The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-12
SENSATIONAL SUIT
Relatives of the Late Mrs. Hop
kiDs-Searles Kicking
SAY THAT SEARLES MUST SETTLE
An Interesting Family squabble May Result
Between Forty and Fifty Poor but Angry
Cousins on Their Kettle.

Ah'C Ahcm al Inc blule the hopkins Will was
fled in 1891 Mr.. Searles. It is said, agreed
10 give all the cousins and second cousins
So, ZOO each after he had settled with Tim
othy Hopkins. This, they allege, he has
not done. The suit is likely to be a sensa-
tional one The more excitabe of the rela-
tives do not hesitate to make damaging
statements. not only about the way they
were treated by MIR. Sesrles and his attor-
neys. but by their own spokesman There
is big family row on, and more than two
thirds OF tie cousins and second-cousins
have banded together again to make big
fight Tor what they say rightfully belongs
10 them. There are forty odd relatives Of
Mrs. Hopkins Stillman & Hubbard. at
torneys for Mr.. Searles, say they did not
bind themselves TO pay S25, 900 apiece to all
Of Mrs. Hopkins relatives. They deny
they agreed on any sum whatever, and say
they have already made gifts 10 the forty
or more cousins and second cousins at the
request Of Mr.. Searles, whom they call
g most
GENEROUS AND LIBERAL NAN.
They say they also are prepared to go to
court at any time to defend Searles' mil
lions against this host Of claimants.
"W5ll, we viii give them q chance to
show what they are going TO do,' said Mr..
Nathaniel Hubbard, one of Mrs. Hopkins
second cousins, today. Mar. Hubbard is
one OF the claimants and be is engaged as
q letter-carrier at Washington Heights
station. He lives at No. 2,07l Madison
avenue
81 think we have all been treated most
uniustly in this NATTER continued Mr.
Hubbard. I'VE were led astray by prom
Uses that there would be a settlement in
full"
"Whst amount was promisedp'
I'VE were all told that we would get
81, 600 apiece, and we fully expected it,
TOO. You see, Mrs. Hopkins, we know,
told Mr.. Searles 1t was her wish that we
should all be well cared for. She had
given US money and presents from time to
time, but we have written proof that she
was all along intending to give US a good
lump sun at her DEATH
who promised the S25 000l'
'tirst we engaged Lawyer Frank Rog
ers OF Bridgeport. he leo US to believe
that he would get this, as did my brother,
William Hibbard CO this city. There is
something very strange about the course
these two men took in the matter, but as l
have no proof, don't care to make charges
They told Us we were to get this money
the moment we withdrew our opposition to
the suit.n
Have you received any money from the
estate since Mrs. Hopkins deaJhsn
''Yes, about $500. but this was given as q
gift. Last Thanksgiving we also received
$50, IS what StiilmRn * Hubbard said in
their letter was the first iDstallment of a
yearly allowance OF 500. just think Of il.
First we were promised SIS, 600, and then
we get 500 year, and we are all in the
hfties al that"
did you agree to accept these terms 90
'No sir, not one of US. We have not
signed anything, as we were expecting the
$4,000. MY brother came to me and led
me TO believe Mr.. Searles did not want to
hight US, and would compromise on the
sum named just as soon as we withdrew our
opposition TO the probating Of the will and
Timothy had been disposed Of, and turned
over eli our documentary evidence TO our
lawyer, who IN turn, am told, turned it
over to Stillman q Hubbard
'Have you seen Stillman & Hubbard
personality
mo, didn't go to see them myself, be-
cause the last time / talked for publication
they got msd. One OF the attorneys is re-
ported IS having said that if be had his
way none Of US would get penny"
What reason does Mr.. Sesrles' attor-
neys give for breaking their promiseg"
None. except that the number of rela-
tives increased at too rapid a rate"
'How many were there who sent in their
claims az the death OF Mrs. Hopkins. and
how many are there nowz''
well, 1 guess between forty and fftyn
And none OF the forty or more are sat
hedq'
None that / know of. 1 think we were
deceived in the most barefaced Manner
And as TO the evidence you haver'
~ on will have to see MIR. Wakeman of
Bridgeport, Conn. He is the second
cousin OF Mrs. Hopkins"
Herman Wakeman is prosperous mer-
chant dong business at 36l Main street,
Bridgeport.
II AN afraid TO say much for fear it will
hurt our case said he today. 81 an a
second cousin TO the late Mrs. Hopkins
Searles. Like all the rest l expected TO
get 80, eco. We have been led 10 believe
that we would get it if we kept
still, but think the trouble has
been with the attorneys Mr.. Searls seems
10 be all right. Last Christmas we were
given 500 each as Christmas present 1t
was not given TO US on account, but as an
out and ont present ] went TO New York
70 see Stillman a. Hubbard, Mr.. Searles'
lawyers. but they had been told / was q
dangerous man ana would not see me.
only saw their lieutenant, Mr.. Silhber. He
gave me to understand that we would be
satisfactorily portioned of. l next went
10 Sullman q Hubbard, and one Of them
replied:
Il never agreed with MIR. Rogers that
you WE'RE TO receive 81, 900 or any sum-
George Hibbard, cousin OF Mrs. Hopkins.
IS employed il the Bridgeport postoffice as
waiting clerk. he said:
I'VE employed Lawyer Frank Rogers 10
get what he could, and he led US TO believe
that We would ger SO. 600 apiece We were
told Mrs. Searles had made her husband
promise be would take care OF US, and as
Ehe put IL, be would be more generous than
she would, but we have SO far got e very
small amount. I thought at enc time I
would expose the whole thing, but have de-
cided to watt
Mr.. Wakeman was very bitter towards
the lawyer the relatives hired to handle the
case.
''l5e has been telling us to keep still.
continued MIR. Wakeman, land at the first
we knew he had turned all our afldavits
over - Searles' lawyers. Now they have
settled, and we are left 10 the cold. 1 could
tell lot more about the case, but / am
afraid it would hurt u.s."
Lawyer Rogers has gone to California
and viii not return for several months
Charles Sherwood. the Bridgeport LAWYER.
who has several large trusteeships, said
"a cousin Of Mr. Searles and 7, could tell
YOU enough TO write up q red not story. but
1t wotld only hurt u.s. Searles and his
lawyers have been Disguised with lot OF
stuff that has been published, and we don't
want 10 annoy them at present. There are
lots Of poor relatives living up in Green
field, al poor, worthy people, and they
ought TO receive something better than the
annuity now offered. William Hubbard. Of
New York, saw these relatives. telling
them that If they kept still each would re-
ceive 81, 600. Now Mr.. Searles lawyers
say that neither they nor Mr. Sesrles
authorized Mr. Hubbard to make any such
promise"
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