The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-24
SEARLES' TESTIMONY.
Second Days Proceedings in the Great
Will Contest.

SALEM (Mass.), Sept. 23-The second day
of the Searles will case opened with big
crowd present.
The examination of Mr.. Searles was con.
tinued. Witness and his wife went to
Europe November %, 1887, on a wedding
tour. Previous to starting on the wedding
tour Mrs. Searies procured the funds, about
100000. The trip was for six months, and
included witness, his wife, lady's maid aud
Rev. DR.. Clapp, his wife and daughter. Did
not meet DR.. Slade or any spiritualists on
that trip. Knew Charles Bolles, who. he
believed, called himself a Harmony
Scholar" or Christian Scientist" but he
never knew of his attending Mrs. Searles,
either before or after marriage. Timothy
Hopkins managed Mrs. Searles' affairs up
to the time of the partnership.
After marriage, while in Europe, witness
wife made over to him certain deeds at Nice
The suggestion of copart0ership came from
Mrs. Searles. THE articles of copartnership
were here put in between Mary +. SearleS,
Edward +. Searles, Thomas E. Stillman
and Thomas FL. Hubbard, to manage all the
property of Searles. and to pay an income
10 the parties. Mr.. and Mrs. Searles to re-
ceive 45 per cent each and Stiliman and
Hubbard each per cent of the income. III
1t did not amount to S550,000 1t was to be
brought up to that amount by the sale OF
SECURITIES. MIS-. dODklIS DbcdllS dCQudlulc1
with Stlllman and Hubbard about one year
before marriage, and on October 81, 1887,
Stillman was given power of attorney from
Mr.. Searles aud Mrs. Hopkins. There was
also general power of attorney from Mrs.
Hopkins to Stilman and Hubbard, dated
November 8, 1887. This was the same date
as the marriage, and with the supplementary
certfcation after marriage. This was never
revoked to Tie knowledge of the witness.
Witness knew Of the transfer Of stock
standing in her name to the firm few days
before her death. Witness saw the attOr-
neys in New York five days before, and told
them her condition was critical. he did not
learn the transfer had be, n made until after
her death. He could not say what the stocks
were, or their value; nor did he know now,
and never knew what the assets Of the CO.
partnership were. He never heard the
amount stated. Witness share of the in
come from the firm was 40 per cent but he
drew both his and his wife's income, and at
her request used the money to pay the gen.
eral household expenses. Witness de-
posted the money TO MS individual account
and drew checks against it.
Burly then called for the check books.
Witness continued: Mrs. Searles had
no individual bank account during the time
they lived together He could not give ths
average annual profits of the copartnership,
but 1t was between 1000 and 100000.
At the afternoon session another power
of attorney was put in, dated July 13, 1883,
from Mary F. Searles to Thomas E. Still
man and Thomas Hubbard. This was q
general power of attorney, and con-
tanned declaration that as it was
coupled with the interest therein it was ir-
revocable. A transfer was put in dated
June IS, 1883. from Mary F. Searlss to
Thomas Z. Stillman Of various railroad
stocks and note of the Pacific
Improvement Company for S7.5oO,OOO and
2O,750 shares of Central Pacific stock,
the aggregate amounting to $4,000. .000
and this Stillman 10 turn tran sfered to +.
f. Searles, and he in turn transferred it, to-
gether with 400 shares of Washington
Building Association stock and $4,000 in
scrip of the company and 1000 shares of uni
ted States Bank stock, which he had re-
ceived from his wife in trust, to the firm OF
Searles, Stlman 6 Hubbard.
Objection being made to the question to-
Mr.. Seares: "What did your private estate
consist of at the time OF your marriageP an
adjournment was made to tomorrow morn
ing,