Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-11-02
BRYAN FIGHTING
FOR BIG REQUEST
ARGUES m $4,000 CONTEST IN
BENNETT ESTATE.
CITES POLITICAL MOTIVES
Says the Counsel for Contestng
Widow and Heirs Is a Gold Demo-
crat and Actuated by Personal
Hatred to Try to Break the
Will.

New Haven, Oct. 27.-Arguments in
the Bennett viii case were begun last
night During the days proceedings
counsel for Mrs. Bennett introduced a
letter written her by w. J. Bryan, il
which he said her attorneys opposition
to him was influenced by politics, the
attorney being a gold democrat. also
that the opposition of Benefits rela-
tives to allowing the $4,000 bequest to
Bryan was the result OF disappoint-
menU over not receiving more of the
deceased's estate. 1t also suggested
to the widow that if she contested the
viii she would not receive more than
$25, 600.
After the letter had been read, re-
plying to the question of SUoudard,
Mrs. Benefits counsel, Mr.. Bryan said
he was convinced there was more poll
tics in Stoddard's position than law.
StOddard then began his argument,
in which ne declared that Mr.. Bryan
and his wife. with Mr.. Bennett, ar
ranged in Lincoln, Neb., draft of
this provision and framed this letter
which disposed of $4,000 of Mr.. Ben
nett's money. No member of Ben
nett's family was present, nor notified
of the fact and no man associated with
Mr.. Bennett in a business way was
present or notified of the fact" He
declared the letter states Brya1's win.
not Benefits.
In the shadow of her husbands
death" said Stoddard, Bryan maue an
offer TO Mrs. Bennett that when as
trustee she would pay to him the $780,
900 bequest he would do certain things
set forth in his letter to her and reao
in the testimony few days ago. He
said he did not anticipate a contest
That is incredible in a lawyer wrIung
himself heir to $4,000 in a friends
viii. me letter which he wrote fore
Swallowed fear of a contest. That let
ter introduced here tonight after CON
test had come, when it was apparent
that ne was not going to get that
money, caused him to make one last
despairing effort to get that widow
to permit him to do as he pleased with
the $4,000. Except l saw it under his
own handwriting il would be incredible
that any lawyer could write such a let
ter as this"
Bryan replied in a speech of more
than an hours length. He said ne
wrote the widow the letter he did be-
cause he believed other causes than
the law inspired her counsel.
''AIr. Stojdard," said Bryan, seems
10 feel that everybody should have
been invited in when the viii was
written. People don't publish it in
public notices, nor do they perform
their kindnesses in that manner. Dur
ing the campaign, men like the counsel
for the contestants declared did not
know the law, that l was no lawyer at
all, out now he has paid me the COM
pliment of saying that am a lawyer.
Let him make every presumption that
can be alleged against a lawyer in such
a situation. There is no evidence that
Bennett ever consulted me upon law
matters. Our friendship was personal,
political and in the way of business"
Bryan told how he executed Ben
nett's will, placed it in a safe deposie
vault and left il there without altera-
alton for three years though he had OPP
portunity to make changes had he de-
sired.
At the conclusion of the argument
the judge announced that he reserved
the decision.