Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-10-03
MRS. BRESEE'S CLAIM
A Methodist Minister'S Wife
After Those Millions.
She Claims to Be a Second Cousin
of Mrs. HOpkinS-Searles.
Her Attack to Be Directed on Mrs.
Searles's Alleged Will.
A Statement from Her Attorney-The
Points OF Her Claim With Tim
Othy Until the Will Is Brok-
en-, Then Against
Him.

telegram from Salem yesterday an
nounced that new contestant had ap-
reared in the Hopkins-Searles will case.
This new phase of the suit caused a
great sensation in Salem as well as in
San Francisco, and the people of L %
Angeles will have renewed interest in
the famous contest, when they learn
that the new claimant is lady residing
in this city, and socially prominent. 1t
is Mrs. Bresee, wife of the Rev. P. F.
Breaee. who at the last conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal church was elected
presiding elder OF this district.
According to advices from Salem the
charges upon which Mrs. Bresee's con-
test are founded are of highly sensa-
tional nature, but this fact could not be
authenticated by an investigation.
Mrs. Bresee's counsel in the con.
test are Wells, Munroe and
Lee. OF this firm Mr.. Bradner w. Lee
was looked up last morning by a HERALD
reporter, and readily gave all the in
formation at his command. He said:
"Mrs. Bresee claims to be second cous-
in of Mrs. Hopkins-Searles one of her
parents,I don't know which having been
a first cousin of one of Mrs. Searles's
parents. Our client elaine, that, inter-
vening relatives between herself and
Mrs Searles being dead, she would be
Untitled to inherit by right of represen-
tation in case there is no will. Her
claim depends, therefore, upon the fact
whether there is will or not.
1--WE are joining in the fight with the
other contestants, that with the heirs
at-law and next to kin. At present,
therefore, our plans are parallel with
those of Timothy Hopkins, their object
being to break the will.
MRS. Breeze was of course aware OF
her relationship before this, but did not
think of entering the fight until she was
advised to do go by her brother and
sister, who are of course in her own po-
sition, who live in New York state and
who have already joined the contest.
After this advice was received we at
once filed our protest in the probate
court at Salem. The papers were for.
warded ten days ago. The brother and
sister in New York have engaged one o.
the foremost lawyers in the national
metropolis.
1.-THE charges on which we base oul
case are exactly the same as those of the
other contestants, and of which mum
Der of the features have already beer
published.
/ First, we propose to prove specific
charges that Mrs. Hopkins-Se arles
toward the end of her life lived undel
undue influence of Mr.. Searles and
others unknown to our client. The un
knowns are spiritualists, mesmeristl
and the like.
| Second, we will show that the will
benefting Searles was not the dece
dents last will and testament.
Third, the wills being out of the way
we, as heirs at law and next of kin, viii
attack Timothy Hopkins. If we car
prove that he is not legally an adopted
son, the estate will fall to the class o.
heirs represented by our client.
I'm this whole matter" concluded
Mr.. Lee, 'we shall use all the evidence
which is now being produced by Tim
othy Hopkins for the purpose of break
ing the will All he brings forth will
be to our benefit as we'll. Until thu
will is broken, we work for the same
end. Then we shall enter fight with
him.