The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-10-23

Views as to ths s5O,OOO Bsquest-Rs-
 ceiped $500 for Drawing rhe Will Bonds for the chiIdren-Ex-Lieuten
 ant Governor DswslI on the Witness
 stand-Hearing Adjourned to Monday
 Evening. William J. Bryan again occupied the witness stand in the probate court when the hearing on the application for probating the will of the late Philo S. Bennett was resumed yesterday. A great deal of the ground which was covered the day before was gone over again during the cross examination to which Mir. Bryan was subjected by Judge Henry Stoddard, counsel for Mrs. I Bennett, the widow.
 Judge Stoddard spent considerable time in asking MT Bryan why it was ] that in the letter which was left for Mrs. Bennett, by her husband, direct ing her to give MT. Bryan $50,00O for himself and family. it was not stated that a certain part of the fund was to oS 6AFCh to EhiS. bESds anu part u LLit children. MT. Bryan replied that he did not know, but that it was so understood between himself and MT. Bennett and that after Mir. Bennett's death he told Mrs. Bennett about the arrangement. Judge Stoddard then asked MT. Bryan if anyone was present besides him. self and MT. Bennett when they dis cussed the writing of the letter to Mrs. Bennett. The witness answered that he did not remember, but thought Mrs. Bryan was not present, although she wrote the two letters on a type writer, one to Mrs. Bennett and one to himself, relating to this point.
 Judge Stoddard also inquired why it was not stated in the letter to Mrs. Bennett that Mrs. Bryan knew the con- tents of this sealed letter, since the | letter said that the writer preferred to have no one know 1t, but Mrs. Ben- | nett and himself. MT. Bryan could not | answer why that was, but repeated | that he had told Mrs. Benett the de- I tails of the agreement when he came here after MT. Bennett's death. He | added that he presumed that it had not occurred to either MT. Bennett or himself to make mention of Mrs. Bryan in the letter. The witness was then asked to explain why he had received $500 from MT. Bennett at the time the will was drawn up and stated that while there was nothing said about it he supposed it to be for drawing ur the document. There was further discussion con. cerning the three houses in Bridge. port which are mentioned in the vii and which, it has been shown, are owned by the firm of Bennett & Sloan and not by MT. Bennett per. sonally. Mfr. Bryan said that as execu tor he would be willing to have Mrs Bennett's share made good to the ex, tent of the difference made by re- | duclng Mir. Bennett's share in tht firm partnership. MT. Stoddard in! quired if that proceeding would no reduce Mrs. Bennetts share as residu, ary legatee. The witness admitted thai it would to some extent. E F..
 MT. Stoddard then questioned tlit witness regarding some offer he ha6 made to Mrs. Bennett with regard tC the s50000 bequest to himself af1t family. MT. Bryan said that he hat told Mrs. Benentt that he was willing to pay the inheritance tax on the en. tire s5o,000 bequest out of his s25,O0 portion and that he would give hel s2,500 in trust for three persons wht were relatives, the balance to be in, vested by him in government bonds and the interest to be paid to Mrs. Ben, nett unless he should need it because of broken health or in case of hel death. A.
 Replying to further questions, MT Bryan stated that MT. Bennett had made some investments for him ant that with the $3,G0O which he gave tt the witness before 1900, MT. Bennetr purchased government bonds for tht Bryan children, but Mir. Bryan himself
 paid the premiums. MT. Bennett alst acted as agent for MT. Bryan in invest. ing the funds of the Comrnoner
 Court at this point took a recess until o'clock. if | At 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon the hearing was resumed MT. Bryar was asked few more unin1portan
 questions, after which ex-Lieutenan
 Governor Dewell was put upon the wit
 ness ,stand to testify to MT. Bennett! mental condition. He testified tha
 there had never been said or done b! MT. Bennett which would cause him tt think that there was anything tht matter with him mentally, and that h, had always had great respect for hi
 good judgment.
 Considerable discussion then occurred as to just when to have the next hear
 ing, as owing to other matters it wal
 then decided to adjourn court. MT Bryan said that 1t was his desire tha
 matters be settled as soon as possibl, as he had great deal of business t, attend to. It was suggested that tn, hearing continue on Saturday after
 noon. Judge stoddard demurred to thi
 and said that he had other things to d. at that time. FL z
 It was finally decided to continue th
 hearing until next Monday evening which time appeared favorable to all Court then adjourned, a little before j