December 11, 1905.]
In general society Dr. Edkins was rather a dreamer P-No.
He was a sinologue ?-Yes, he was. Would I be correct in saying that he was fonder of his books than he was of his wife ?- I cannot answer that.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
many years up to his death; he was also on the Committee of the Royal Asiatic Society, of the Diffusion Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and I believe several others. At the time of his death he was writing two works, one for the I. M. Customs, on Banking-which has just been published, since his death, by the Customs and the other is now being put through the press and is on the question of some Old Testament subject not yet published. I and all my friends who have been associated Did he go home to his books or to his wife? with the late Dr. Edkins have no hesitation in -To his books and his wife.
His Lordship-What is the meaning of sinologue ?
Mr. Wilkinson Knowledge of Chinese books, learning, my lord.
Cross-examination continued-
But rather to his books P-Yes, maybe. The general opinion of Dr. Edkins was that ia business he was a child? Among yourselves, and business people generally in this place That is an extreme view.
Was he not regarded as a child in business? Tell us on your oath, would you have entrusted Tls. 10 to his laying out as a business man ?— This is all a question of opinion.
I want your opinion; what you know from the people at the Customs and other people here? You lived with him and knew him well, and associated with him at the office. He was
speaking with regard to his state of mind and capacity; indeed I must express the warm feeling of indignation that such a question has been raised.
Did he believe or not in the existence of evil?-He decidedly believed in the existence of evil. He was a man who had great faith in human nature and was decidedly optimistic, and not pessimistic, but he never expressed any such views as has been suggested.
Have you ever heard the general opinion expressed that Dr. Edkins was business? He was a man who had no guile
a child in
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His Lordship-That is not an indication of insanity.
Mr. Wilkinson-No, my Lord. Dr. Elkius was a friend of mine, if I might be allowed t call him such, but I want to prove he was not business-like and had little social life. Cross- examination continued-
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Mrs. Edkins of course ran the house ?—I vas placed a short time ago in the peculiar position of knowing by Dr. Edkins, but until that time I knew nothing of his private affairs,
In the papers of the deceased did you find any reference to financial transactions P-Yes,
Notes P-Notes of his investments. Stray notes P-They were in sequence in a book,
Did you find at the time among his papers any documents or anything indicating how much money he had ?-Mr. George Edkins told me that I was a trustee, and he told me that he estimated there was about £10,000 in invest-
ments.
deceased as to what he meant by educational in- You have no written instructions by, the stitutions, in the centre of Ching under the London Missionary Society ?--Years ago he
not a business man, but he did his business in (Mr. Wilkinson: Quite so.) and in business spoke about an institution which he wisud to
his own way.
A peculiar way ?-His own.
Have you heard him discuss the question of the place of woman and wives in social life ?--- I do not remember,
Now you know that Dr. Edkins was a very respectable man, and a man who has done much good. We all know that, but was he not such a simple man in business, and in mind and morals, that he did not believe in the existence of evil? Was it not impossible to convince him of the existence of wrong ?--I don't know that I never discussed it with him.
Now from your knowledge of Dr. Edkins's household, have you any knowledge at all tha Dr. Edkins attempted to manage his money affairs P-I don't know that he managed his money affairs,
You would not consent. to, or put money into any concern of which Dr. Edkins had control and managed financially ?--I never thought of such a contingency.
Would you put $10 in any concern in which he had control ?—There was never such a con- tingency.
He was the last man likely to do it?—He was the last man to do so as he was prevented by his engagement with the Customs from engaging in business.
You will not describe him as a man of busi. ness and you have never heard him described as that ?-No.
Whenever you heard the question discussed he was not spoken of as a business man ?--I have heard of him as a learned, kindly man.
As simple as a child in business matters ?-I do not recollect him being spoken of as that.
The Rev. Ernest Bor, of the London Missionary Society, deposed that since 1892 he had known Dr. Edkins. At that time he came from Peking to Shanghai. Witness was one of the executors of the will. Witness had been connected very closely with Dr. Edkins in various work, and socially. During the last few years the deceased doctor had met witness from week to week and during the last three or four years he had taken a meal at witness's house practically every Sunday. Dr. Edkins died on the 23rd of April this year. After he had died Mr. George Edkins went to wit- ness's house and informed him that in searching Dr. Edkin's papers he had found an envelope with enclosures. Witness believed it was in Mra. Edkins' charge. There was an envelope with an enclosure, but the will was found at the Hongkong Bank. After that a very careful search was made to see if there was another will but none was found,
Mr. Teesdale-I wish you to tell us what your opinion is as to Dr. Edkin's mental opacity. You heard the questions of my learned friend and the replies.
matters he often showed shrewd common sense.
Cross-examination---
You said that Dr. Edkins was a man who had no guile. I may at once say about that, that I also knew Dr. Edkins. In saying that, and that he was optimistic, am I not right in saying that he carried that a great deal further than you, with your practical knowledge of the world, can go with him?-Yes, he did so, but he did not carry it to such an extent as is suggested.
You are a missionary-Yes. Are you imply. ing that a missionary is not a practical mau?
No, but implying that a missionary is likely to look upon human nature in a different light, a kinder light-I am a business man, too. am the business manager of the London Mis- sionary Society. Dr. Edkins lived with his bo ks and not ouly with his books for he did Customs work as well. He was a scholar.
Witness-Such a thought as the mental incapacity of Dr. Edkins never entered my mind. I served with him on a large number of committees, I had many conversations with him from time to time covering a wide range of subjects, and I always found I was sitting at the feet of a master; he was so throughly well- informed on scholarly questions. He was President of the Chinese Tract Society for
The mission which you have the practical management of is the one mentioned in the will? - Yes.
As to his belief in human nature, perhaps you misunderstand me. He carried his power of belief in human nature to such an extent that it was very hard to convince him sometimes of the practical facts of life. You know occasions yourself when it was hard to convince him- He had great faith in human nature,
He wrote a book on opium - Yes. He was against opium ?--Yos8.
You have read his book on opium ?- No. No. Hare you read any of his books?—Yes, two.
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found in Shanghai and he informed me that he had bought a piece of land for that object.
When was that ?-It was in 1891 that I returned and it was a little after that.
But Dr. Edkins used to refer to that piece of ground as Mrs Edkin's garden ?—Yes.
Were you aware that she spent money on it? By Mr. Edkins's orders.
Did you know what Dr. Edkins wished to do with that ground?—He wished to build a college there.
For the Chinese-I cannot say.
That would necessitate the spending of some money ?-Naturally.
You must have met Mrs. Edkins often ?- Yes.
When you met Mrs. Edkins there, when the doctor was not in the study, they were on affectionate terms?-I suppose so.
Was he-Yes.
Did you know of any reason why he should leave her badly off?-I ought to say that when Mr. George Edkins was here he spoke to me of matters that happened many years ago. That was in confidence. knew nothing that there was a reason for.
In my own knowledge I
Am I not right in saying that when the will was found and you found the amount of the estate you were, apart naturally from the nice idea of the recognition of the London Mission, as a good and just man shocked and surprised at that will-Decidedly not shocked. It sur prised me.
I suppose when you weighed the parties merits, Mrs. Edkins's and the London Mission- His book on the Lost Tribes of Israel-Heary Society?-To be shocked would be for a never wrote a hook on the Lost Tribes of moral reason. I was surprised. Israel.
You know enough about that book on opium to know whether he dealt with the question of the Chinese growing opium themselves ?-I do not know. He regarded it as an evil.
You said you considered you were "sitting at the feet of a master." In what sort of subjects? -On matters concerning China. They cover a wide range, history, philosophy, the religions of China. He was a sinologue. Evolution was another favourite subject of his; he was specially interested in higher criticism.
And he believed in the verbal inspiration of the Bible. I believe word for word ?—I believe he did not.
You spoke of his being on these various committees. He did not have much time for home life ?—I believe he had a good deal of time there. Frequently I dined with him, and visited him in his study.
Can you mention any occasion when you went to his house, except meal-times, that you found him anywhere but in his study --I went to him usually in the afternoon. He went into his study usually in the morning and, I believe, after he went home from the Customs, when be had no business to attend to at a committee, he studied there, and, I believe that he had the afternoons for social-
His Lordship-You don't know.
Counsel-When there was not a fixed occasion you have no doubt that he was in his study?. He was a student. I have to be “ dragged out of my study,
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Didn't you search to see if Dr. Edkins left a more just will?—A more just will! Dr. Edkins knew whether his will was just or not. I can not offer any opinion on it.
You are not like the doctor, try to think the best? I try to.
Did you think there might be another will? -I thought there might be.
Mr. Wilkinson (to the Judge)-If I prova he is not a man of business, your Lordship will hold he is a man who can make a will.
His Lordship-Certainly. You have to prove insanity.
Mr. Wilkinson quoted the case of Arnold v. Baker. It was a matter which was hard upon the widow.
His Lordship-That has nothing to do with me. I may have my own opinion on that subject.
Mr. Wilkinson-Your Lordship understands why I appear to cross-examine on the subject of this enthusiasm of a man for a mission, and leaving the residue for education ? I say that he was not aware at the date of his death of the state of his affairs. In his will he says: "If the estate should prove too small be reduced proportionately."
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His Lordship said:-The reason why the parties bave come into Court is that the execu tion of this will was informal. It was written by Dr. Edkins and in his own handwriting and undoubtedly the parties were entitled, to come before the Court to ask it solemnly to say t
that the requirements of due execution had been