The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-10-23
BRYAN AND THE
BENNETT WILL
Distinguished Nebraskan Again
on the Witness Stand.
SOME DETAILS EXPLAINED
SOME OF THE OFFERS MADE TO
MRS. BENNETT.
SOME DETAILS EXPLAINED

New Haven, Conn, oct. William
j. Bryan again occupied the witness
stand ina the probate court when the
hearing on the application for prohat-
ms the viii Of the late Phiio s. Beunt tt
was resumed today. In the cross
examination Of Mr.. Bryan Judge StOd-
dard. counsel for Mrs Bennett. the
widow spent considerable time ia ques-
toning Mr.. Bryan as to why il was
that in the letter which was left for
Mrs. Bennett by her husband. direct
ing her TO give Mr.. Bryan $4,000 for
himself and family, IL was not stated
that certain part Of the fund was to
be given to Mrs. Bryan and part of IT,
70 the children. Mr.. Bryan replied that
hc did not know. but that it was so
understood between himself and Mr.
Bennett, and that after Mr. Benefits
death he told Mrs. Bennett about the
arrangement. Judge StOddard then
asked Mr.. Bryan if anyone else was
present beside himself and Mr.. Ben
nett when they discussed that letter
I'm which the 'bequest should be made
60 Mrs. Bennett. The witness answered
that he did not remember. but thought
that Mrs Bryan was not present. al
though she afterwards wrote the two
letters on a typewriter. one TO Mrs.
bennett and one to himself. relating to
this point. Judge Stoddard also in
CURED why il was not stated i'm the
letter to Mrs. Bennett that Mrs. Bryan
knew the contents Of this sealed letter
since that letter said the writer pre-
1erred TO have no one know it but Mrs.
Bennett and himself.
Mr.. Bryan replied that he had told
Mrs. Bennett the details Of the agree
ment when he came here after Mr..
Benefits death. He added that ne
presumed that it had not occurred to
either Mr.. Bennett or himself to men
ton Mrs. Bennett I'm the letter. The
witness was asked to explain why ne
had received $500 from Mr.. Bennett a.
the time the will was drawn. and he
stated that while there was nothing
said about it, he supposed IL to be for
drawing up the document.
Mr.. StOddaTd then questioned the
witness regarding some offers ne had
made TO Mrs. Bennett with regard to
the $4,000 bequest TO himself and fam
iiy. Mr.. Bryan said that he had told
Mrs. Bennett that he was willing TO
pay the Inheritance tax on the entire
$4,000 beQuest out of his S25 600 por-
ton and that ne would give her S25. 900
in trust for three persons who were
his relatives, the balance to be in
vested by him I'm gOvernmnt bonds and
The interest TO be paid to Mrs. Bennett
unless he should need it because Of
j.
Investments for Bryan.
When Judge stoddard asked the wit
ness III Mr., Bennett had ever made any
Investments for him, Mr.. Bryan replied
mat he had made investments Of the
Sommoner fund. buying government
bonds with the proceeds OF the subscrfD-
lions which came I'm advance. He also
SAID that Mr.. Bennett had never made
an Investment for Mrs Bryan.
Lawyer Newton then asked his client.
Mr.. Bryan:
was it ever suggested by yourself or
Mrs Bryan that he give YOU the S50OO02
NO. sir; we never suggested it. 1t
came as a surprise to us when Mr. Ben
nett made the suggestion himself" The
witness then said that he had used a
portion of previous will which had
been executed by Mr.. Bennett in drafting
the last one.
James D. DeweH. a wholesale grocer.
stated that for many years he had known
Dir. Bennett He had always believed
him TO be "a shrewd. capable business
man and bore a reputation as such.
Replying TO questions. ne stated that
Mr, Bennett appeared TO be i'm good men
tai condition at the time when he last
saw him. which was shortly before his
death. He was a man. said the witness.
whose opinion could not be easily
At this point Judge stoddard interrupt
cd with the question:
Did he worship Mr.. Bryan2''
Witness replied. ct always knew that
he held the highest opinion of him"
Mr. Bryan then made r statement
which somewhat modified his answer that
no money had been invested for Mrs
Bryan by Mr. Bennett. He said that
when he received the ROYALTIES on his
book. The First Battle DE gave Mrs
Bryan. who wrote the biOcraDhiraT
Elxctch a s11n, ar7oI1rtir7e- 20 ,t,,,,t "a 40
This was invested for her he said. but
hc could not recall whether it was by
Mr.. Bennett or by a Chicago firm.
The case was adjourned until Monday
evening