The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-24
THE SEARLEs' WILL CONTEST.
Millions of Dollars Transferred to Firm
of Searles, StIIlman & Hubbard.

SALEM. Mass, Sept. 23.-The second day
OF the Searles' will case opened with big
crowd present. The examination of Mr..
Searles was cont inued. Witness and his
wife went to Europe November %, 1887,
on their wedding trip. Previous to start
ing on the wedding tour Mrs. Searles
secured funds of about 100000. The trip
was for six months, and included the wit
ness, his wife, lady's maid and Rev. D.
Clapp, his wife and daughter. He did not
meet DR.. Slade or any spiritualists on that
trip. He knew Charles Bolles, who, he
believed, called himself Harmony"
scholar or Christian Scientist, but he
never knew of his attending Mrs, Searles
either before or after their marriage.
Timothy Hopkins managed Mrs. Searles'
affairs up to the time of the partnership.
After the marriage, while in Europe, his
wife made over to him certain deeds at
Nice. The suggestion of co-partnership
came from Mrs. Searles. The articles of
copartnership were here put in between
Mary F. Searles, Edward F. Searles, Thos. Z.
Stillman, and Thomas Hubbard, to man.
age all the property of Mrs. Searles and
pay an income to the parties, Mr.. and
Mrs. Searles to receive 45 per cent each,
and Stillman and Hubbard each per
cent of the income, and if it did not
amount to $550,00 to be brought up to
that amount by the sale of securities.
Mrs. Hopkins became acquainted with
Stillman and Hubbard the year before
the marriage, and on October 81, 1857,
Stlilman was given power of attorney
from Mrs. Searles and Mrs. Hopkins.
There was also general power of attor-
ney from Mrs. Hopkins to Stillman and
Hubbard, dated November 8. 1887. This
was on the same date as the marriage, with
a supplementary certifcation after the
marriage. This was never revoked to the
knowledge of witness. He knew of the
transfer of stock standing in her name to
the firm. Five days before her death he
saw the attorneys in New York and told
them that her condition was critical. He
did not learn that transfer had been
made until after her death. He could not
say what the stocks were, or their value,
nor he did not know how, and never knew,
what the assets of the co-partnership were.
He had never heard the amount stated. His
share of the income from the firm was
40 per cent, but he drew both his and his
wlfe's income, and, at her request, used
the money to pay the general household
expenses He had deposited money to
his individual account and drawn checks
against it. Mr.. Burleigh then called for
the check book. Mr.. Searles continued:
Mrs. Searles had no individual bank ac-
count during the time they lived together.
He could not give the average of the an
nual profits of the co-partnership, but it
was between $500, 900 and 100000.
At the afternoon session another power
of attorney was put in, dated July Ii. 1888,
from Mary o. Searles to Thomas f. Still
man and Thomas Hubbard. This was a
general power of attorney, and contained
declaration that it was irrevocable. A
transfer was put in, dated June Is. 1883,
from Mary o. Searles to Thos. F. Stillman,
of various railroad stocks and notes of the
Pacific improvement Company for $780,
900. and 20, 500 shares of Central Pacific
stock, the aggregate amounting to ST., 000,-
600. and Thomas StilIman in turn trans
ferred it TO F. F. Searles. and he in turn
transferred it, together with 400 shares
of Washington Building Association stock,
$4,000 in scrip of the company and
1000 shares of United States bank stock,
which he had received from his wife in
trust TO the firm of Searles, Stillman &
Hubbard. Objection being made to a
question to Mr.. Searles, "What did your
private estate consist of at the time of your
marriage?" adjournment was made until
tomorrow.