Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-23
l. MIR BRYAN's STATEMENT.
will Accept Bennett Bequest Under
 Conditions.

Conditions.
 New Haven, Oct 23.-The second days nearing in the Bennett will case before Judge Cleaveland in the pro bate court opened with a modified statement by William J. Bryan regard ing the bequest which MT Bennett, it is alleged, intended to leave him. MT Bryan consulted Henry G. Newton, his lawyer, and, on his advice, pre- pared and made the following state mert:
 "At the close of yesterdays session reference was made to statement which I was to make to-day as to my accepting this money. I will accept It if, it is necessary to do so in order to comply with the law which would prevent my applying the money i'll charitable and educational ways. This is with the understanding that if I ac- eept it, 1t will not be used in any way for myself, should that he against Mrs Bennett's wishes But if sTe does not consent I will accept it to distrib- ute it according to the secondary al fernative-for charitable and yeduca- tional purposes, by myself. under Mrs Bennett's direction. It is according to this uncertainty; as to the Connec- acut law. that the statement is made in this form.
 After the hearing began Judge ssoddard. who is counsel for Mrs Ben nett spent considerable time asking MT Bryan why it was that the sealed letter made no reference to the fact that a certain part os the fund was NFx. Or yaL fnfe 1ny- children. Mfr Bryan said that he did not know but that it was so under stood, and that he told Mrs Bennett so after her husbands death.
 Judge Stoddard then asked him why he took $500 from Mir Bennett at the time the will was drawn. and he re- plied that while there was nothing said abont 1t he supposed it was for draw ing up the document
 There was further discussion regard ing the three houses in Bridgeport which are mentioned in the will and which. it has been shown. are owned by the firm of Bennett x Sloan and are not part of the estate of MT Bennett Mir Bryan said that this loss to Mrs Bennett would be made good from the assets of the New York partnership and added that he had told Mrs Ben nett that he was willing to paw the in- herftance tax on the entire S50000 be- quest out of his portion of S25. GOO and that he would give her S2500 to be held in trust for three of her relatives. The rest he would invest in govern ment bonds and would give her the in ferest as long as his health remained unimpared
 Mir Bryan said further that ATr Ben nett had made some investments for him and that with the S3000 which Mir Bennett gave him after the election in 1sa6 he bought bonds for the Bryan children. and that Mir Bennett made further investments for him after the Commoner was established.
 Lawyer Newton then asked Mr Bryan if he or his wife ever suggested the gift of $50000 to MT Bennett and Mir Bryan replied in the negative.
 James D. Dewell. a wholesale grocer testified that he had known MT Ben nett for many years and had consid- cred him to be shrewd and capable business man. He seemed to be Of sound mind when the witness last saw, him. which was just before his death.
 Mir Bryan modified one of his former statements to the effect that Mr Ben nett had never invested money for Mrs Bryan. He said that he gave his wife the royalties on his book, ""Fhe First Battle" The sum amounted to about S4 900 and it was invested but he could not say whether bv MT Bennett or by a Chicago firm. The case was then continued until Monday evening.