Searles was the first witness. and his
day. There were the customary interrogato:
ths testetri1 and Mr.. searles. and then he was
study IN s 9iors11Hft times Iivid: It others 2
S% He ehed Sis Wesf e asssSS
ana rendered red. over the questions. Thss
bysyy Of sna
sci and Witness as II 1t were deep game Of
She's ie s SSss ssn 5 one
Mr.: searlss testified that he first met Mrs:
Hopkins in San Francisco. In March. 1883 and
VEST L e NV YosE: sn$ + Sfsat $s!Tte ss
ssa n The Windsor aSRftedi
him In business matters. After these matters
hs shs 5Ss1s
'' WeIiS said &r. searles marriage was first
.WTh That was your proposition"
what time in 1884 did you make that PROP
ositii n Ea ,S thS wift Think"
sel. Sss s x9:E II '
How old did you understand she was
.nsS %G!!' she said. she was considerably older
How, old did You understand her to bewhen
sas sa hsF s sRo wSs Wsnty year. older
%s she ss sa sb sas T sst R ,m. - 1919"
EiagS o bs ETC
TO anybody"
"You understood she was lady Of wealth p
.h "Won. one couldn't very well help knowing
DID she consult her adopted son about her
she told me that she had told him"
why y YES not ~ proper for her to accept that
she said that he objected"
Don't you know, sir. that he gave, her rea-
sons why she should not marry your"
II only know that she said that he OBJ
IBID che decline your proposition'"
ri" .EIa shs aac0eptit"
And that WAS in December
In 1855" lsensetion. In the court and an eager eager
"By WhonY
by Mrs. Hopkins. and didn't accept It
Whati She proposed to marry your"
She did"
lin New York"