The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-10-22

1Aoby AAoNN anu
 ments in the Bennett Estate Hearing-
 William Jennings Bryan Tells His
 Entire Relationship with the Deeeas-
 sd-Aeknowisdges Many Monetary
 GIfts-Lettsr Leaves Him s5O,oOO--
 Counsel for Mrs. Bennett Refuses to
 Allow Letter to Have any Connection
 with the win.
 One of the most interesting hearings that ever took place in probate court in the state was that on the admission of the will of the late Philo S. Bennett to probate in the probate court yester- day and which occupied the attention of Judge Cleaveland for the entire af- ternoon, during which time many inn portant and interesting matters were brought out, including the contents of the much talked of letter and William J. Bryan's entire relationship with the deceased There were only three witnesses examined during the day, the WlLnC5oCo lO tAlG Wilt ShO OA tllCoS stated that they had not seen MT. Ben nett sign the document.
 They were Thomas J. Scholey and Frank T. Bell, both of Brooklyn, N. T.. The other witness was Andrew H.. Wood, also of Brooklyn. They testi- fled to having signed the will at MT. Bennett's request and that the signing took place in the deceased's office at 100 Hudson street, New York city. Will liam J Bryan was present at the court hearing here yesterday afternoon. After these witnesses were examined he made a complete statement as to his entire relations with MT. Bennett. Attorney Oliver s. White represented the execu- tors and ex-Judge Henry Stoddard ap- peared for Mrs. Bennett. A stenogra- pher was also in attendance and took down the entire proceedings.
 The executors went to New York early yesterday morning and got the letter from the safe deposit company, where 1t had been locked up. They then returned to this city and at o'clork when court was opened presented it to the court. All those interested refused to open the letter and decided that the court should do so. This Judge Cleave- land did, but did not make public the contents. although MT. Bryan did so later in the hearing. After Judge Cleaveland had opened the letter At torney Stoddard stated that the letter was no part of the will and that no matter in whose favor it might be did es+ ,.f5 ot ct Ii. 1T can put your honor's mind at ease in relation to this letter. as far as my client Is concerned. will not accept it as any part of the will, and will con- test it's being considered so.'
 Judge Stoddard then asked MT. Bry- an some questions. The first one was: Was not the original will in an un- sealed letter."
 MT. Bryan-"I do not know, as was not present at the time it was first opened!
 Judge Stoddard- you and your wife are attorneys-at-law, are you not?''
 & MT. Bryan-"We are, although my wife has never engaged in practice. I was admitted to the bar in 1883, and prarticed until 1891. Since 1896 I have only tried one case, and that was be- fore the United States supreme court" ,"
 MT. Bryan then said that he wished to make a complete statement to the court as to his relationship with MT. Bennett. Judge CIeaveland asked if there was any objection to his doing so, and as there was none made the court permitted him to do so.. '
 MT. Bryan took from his pocket a large bundle of letters which both he and his wife had received from Mir Bennett, and started to read them. He was interrupted by Attorney Stoddard who said he would like to make the sug- gestion that he read only those which had any bearing on the case. He said he only made that as a suggestion, however.
 MT. Bryan then said: II have been absent from home most of the time since 1896, and consequently did not read some of my letters from MT. Ben nett until some time after they had ar rived there.'' Continuing, he said: q first met MT. Bennett just before the election in 1896. He had been elected an elector large from this state, and met him on the train on the way to this city. I rode from the depot in this city to the hotel in the carriage with him and Mir. Sargent. The next I heard from MT. Bennett was on by arrival home after the '96 campaign when I found a letter from him awaiting me. I would never have recalled the fact from the name. The letter, which was dated October 30, 1896, stated that the writer thought that I would win the election, and said that if did not he wanted to give me the sum of $3,000 to carry on the good work. "z
 T wrote back to him on November IS, 1896, and asked him if he was interested in any mines. On November 20, 1896, I received a reply from him which stat ed that he had never owned a cent in a mine in his life. The writer also said that he wished to send me the $3,000 in three payments of $1,000 each, and that commencing with that year that they would be paid on the first day of March every year and continue until I received the amount. This he did. The letter also stated that the giver desired that the money be spent for himself and family. also met him in New York in 1900 and he gave me $500 at . that time" -..
 Continuing his statement MT. Bryan said: "In the spring of 1900 Mr. Bennett H-- -