The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-25
Mr., BRYAN PLACED
UNDER RAPID FIRE
Explains His Conduct as an
Executor
BENNETT WILL CASE is UP
Judge stoddard Pours In Hot Cues
tons and Mr. Bryan Becomes lrri-
tated at His lnsinuatlng
Manner

New Haven, Conn, May 24-Willam J.
Bryan appeared In the probate court at
hearing on the accounts of the estate
of the late Philo S. Bennett of which Mr..
Bryan is administrator During the exam
nation Mr.. Bryan submitted to a rapid
fire of questions from Judge Henry Stod-
dard, counsel for Mrs Grace l. Bennett
the widow, and at times considerable inn
patience was manifested by both ques.
TONER and The witness.
Attorney White was first put on the
stand as counsel for the administrator to
explain the accounts, but Bryan interrupt
ed so frequently that Judge Stoddard sug-
gested that Mr.. Bryan await until he was
ON the stand before he attempted to eX-
plain matters Mr.. Bryan then said;
your honor l object to the insinua-
tons thrown out by Judge stoddard. For
eighteen months l have heard these inu-
endoes and l am tired of i'll am willing to
testify. | want to testify"
Judge Stoddard remarked that If Mr.
Bryan would go ON the stand later he
would ask him questions. Then proceed
ing with the examination of Mr.. White,
Judge Stoddard asked for statement
of the amount of the bills receivable,
accounts and notes receivable in the CO.
partnership at the time of MIR. Benefits
death. Mr. White gave this amount at
$2i527O and on March I, 1904, seven months
later, the amount had increased to face
value of S277,S55. Br. Bennett was senior
member of the firm of Bennett, Sloan &
Co., of New York.
Mr.. Bryan Takes Stand.
Mr.. Bryan then took the stand. lie
said that to the best of his knowledge
the amount presented to court was the
exact amount of money received from the
estate He only knew of the value of
the co-partnership from the appraiser
report and statements mace TO him by
Mr.. Sloan.
DO you know the face value of the
bills. notes and accounts receivable due
to Bennett, Sloan q Co. at the time the
business was taken over by the new cor
poration?' asked Judge Stoddard.
II only know from the statement filed
that it was s226S6557,' MIR. Bryan re-
Piled
Judge Stoddard: In other words you
know il only from statements made by
Sloan?"
MT. 1fAdns les. liitA . ais Ni'''h -
examination was made except by the APP
praisers."
When asked about the amount collect
ed on notes outstanding, Mr.. Bryan stat
ed that the loss on accounts was only
$500.
1t appeared that on July !, 1904, M
Sloan turned over to Mr.. Bryan as eX-
ecutor Sl72,Sa4 but MIR. Bryan could not
say for how long a time this sum had
/ His statements that
he had allowed the new corporation nlne-
tv DAVIS time in which to sell the mer-
chandise of the estate was subjected TO
some criticism by Judge stoddard who
asked If, had the ninety days time not
| been given 1t would not have been pos
sibe to have paid the legacies earlier.
Mr. Bryan replied:
Il paid the legaces as fast as my at
torneys thought 1t safe to pay
Explains $25oo Item.
After the recess, Mr.. Bryan resuming
the stand. was questioned by Judge Stod-
dard regarding the item of $500 Tor Mr..
Bryan,s own services. He said;
Mr.. Bryan, what did you charge $500
for?"
For usual and extraordinary services
as executor" replied Mr.. Bryan.
...What were the .sual, and what were
the extraordinary serviees?
1.-THE usual services were tnose per-
formed as executor, and the extraordinary
services were those in contesting the at
tempt to remove the executor and in de-
| Tense against the attacks upon the Will
! itself"
Il ask you again what have you done In
settlement of this estate%
Mr.. Bryan replied:
Il have discharged the duties of execu-
tor to the best of my ability, and while
| have allowed the attorneys to put into
the account what they thought to be a
| fair charge of my services intend TO
| use a part Of that money to carry out
/ the desire of Mr.. Bennett for which he
set apart certain trust funds. The in
! heritance taxes have reduced the trust
funds. and shall use about $1,000 to make
up the deficiency
1.-THE wish OF Mr.. Bennett was that
prizes be given IN about forty colleges
for excellence in essays on the topic;
| Free Principles of Government and the
money for the prizes was provided for
| In the Will"