Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-10

son named Timothy Hopkins, who
was regarded IN every respect rs an
actual and legitimate son by both MI.
ana Mfs. fopsiss.
This young mans family name Is
Nolan. ic was nm Irish lad whom
Mark Hopkins took n fancy TO, aud
legally adopted as his own son. This
young man grew up In the belief that
he was 10 inherit the Hopkins millions.
He received all the care, foudhoss and
education thai real son Of the Hop
klns house could have received. He
has 20 far In life conducted himself, In
every manner, as proprioiy, good.oili'
zenship and rospectabillty demand.
lie has In no way forfeited his right 10
the claims Of sonship In the Hopkins
family.
Atthe time Of Mark Hopkins death
Timothy was a recognized member OF
the family. For some time after the
death Mrs. Hopkins regarded him az
her son, and, It IA said, assured him
that the bulk Of her millions would go
TO him. Mrs. Hopkins has twcnty-one
blood relatives, with all Of whom she
was on the most friendly and intimate
terms until her marriage with Searles,
which occurred ia Mae, few years
after the death Of her nrst husband.
When this marriage took place she
was seventy years Of age. Her rela-
tlves and her son all combined In de.
nounoing IT,.
Scarles was paper hanger 10y trade.
He was IS at the time Of the marriage.
After that Mrs. Hopkins disclalmed all
her relatives and her adopted son. II
Is said that n will agreement was made
shortly after the marriage between
Scarlcs and his wife. This was that
NIrs. 5earlo- make will bcqucathing
everything To her husband provided
she diod flrst. lie was 10 make viii
bcquoathing everything to his vie
provided no died first. AZ he had but
days wages, aud she had s1O,0Oj,-
900, the trade seemed greatly Ia his
favor. Two dependent relatives Of
Mrs. Searles, who were receiving
stipends $500 a year each, did not 70.
ceive any more from Searles after the
death Of Mrs. Hopkins 5earles.
There Ia ono feature In this rather
peculiar will which challenges the
attention Of all right.mlndod persons.
II Is the gfasplng ayarlco Of the man
Scarlcs. He knew that his wife had a
number OF dependent blood relatives;
he knew that Timothy Hopkins was
an adopted son; and yet he permitted
his wife TO ignore all the ties ofkinship
and duty. Had hc persuaded Mrs.
Hopkins 10 boqucath even few mil.
lions 70 relatives and friends, public
opinion would not DO 40 pronounced
against him ~ 1t Is at present.
The will agreement savors q good
deal " the confidence trick praotlced
by bunco sharps when they plan the
robbery Of ver,iant citizen. Purses
or pocket books or satchols are cx.
changed 10 manifest trust In each
other, but the vordant victim finds
that he has been "conildenced" before
long. or course Searles viii make n
big fight TO retain the millions, but he
must patroniLo the law profession
literally.
Taking politically economic Wow
Of these large fortunes, perhaps II Is
better that they should BE- thus dlstri.
buted than that they ie permitted to
rest In individual hands. The eases OF
Hopkins, Of Tilien, OF Davis, OF AT.
stewart aud several others ought "a
make an object lesson for other mill
mlouaires yet In the flesh, Here ar,
the vast fortunes Of these men being
wasted In litigation, while relatives
kinsmen and frlonda have not received
cent, and probably never Will. Had
Mark Hopkins the wisdom 10 dispose Of
his money among his own aud hl'
wiio's relatives, his industry and econ
omy would nave uuno some gouu IN
the world, but leaving 1t rs he did, he
did an injury TO his unfortunate widow
~ well ms furnished his ow II memory.
II was absolute cruelty to leave tn,
management and disposition OF $780,.
900, 600 to nm invalid woman OF 10. |,
II amy wonder that she looked for hell
aud assistance 10 stronger arm and
brain7 Is It any Wonder that Searlo,
accepted the Offer Not at all. Timothy
Hopkins would no doubt have accepted
It himself under the clrcumstances,a ant
he would have fought Ms Searles nov
does, a wise man might have nc
copied the widow and cont6nted him
self with a portion OF her wealth, bu
wise men arc few and hoggish men
are many.