Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-10-27
MR.. BRYAN DEFENDS HIMSELF.

Hon. William ]. Bryan last night, in
the Probate Court at New Haven, Conn.,,
made an imprisoned defense of himself
and replied to reflections cast upon his
probity by ex-Judge Henry Stoddard,
counsel for Mrs. Grace Imogene Bennett,
in the contest over the bequest of $780,
600 to himself in the will of Philo S.
Bennett.
Judge Stoddard's speech was I'M
usually bitter and followed sensation
sprung by himself in the introduction
Of a letter written by Mr.. Bryan to nrs.
Bennett since the will was offered for
probate. Mr.. Bryan, in his letter, says
in part.
''From the conduct of your attorney |
am satisfied that, being one Of the gold
bugs who left us in 1896 and not at all
in sympathy with the present views OF
your husband and myself, heis willing to
defeat Mr.. Benefits purpose, if it can
be done, no matter how plainly that pur-
pose is set forthr"
Mr.. Bryan says Mrs. Benefits action,
he is satisfied, is due to the persuasion Of
lawyer unfriendly to the political views
of their benefactor.
In commenting on this letter Judge
5toddard said in part:
"Mr. Bryan and his wife are attorneys.
This lawyer and his wife with Mr..
Bennett, alone, no member of his family,
no business friend present, out in their
home drew this will. 1t is not in this
State nor where common law controls,
permissible fora lawyer to write himself
heir to a considerable fortune. The
common law is drawn so that a lawyer
so lost to all sense Of honor and decency
as to try to get a bequest for himself
may not generally do so. That prohibit
ton of law is for the safety of the COM
munity as well as the honor of the pro-
fession.
"And why, if Mr.. Bryan was given
the bequest because Mr.. Bennett held
his principles to be for the welfare of
the nation, should the money go to
Bryan's heirs in the event of his death?
He admits that he wrote in those words
in the will.
"By what rule of decency does Mr..
Bryan go behind my back and say such
things to my client as he does-that |
am unfair to my oath because of some
miserable difference of political opinion.
To my mind. it marks the morality Of
the man and show to what extremes he
is driven in his ayarice to get that $780,
000."
Mr.. Bryan replying said; cit am
willing that every presumption that can
be made against a lawyer in such a
situation shall be made against me, but
there is no evidence that / ever acted as
Mr.. Benefits lawyer. He was my
political and business friend. He came
to my home without my solicitation.
He prepared his will, made an offer with
out any suggestion on my part. He
took the will home, 1000 miles away,
and after two days and nights TO think
it over, executed it, calling in three
witnesses to attest his signature. Then
he deposited it 10 a safety vault to which
no member of my family had access,
and kept it there for more than three
years without changing its provisions. )"
SENATOR STEWART MARRIED.
Former United States Senator William
H. Stewart, of Nevada, was married
last night in private parlor of the
Piedmont Hotel of Atlanta, TO Mrs.
Mary Agnes Cone, widow Of the late
Theodore @. Cone, of Georgia, and for
several years past resident of Wash
ington, Senator Stewart is rs years
old. The ceremony was private, the
only witnesses being Hon. Thomas NJ.
Norwood, Of Savannah, who served in
the Senate 80 years ago with Senator
Stewart; Hon. Clark Howell and State
Treasurer r. f. Park. The ceremony
was performed by Rev. II. S. Bradley,
ex-senator Norwood acting as best man.
The bride and groom left today at noon
for Washington.
The Market.
Georgetown, Oct. 27.--Wheat 75aSS.