The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-23
Closely Questioned About S5O,- 900 Request to His Family
MONEY WAS WELL INVESTED
In Answer to Direct Question He Says That Neither He Nor Mrs. Bryan
 Even Suggested Such
 Thing to Mir. Bennett.

New Haven. Conn, October Civilian j. Bryan has again occupied the witness stand in the probate court when the hear ing oh the application for prooating the will of the late Philo $. Bennett was re- sumed today. A great deal of the ground which was covered yesterday was gone over again during the cross examination, to which MT. Bryan was subjected by Judge Henry Stoddard, counsel for Mrs. Bennett, the widow Judge Stoddard spent considerable time in asking MT. Bryan why 1t was that In the letter which was left for Mrs. Bennett by her husband, directing her to give Mir. Bryan S50.000 for himself and family 1t was not stated that a certain part of the fund was to be given to Mrs Bryan and part to the children Mir. Bryan replied that he did not know but that 1t was so understood between himself and Mr. Bennett. and that after MT Bennetts death he told Mrs. Bennett about the arrangement. Judge Stoddard then asked Mr. Bryan if any one was present beside himself and MT. Bennett when they discussed that letter in which the bequest should be made to Mrs. Ben nett.
 Mrs. Bryan Not Present. Witness answered that he did not remem- Der, but thought that Mrs. Bryan was not present. although she afterwards wrote the two letters on a typewriter, one to Mrs. Bennett and one to himself, relating to this point.
 Judge stoddard also inquired why 1t tt., nett that Mrs. Bryan knew the contents of this sealed letter, since that letter said the writer preferred 10 have no one know it but Mrs. Bennett and himself.
 Mir. Bryan replied that he had told Mrs. Benr- it the details Of the d ETC ament vi a he-ees %iA.te after Nss, ., nnetts death. He added that he presumed that it had not occurred to either MT. Ben nett or himself to mention Mrs. Bryan in the letter. The witness was 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 IL, he supposed it 10 be for drawing up the docsnent.
 Mir Stoddard then questioned sthe wit ness regarding some offers he had made to Mrs. Bennett with regard to the $50. .- GOO bequest to himself and family M Bryan said he had told Mrs. Bennett tAt he was willing to pay the inherit5nee tax on the entire S50.000 bequest out of his $25,0OO portion, and that he would give her s25O0 in trust for three persons who were her relatives. the balance to be in- vested by him in government bonds. and the interest to be paid to Mrs Bennett until she should need 1t because of broken health or In case of her death | Invested in fha Snn.s.ou..
 When Judge Stoddard asked the wit ness if MT. Bennett had ever made any investments for him. MT. Bryan replied that he had made investments in The Commoner fund. buying government
 bonds with the proceeds of the subscrip- | tions' which came in advance. He also said that Mir. Bennett had never made an investment for Mrs Bryan.
 Lawyer Newton then asked his client MT. Bryan: Was it ever suggested by yourself or Mrs. Bryan that he give you 1 the s5O,OO0?"
 NO. sir, we never suggested it. Ii came as surprise to us when Mir Ben | nett made tho suggestion himself"
 The witness then said that he had used portion of a previous will which had been secured by MT. Bennett in drafting the last one.
 MT. Bryan then made statement which somewhat modified his answer that no money had been invested for Mrs. Bryan by Mir Bennett He said that when he received the royalties on his book "The First Battle" he gave Mrs Bryan, who wrote the biographical sketch. sum amounting to about $4OO0
 This was invested for her, he said. but he could not recall whether 1t was by MT. Bennett or by a Chicago firm. The case was adjourned until Monday even ing.