The evening world., 1903-10-27
Lawyer for Mrs. Bennett, Whose
Husband Left $4,000 to the
Defeated Politician, Accuses
Him of Greed.
"G0LD SENTIMENT" IS
NEBRASKAN'S PLEA.
Got MerciIess Scoring from
Judge Stoddard, but Insisted
that There Was More Politics
than Law in Contest.

ettot UNIV Vo0 WV ! O'e'oS
than Law in Contest.
NEW HAVEN, Conn, Oct. z7.-It was
an hour after midnight to-day when
William ]. Bryan concluded his speech
in his own defense after he had received
a merciless scoring from Judge Stod-
dard. counsel for Mrs. Bennett In the
contest of the will of Ph!lo s. Bennett,
who left $500 0 to Mr.. Bryan. Judge Stod-
dard called Bryan a liar and denied the
inference in a letter Bryan had written
to the widow in which he said that
Judge Stoddard, who mad abandoned the
free silver cause to become a gold DEM
ocrat. had advised the widow to contest
the will, and that Judge Stoddard was
influenced to do Sc through political
motives. The case was aiken under ad-
visement.'
In this letter Bryan told the widow
that If the will wac not contested he
would pay the income tax and that he
WYNN AAtCok kHo AAioAlCy IUlI " III III
3 per cent. Government bonds and would
give her the income "lf she needed it
and II his family did not need It."
After reading the letter to Bryan
Judge Stoddard became very angry in
questioning the distinguished witness,
but Bryan remained cool and his as
sertions were deliberate. He reiterated
that in the contest there was more
politics than law.
Protest to Court.
In his protest to the Court to prevent
the will from being probated Judge
Stoddard said:
What do think of q lawyer that
draws a will for q friend and writes
himself as heir and Their states that
undue influence was not used? That
lawyer is so lost to all sense of honor
and delicacy that courts and 1uries
are not content to accept his statement.
This sealed letter does not state Mr..
Benefits Will. Mr.. Bryan admits that
Mrs. Bryan was permitted to draw u
by Mr.. Bennett, but why no man knows.
1t is not true as expressed. It wa not
arranged at Lincoln, Neb.. that the
$4,000 should go to Mr.. Bryan. This
suggestion in the sealed letter was O
mere sham. The pretense that Mr..
Bryan offers to the widow that he will
not use this $685. 900 left to his family Ia
sham. That is left in trust. N the
law woud not permit him to give up
this trust, eve II he wanted to.
"What do you .hink OF a solemn let
ter addressed to q wife in the ADD
OF death secreting the fact that $4,000
was going to another mans wife? 1t
is not strange that Mr.. Bryan should
think that possibly Mrs. Bennett might
not like the idea Of Mrs. Bryan and her
being provided for when he
did not make provision for his own
Calls Bryan n Liar.
What do you think of thai letter in
whtch ne offered to pay the inheritance
tax coming from this liar who drew this
will? So this offer to this widow stand
ing in the shadow of her husbands
death offers to pay the Inheritance tax.
Well, what would he do and he getting
the money. Take It out of his wife and
children? In his desperation to get
hold OF this money for which he had
a particle of equitable or legal right
he wrote that letter.
Just think OF a lawyer taking $50, 600
out Of a family and not anticipating a
contest! 1t is incredible. When he found
at last that he was not going to got
the money he made one more last de-
spairing effort to influence the widow
by writing to her. If I had not seen
this letter mysesf l never would have
believed that he would write such a
thing.
in It he says: From the conduct of
Is unfriendly to the political
views of Mr.. Bennett; that there Is a
Gold Democrat at work What con-
ceivable right had this man init
that any miserable political con-
troversy would prejudice me in advis-
ing my client7 What rule of decency
did he follow to go behind my back
and say such things to my client?
Where do you get any Authority"
Judge stoddard. turning to
Mr.. Bryan and shaking his hand in his
face. "for any such allegation against
my honesty? That incident alone
the morality of the man. and II
shows the desperate ends he is driven
to in his avarlce to get this fortune"
There was such n tumult in theicourt
room at this point that the Sheriff had
to rap for order.
Bryan In Defense.
In his defense Mr.. Bryan said:
Il am not surprised at the language
this gentleman has used, nor the infer
ences he has sought &c bring out from
the facts. 1t was because 1 believed
him inspired by motives hat do not in
splre reputable lawyers generally that
l wrote as 1 did concerning this case
to the widow of the best friend 1 ever
had.
IT am not surprised hat Judge Stod-
dard falls to comprehend such dislnter-
ested devotion to q principle. The ceun-
sci seems to think 1t strange that his
will was drawn in secrecy. He seems
TO think that Mr.. Bennett should have
called a public meeting when he made
his will, though that is not the way
usually followed.
Mr.. Stoddard knows. and knows that
I know, thai IL the bequest had been
.--a 49,