Evening journal., 1891-09-23
A LEAP YEARS MARRIAGE
Searles Says Mrs. Hopkins Did
the Proposing.
HE MARRIED FOR LOVE AND MONEY.

But Love, lie Says, was the Principal
Reason why He Welded Woman who
Was score OF Years His senIor-rhs
Contest Commenced.
SALEM, Mass, Sept. 23-Timothy Hop
kins, OF San Francisco, the adopted sou Of
Mrs. NJ. +, 5. Hopkins. Searles, sat among
half a dozen noted lawyers in the probate
court yesterday He was ready to contest
the wealthy woman's will without regard
TO cost. He had refused, it Is said, to com
promise the case for S2.50O,O0O. The law
yers who were gathered about him were
Joseph II. Choate, Of New York; ex.Judge
William G. Endicott, Of Salem; +. I. Bur
ley, OF Lawrenoe; X. j. Wilson and ex-
Judge ] II. Boalt, Of San Francisco. Be
sides Timothy Hopkins this grand array
Of legal talent represented various other
contestants the Hubbards. Of Bridgeport;
Mrs Annie G. Severance, Of Los Angeles,
and the Sherwoods, Of New York.
saarles Was ON Hand.
Edward r. Searles, Of Methuen, who
married the widow of Mark Hopkins, and
to whom the s30, 900 900 or more Of her prop
erty was left, to the expressed seclusion OF
Timothy Hopkins, was on hand TO stand
by the will. He had several prominent
lawyers to aid him also. They were Will
liam Allen Butler, Wilhelminus Mynder-
see, General 4. II Hubbard and Thomas
f. Stillman, OF New York Colonel Solo
mon Lincoln, OF Boston, ana Richard
Dodge, Of Cambridge. Judge Rollin Il.
Harmon sat on the bench when the court
opened. The witnesses to the will, Messrs.
Dodge, Thornton and Norris we're called
to the stand by Colonel Lincoln.
The widower Test Hes
"was Mrs. Searles OF sound and dispos-
ing mind, Mr.. Dodgef" asked Colonel Lin
coin.
Before the witness could answer Mr.
Burley, counsel for Timothy Hopkins,
called for the will made prior to the one in
dispute aud dated Nov s, 1887. Counsel
for Searles objected, but Judge Harmon
ordered il produced. II WIS made on the
date OF the marriage OF Mr.. Searles and
Mrs. Hopkins, and gave half OF Mrs.
Searles' "a ate TO her husband and the
other halr to Timothy Hopkins Mr..
Searles was then put upon the stand He
told his life history, which has a tinge Of
romance. He was born in Methuen, Mass,
fifty years before July 4 last. tie lived
there of and on until 1881.
She Proposed to Him.
In the spring OF 1883 he met Mrs. Hop
kins in San Francisco. He went 10 her
with letter OF introduction, asking per.
mission 20 view her house. On numerous
occasions thereafter he met her in the east
4 and west by invitation
/ Mrs Hopkins had told him that she wa,
/ twenty years his senior. When the mar
riage was proposed Mrs. Hopkins consulte,
her adopted son. Mr.. Searles did not know
what Timothy said, but he objected
when was the proposition Of marriag,
first mader
IN the autumn Of 1883, but not by me. 7
"She proposed TO you, then, did shes"
"She did, sir"
when did you make the proposition tc
herr"
I'm 1884 The marriage was agreed upon
in September OF 1887. in the early part oi
the month, at New York.
Love and for Money.
"Will you tell me why you entered into
\ marriage contract with woman twen
ty-one years older than yourselff'
Il married for all that she was, love-
love and money both"
(which was the stronger motive love OF
moneyr
u don't believe am obliged to answer
that question"
Judge Harmon ruled that the question
was competent, and Mr.. Searles answered
Love"
did yon have any talk about the dis
position Of her property prior 10 mar
riages"
NO, sir"
He Gave Her Three Years to Think.
In the course Of his testimony Mr..
Searles said that while in California be
went on several excursions into the coun-
try with Mrs. Hopkins aud her daughter
in-law. He did not assent to Mrs. Hop
kins' proposal Of marriage for three years,
ia order 20 give her a chance TO be sure
that she was satisfied. He had never pre-
viously proposed marriage to any one.
In the spring Of 1885 he went to Florida
as the guest Of Mrs. Hopkins in her pri-
vate car He was accompanied by Miss
Case, Of Great harrington. From 1885 to
| 1887 be was experimenting the building
OF Mrs Hopkins house at Great Barring
ton. He did not know Of the will made on
the day Of the marriage, Nov s, 1887, un-
/ til after her DEATH but did not think it
was made Intentionally behind bis back.
The Marriage Contract.
A marriage contract made at the same
time was also put in by counsel, convey
ing by Mrs. Hopkins 20 I. e. Stillman as
trustee for the benefit Of Edward r. Searles
after the marriage the mansion in San
Fradcisco; improved and unimproved land
in Sacramento; mountain lands in sum
init, Soda Springs, CAL; redwood and
timber lands on the coast range; TWO par
GELS Of quarry lands; the Great harrington
property, aud four lots in Ninth street,
New York. This contract was cancelled
June 16 1888
Ostrander Out ON Bail.