The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-25
NR. SEARLES ON THE RACK.
TELLING now HE BECAME POSSESSED
or ALL HIS wIFE's PROPERTY.

A copsrtnership In which He and Ms Law
,.r, Furnished the Experienee ana MRS.
s..r,es All the Money-Ali OF Her secu-
rifles and Zeal Estate, Even the lot In
uh,eh Her First Husband was hurled.
Transferred to the Partners or to Mr..
sesr,es and None or the Deeds Recorded
Most OF the Transfers Made while she
ua. IN Enrope on Her Wedding Tr,p-A
Former VIII In which she Len Her
Property Ia Equal shares to Her Illus.
hand and Timothy Hopkins.
SALEM. Mass. Sept. 24.-To-day's iuvcstiga-
,i,n Of the methods by which the millions OF
Mark Hopkins we're disposed Of furnished in
tsresting material for the lawyers and specta-
Tors to ponder over. At a quarter OF 10 nearly
ali the available seats had boon occupied by
women. and scores OF them were struggling
for standing room Just inside tho door, Tho
men were thankful to stand In tho corridors
and look ovor tho heads OF the fair intruders.
The testimony this morning revealed some
strange financial methods, all dragged out by
rersistcpt 1uestioninSs from tho reluctant Mr..
searles. He showed much uncnsincss as this
inrulsiticn proceeded. but his answers were
given with much ,lelberation, and at times
with evident hesitation His apparent indif-
ference to the transfer OF millions OF property
I, him by his opulent and generous bride.
through tho Intervention Of tho accomo-
dating. Mr.. StillmGn. was not rcassuring
l., those who have filth in tho hon
tsty u these transactions. und murmurs
q. surprise could be heard when he said that
he ka,! forgotten about the existence OF tho
UurcrSrlcd deeds In his favor. produced in
court " his counsel OH application OF the
counsel o. the disinherited adopted son. II was
only after the most searching questioning by
Mr. Brrley that he admitted TINT it was not his
understanding nor the understanding OF Mrs.
sea'!es that the property should pass to him
unt tho deeds wcrc recorded. but he denied
ta,t failure t, record them Was duo to the fact
that it was deemed advisable not to let tho
heirs know that sho was making such lavish
and unaccountable disposition Of tho property
Other late husband.
Another element Of suspicion was that tho
d,eds wcro all drawn while the parties were
on their wedding tour in Europe by Lawyer
stillman. and wore signed and executed In a
fa-eig, country before an American consul.
The orly excuse offered for these acts Of mt
nihcercc was that Mr. Stilman. acting "a Mrs.
Senrles's attorney and in her personal inter-
est. thought it advisable that she should con.
vey all her property to her husband. who was
Mr. Stillmans old confidential friend and his
partner in ths combination OF experience and
capital. In which the lawyer and intended hus-
band furnished tho experience and Mark Hop
kns's widow tho capital. All that sne had to
leave her heirs ut her death. it now appears.
was tho experience contributed by her part
Lfrs. The Undergraduates and answers By
which tho above facts were revealed were at
hasdIy, dull moment throughout tho day. "''
Nr. Searlcs took his scat upon tho witness
stand Tor third day Of torture! with tho same
~ Do trying ordeal Ono oi the first things
pssH sbSD Of
siS t. uF; sisoS s sSa as Seem iio i psa
% S On r ass9un a.. 81 that PTcpe,ty al e
nished ali the capital. The expenditnres
xss es5yd E e real estate Of which
a ndsntsre called i"S ~ r bu All, p was Dis
s Ssa x". FcS " V%Sfa ns.. ss
livsrea about the time I bore date, IL was
grc"m were on their Wedding tour. i and com "%H
y Mrs, SesrIes for tho nominal Il" considerat"m
9ste Witness sss sas t r.
The san Francisco Mark Hopk ins homestead.
rsl ,h at 81 bWGN. stu remains the property
i,'s hin :: %ade Sy NJ stil%aa. who had r.;
e e Il from Mrs. seares. which deed had
9evsr been recorded. 1t was dated May -.
What did you mean by saying that tho San
sa. . psoperty does not belong to your"
"ihsl forgotten about it," was the reply.
.., Was It such COMMON thing for you to re.
sss ss seGS 3, ps9peytS valued at millions that
n, ididn,,,t consider 1t OF much importance at
Another deed. dated Feb. 3. 1873. given un.
yer similar circumstances. conveyed to Mr..
other psrsss q real estate in
DGss Ssr seo sv Tas hPm fse
s HyePe q" fthS5 he Sxs sh' m msaSm
o. the remarkable firm Of hnnnciers,
snS al bearing ssHbstaptially the samo date
a!lg tour in Europe. None had been recorded.
s 1T S Witness h was m "9she +" ssy VIZ had
ny III. fss e "a 1af sSS9t
sn ss Mn Mr. H ill., p1eps S H VIZ,
Great tra"ts q. timber land Tn California. a.
tour years. 4 deed was shown witnSrs Which
vas executed while 10 and his wife were
abroad. conveying to him absolutely all tho
property which had been conveyed to him in
S Mast by tho marriage settlement. He said lie
s1s !" the Hr%nsty aha aha" ia h nS rs
member having oven read il. ~
,-Do you know whero the suggestion came
T1engthcd while you wero abroad?" asked
Layer hurley.
No. sir"
Whore did you think II originated p
100 t remember that thought anything
n,,Ynu had II In your custody for some time.
a Doh You know that this document strength
rned yon; hold on tho property which was
~Ssftlnnnd In the marriage contrnctT
~ suppose did at the time"
la. hen yoEknew that YOUR hold was not ahso-
'use ~ Thy marriage contract"
.tdidn't know It..
Man,, nit tho prop2sition. for this transaction
ii couldn't say whether il did or didn't"
pIihe witness was interrogated regarding the
purchased in ises7 ior ii. 400 week or two
En iote ny marriage, with money which Mrs.
a., had given him. and requested him TO
n o IN MS own name. Since thcn about $5OtAN
~ i,rep expended on q house which he nHrn.
rs IN the summer. This money came ont Of
s A." u.,arnlngs ~ the Arm. He was also asked
s Hn,rh re holds in his own name and for which
~ paid flND,UN)O in lSdN The Durchaae money