St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-23
WIDOW HOPKINS WILL.
Opening OF the Hearing Thereon
at Salem.

SALEM. Mass, Sept. 22.-The hearing
in the Searles will case was opened in
the probate court this morning. Will
lam w. Dodge testified to drawing the
will of Mrs. Searles. 1t was read to
iier and she declared that it expressed
her wishes. She was to all appearance
o sound mind. Witness mentioned the
craving of another, and the court or
red it produced. Incidental to the
request, it was stated that Timothy Hop
kins would not be conceded the right to
appear as an adopted son.
ssMr Burleigh proceeded TO cross-eX-
anime witness, his main point being
the fact that the name "Timothy Hop
kins'' was written in apparently differ
ent ink in blank space left for the
name. Mr.. Dodge stated that his i'm
pr. ion was that he left the space until
he got to Methuen, as he was not sure
whether there was middle initial. He
had been instructed to draw will leav-
lag all the property to Mr.. Searles. and,
As his duty as lawyer required, he in
serted the sentence regarding the omis
sion of the name of Timothy Hopkins.
He called the special attention of Mrs.
SearleS to this, and told her he could
modify it if she desired, but she stated
that it expressed her wishes, and it was
executed.
William M. Thornton, another wit
ness to the will, cOrroborated the last
| witness. Characterization showed
that witness could not read a single
word. William o. Norris. the third
witness to the will, corroborated the
| previous witnesses as to the execution
of the two wills. He had also witnessed
a will for Mr.. Searles since the death of
| Mrs. Searles.
In the afternoon session the eXamina
ton OF Edward f. SearleS was taken UP.
| He first met Mrs. Hopkins in San Fran
C SO, i'll March, 1888, going to her house
With a letter of introduction to look
| over her house; met her there several
| times, going on excursions into the
country twice with her and her daugh-
ter-ln-law. He then detailed his ac-
quaintance and visits to MIS-. Hopkins.
The first proposition of marriage be-
tween the two came from Mrs. Hopkins
in New York in the fall of 1888. He
did not assent to it for year, but in
December, 1884, he entertained the
proposition; knew at the time that Mrs.
Hopkins was born in 1920 and was
twenty-one years his senior; had never
previously proposed marriage to any
one. Witness could not well help know
ing that Mrs. Hopkins was a lady of
large means.
He delayed the proposition of marri-
age TO give her chance to be sure she
was satisfied, and after he entertained
it delayed marriage for three years. In
the spring of 1886 he went to Florida.
as the guest of Mrs. Hopkins, in her
private car. She was accompanied by
Miss Cass. of Great Darlington. Wit
ness, from 1885 to 1887, was superintend-
i the building of Mrs. Hopkins house
at Great Darlington. He had under
stood that the son, Timothy, in connec-
ton with the railroad people, managed
her affairs; had been told by Mrs. Hop
kins that Timothy had objected to the
marriage. but had cherished no ill-wilI
toward him for 1t. The agreement of
marriage was entered into in Septem-
Der, 1887, on witness part, because he
greatly admired her. In reply to
question, he said that he married her
for all sho had, both love and money,
but should never have married her for
money alone.