The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-24
THE SEARLES ESTATE.
Gen. Hubbard Says Its Manage
ment Is a Heavy Burden.
SEARLES PAID ALL THE BILLS
His Wife Intended That He ShouId
Have All the Property-The Wild
overs Examination Over.

SALEM, Mass, Oct. 23.-At the opening of the
Searles viii case this morning, Lincoln recalled
eearles. Witness testified that at Mrs Hopkins
request he first called In Mr. Stillman to look up
securities IN October, 1887 Witne testified to
the visit OF stillmsn to Methuen before the last
VIII was made. Mrs. Searles stated that she
wished TO leave ali her property TO witness and
would provide for Timothy in her lifetime. In
case anything happened to her, she was willing
10 leave matters In witness hands. She knew
witness would be more generous to Timothy
tnan she would. Witness testified that dur
ing Mrs. Searies' last sickness he visited in
new ! ork, and while in conversation with Still
man referred TO her condition and said if her
condition was critical il would be well TO trans
fer the Southern Pacific Railroad and Improve
ment Companies bonds aud stocks to the CO.
partnership, so that III case Of Mrs. Searles'
death IL should not lose its voting power. Still
man said he would attend TO it, Witness denied
most emphaticaily that he ever, at any time, at
tempted, by himself or through others, to in
any way influence his wife in the disposal of her
property He had never noticed anything to
show that she was in any other than strong
mental condition
Burley on cross-examination, asked witness
II he intended to say he never had private
conversation in regard to the disposal of her
property. Witness replied: "No, none" Searles
stated that in June, 1887, he had property of his
by Burley brought out nothing new. Witness
knew of no memoranda addi lional to the will
being left; at least he had not discovered any.
Ms concluded Searies testimony, he having
been on the stand for five days, and under the
most searching examination of all his affairs.
Burley then called for the check books. show
ing checks to Stillman or Hubbard. This re-
quest the court was disposed to grant. Counsel
for the will rendered original copies of letters
which bean rpa
contestants rested their case for Timothy Hop
kins Judge Harmon asked if any one else
wished to be heard in opposition to the instru-
ment, and there was no response.
Lincoln then called for General Hubbard, of
New York, who testified that he had known
searles Tor some time prior to 1882, but had per-
sonaily done no business for him. He first met
Mrs. searles in the spring OF 1885, but had heard
something OF the Field matter in conversation
with otIllman. General Hubbard gave in a
general way Mrs Searles' assets, consisting of
some sixty kinds of stocks and bonds
The property is such that any one who
attempts to attend to either of the properties
requires all his time. Witness had large and
prosperous practice, and when Stillman came to
him and said Searles wanted him to take the
management of the property if he would go in
with him, he told him it was serious matter
as 1t would in a short time at least
involve the abandonment of the pr actice of
law. Finally he consented to take it. The CO.
partnership was suggested by Stillman, and they
had found that as attorneys they met with re-
Bluffs in getting the information necessary to
cope with the questions before them, but as
principals well attorneys they could insist
on their rights to it. Witness knew that per
cent. of the income on the property would be
much less than his professional income. and
finally, after much discussion, a CO. partnership
was made, and with most just and reasonable
arrangements.
At the afternoon session General Hubbard
testified that the management OF the estate had
taken nearly all OF his time for the last year and
half, and fully as much of Stillman's time. He
saw Mrs. Searles about June 3, lSSs, and she
wanted some one to manage her business who
was near at hand. In the latter part of May,
1890, witness went to Mrs. Searles
and remarked that she appeared to be
drawing but little, while Searles was
drawing quite literally. She asked if that was
not right. Witness said yes, if she wished it
so. She said that Searles paid all her bills and
she wanted him to- She did not want TO keep a
bank account or have anything TO do with mat
tiers of business.
"Were any changes made in the record of the
title of the co-partnership just before Mrs.
Searles' death?" was asked witness
"Ies, in the Southern Pacific and Pacific I'M
proyement Company stocks aud bonds Both
had been transferred to the partnership, but had
remained on record as III the name of Mrs
Searles. They were then transferred on the
books of the company"
Witness had no personal knowledge of the
wills and had never attempted in any mann er
to influence Mrs. SearIes with regard to making
her will Mrs. Searles always impressed him as
woman OF alert mind, and spoke as a woman
OF quite decided opinions when spoken to on
matters of business Witness never advised
keeping the matter a secret from Timothy Hop
kins