The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-05
VIII Get 40 Per Cent. or His
Share.

the people here do not look with pleasure ut
the prospect of having 20 much property
60 out of the state"
well, the people are perhaps unneces-
sarily alarmed in that respect; the bulk of
this estate is represented at the corner Of
Fourth and Townsend streets, in this city,
inc is not likely to run off in q hurry, and
If the people want the state to get the bene-
fit of this property, l see no reason for con-
stantly abusing a man who must in any
event under his legal rights as a husband
become the possessor OF more than half of
it. and so giving him the impression that he
is disliked, 10 that his presence here would
necessarily be disagreeable to him; that ia
not the way to attract people to the state.
The fact is, l would prefer not to talk about
it till the people got cooled off and look at
the matter in an unprejudiced way. The
people here are all right after they have
duly considered a proposition. but the
newspapers opened up at once after the
death of Mrs. Searles to sound the praises
of Timothy and to abuse her husband, and
a first impression had been created largely
by wind"
"But I suppose you have read the COM
ments of the eastern and California papers
about the probate and other proceedings
and are willing to say what you think of
them.''
IT certainly have not read but a very lit
tie about them in the newspapers and | do
not Know what has been said. l have had
many quite important business matters to
look after since my return, and what time
l have given to the Searles case-which ia
not very mueh-has been to inform myself
about it as a lawyer and not to satisfy my
curiosity as to what the papers were say
ing, for l presume if I did that I would
have little tims for anything else"
"YOu know, l presume, that the attorneys
of Hopkins express great satisfaction vt
the result of the proceedings so far?'
mo, l did not, and, il such is the case,
must say that they able to gather crumbs
of comfort from a very small grist. While,
were not F., a trial. there was a good deal of
them. Mr.. Searles was questioned thor
oughly as to his acts during every day and
hour from the time he first met Mrs. Hop
kins to the time of hor death. His bearing
as a witness through all this ordeal was NOT
only that of a truthful witness, but of a
gentleman, Notwithstanding the persistent
attempts of Mr.. Burley to bulldoze and
embarrass him. There was nothing sug-
gestive Of conspiracy or undue influence
elected. He was followed by Gen. Hub
bard, who told all the connection of his
firm with the business Of Mrs. Searlss from
beginning to end, and in which there ia
nothing even for serious criticism. These
were the arch conspirators, If n such
there be, and yet upon the close of this tes-
timony the Judge, without the slightest hest
tation, admitted the will to probate, not even
taking the matter under a%dvisement for a
minute, and in his promptness and curtness
said, in substance. TO the question as to the
admission of the will to probate, that there
was but one answer for him to make; that
AL.~~ 49, oxysIoynn~ 1nf~Ho ht~n ~ nr,,
lack of mental capacity in Mrs. Searles,
and as to the charge of undue influence he
had but one thing to do, and that WIS to
set up the will. If that is a victory for the
Hopkins side. another such and they will
be undono. I shall always pray that such
in mind that the testimony of Gen. Hub
bard covered all the most important bust
ness transactions of Mrs. Searles for years
before and after the will was made. His
testimony, in connection with tho letters
and papers, leave no room for u on the
question of mental capacity"
But do you think it is just that Hopkins
should be ~disinherited and turned away
with nothing from this great estate from
which he had expected a fortuns?"
SWELL, there you 90 again.. Tbs word
disinheritance seems to be a favorite one
with tho friends Of Timothy. 1t seems to
be conceded that he WAS offered $751; SOC, 900
before he initiated a contest of the will.
Even with that uncomfortable sum lie
could hardly be regarded in the light of a
diately after the death of Mrs. Searles her
husband invited Timothy to visit him at
Methuen. It would not have entailed much
expense or loss Of time to have acted on
the invitation, nor would he, in my judg-
ment, by SO doing have lowered his we'll
established reputation for courtesy, or have
been worse off in q material point of view;
but he did not 60, he did not accept the
&c. SOC, 900; war was declared; a storm of
newspaper abuse WAS let loose and MIR.
Searles and his assoolates were without
their seeking put into a position to offer no
terms until their good names and the mem-
DRY of Mrs. Searles had boon thoroughly
vindicated.
II suppose that you are aware that it is
reported here that Hopkins has made a con-
tract with his attorneys by which he is to
pay them 40 per cent. of all that he may re-
cover, they undertaking to pay all the e1-
penses?"
mo, / was,not 80 informed, but there ia
nothing in this circumstance to strike the
professional mind with any particular re-
p%ugnancs. 1t may be one of the mysterious
ways OF Providence that the bar should at
last reap some Of the fruits of the efforts of
old Mark Hopkins in building railroads
with money furnished by a gonerons and
coniding government. l can only say that
/ heartily wish his attorneys may live long
U ~ eAJOy tllh WoiA cdtAoA IeOQnpoAoef dAtoT
they get it,
"Well, have you anything else to say on
the subiectp'
Have / anything else? 7 told you at the
start had nothing in particular to give
you. and after inveiRling me into talking so
far you ask for more, assuming that i am
turning the crank and not you. want no
newspaper trial OF the case. l have always
felt friendly to Mar. Hopkins, and recognize
him as a nice, quiet gentleman. do not
wish to cast any reflections upon him or his
motives, and / cannot but think that the
name of his mother, even through adop- |
ton, is dear and sacred to him. | would
like to see this matter treated dispnssion.
atsly and sensibly by the public and all
concerned, and oan only hope that finally
1t may turn out that no one shall be uc-
counted culpable by the verdict OF public |
opinion. Now go wi and let me alone, |
and never bother me about this again."
Bueklon's Arnics salve.