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Show "SEALED" LETTER IS EXCLUDED BY COURT "W. Jt Bryan Loses Another Inning1 in Contest for Slice of Bennett Millions. NEW HAVEN, Conn March 31. A finding that the sealed letter by which Plillo T. Bennett expressed a wish that 550.000 should bo given to William J. Bryan and his family was not a part of the last. will of Mr. Bennett was returned re-turned by tho jury today In the Superior Supe-rior court trial. Judge Gaper's ruling on a question which has never before come directly bc-foro the courts of Connecticut, decided de-cided that tho sealed letter could not bo admitted as evidence In the trial. The decision followed argumenta which had occupied most of the two preceding days of tho Beeslon regarding tho admissibility admissi-bility of this letter as evidence, counsel for Mr. Bryan contending- that It should bo admitted, while tho attorneys for Mrs. Grace Imogene Bennett, the widow, and other heirs presented opposing op-posing arguments. As Mr. Bryan's appeal was based on the exclusion of this letter as a part of tho will In the probate court, the decision de-cision of Judge Gager that it could not be admitted as evidence practloally concluded con-cluded the proceedings in the Superior court, and the jury was accordingly' directed di-rected to bring in a verdict against Mr. Bryan. An appeal will be taken to the Supremo Su-premo court by Mr. Bryan's counsel, on the ground that the letter should be admitted as a part of an established trust. An Interesting featuro of the day's proceedings was a statement which Mr, Bryan made in court that ho was willing will-ing to give a bond that In no case would tho money mentioned in the sealed letter let-ter go to himself or family without Mrs. Bennett's consent. |