New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-05
ELLEN GAHAN'S HABITS.
urp EXCEEDING FoNDNEss FOR DRINK.
TESTIMONY IN HER SUIT AGAINST THE ESTATE OF
Mrs ROEBLING.

TESTIMONY IN HER SUIT AGAiNoi i"E LoiAiS VI
MES. ROEBLING.
The case for the defendant III the sult Oh
von Gahon against the estate OF MRS. koepnhg occn-
,od tina suprome Court Part all day yesterday Tho
o,,op 70 dsuiss denied By Justice Peckham. Dr.
C,,a Il Beger the first witness, said he remembered
49,, hs had made suggestion to Mrs. Roebing shout
. ,,uc something to Ellen" The witness said that In
nn,ersation a year before her death with Mrs. Roeb-
ling he had suggested that she should do something Tor
ellen and Mrs ROebng answered. that she had attended
,o that He did not think she said anything about
,l at that time Mrs. Roebling quiet, self-pos-
sessed and dgnAed in manner generous and charitable
and although some what nervous generally clearheaded
To question whether he had seen Ellen int0xl-
Gated the witness replied.
"Well, I don't know exactly what you mean by the
word Intoxicated have Ellen when thought
that she had more in than was good FOR her,
"Did you reprmand Ellen regarding her atteh'
zion or lack of attention TO her misTesss asked.
mot harshy," was the answer. 81 cautioned her
AGAINST giving Mrs Roeblng too much stinuants and
o warned her to careful and not take too much hor
self"
The witness remembered writing letter to Mrs.
Fdridse recently suggesting that the case be cOmpro
n,seo Ue had no particular motive in this The doc
tor crossexamned by General Tracy said that Ellen
did not be in good health when he first saw her.
He had no doubt that her health was impaired by her
constant attendance Mrs. Roebhng. This conviction
induced him TO suggest tnat MIS- hoeO"S shouu n"NO
some provision for Ellen. 90 told her." proceeded
the witness "that whatever bequcsis she
made she ought not TO leave anything
TO her minister, her physician, or her lawyer
Albert H. Mount, manager OF the Hotel Bristol, swore
that in September 1884, the housekeeper told him that
Ellen was under the influence of liquor He wrote let
fer TO Mrs Roebng complaining Of this. Elton came
down TO the private office of the hotel and said she was
sorry the letter had been sent to Mrs Roobng Al that
time Ellen was under the influence OF liquor. ,.sr,
she walked down. was the answer.
Juror Thomas NJ Foley inquired could she get down
A' 9Yes." replied the witness.
"Wel II she could walk down stairs alone remarked
the Juror she could not have been very drunk"
CToss.examined by General Tracy the witness saia
Mrs Roeblings rooms were on the sixth floor AZ the
time that she lived there he was bookkeepSr ne was
on that floor every day He slept there me piahtE'
when she oame down to the office walked from the ee-
yator TO the office. She said sorry he had writ
ten that letter. The witness replied that 1t was mater
of hnsness and said hoped II would not occur again
She said IL would not He had sent champagne ana
kew was also sent by her order Her vino bills amounted
to $40 amonth He understood that these articles were
sent up for by Mrs. R0ebing at dinner Ellen occu-
pied room fronting on Ffthave., the price OF which
was about 81 80 week 49,, ,,,,, ,,,.o,
Mr. Smith. -
a very good stOmachor," remarked General Tracy.
well" answered the ex Recorder {" I'll yield to your
superior knowledse on that subject w -
New ST. said that the plaintiff lived in his family FOR
three four weeks of and on after the death Oh MIS-
9NSw, while she was there what were her HABITS 3
regard for a 4rnss She used to ask
whiskey and apologize for dong so saying that her
stomach was in bad condition I told her she must
taper of" Laughter I gave her norsford's acid
phosphaes and toned her Up with e5r OF o ih va
sIMN r no mca C. Ebern wife Of the previous witness
and niece Of Mrs Roebing testified that when she
frat saw the plaintiff "a chan,ermaid at the
Sss Of M maid ie% ds ate Mrs
death the night OF the eathof Mrs RCebng sister
fha
while there three four times aday. she said that
Mrs Eirdge hal promised that she would see that she
got WI at had been prom Used her The witness tried III
vain to her OF the habit Of drinking Ellen said that
she et BAD on account T aT the st G of
Mrs. ROebing the witness went TO Nagara Lais am
oe|Dd she threaten the i:fe Of Mrs Eldridee A
she said se would get drGns ana her she met Mrs
When the witness called on her aunt Lien "oLa say
to her rndeV what brought you H'f' 'O'' %" s''
Q-would she kick yon outi, A.-Yes, sir. She would
take by the shoulder and say; what do you want
herer At such times she was generally under the lnin-
CroSs-eAamined the witness said chat at her honse
wliskey aud lager beer were kept aud Ellen helped
take half glass full Of wnsEey ami then take
General Fracy.-les. she would take the whiSRey
straight aud then take water.
Mr. smith. What do you mean by straight
T6e witueSs said that Ellen would take sometimes
bottle aud sometimes bottle ana nall Oh peer az q
General Tracy Dill yoa have any wnskey oGt ne
travelling purposes Ellen drank more than haI Oi H.
drank once. 49,. an, 49,,
William Carpenter, banker and broker testhea tDat
Mrs Roebling had transacted business with MN sue
Ian,id had called at his of co 10 get Oncy on Mrs
Roeblne's cheeks. TO Ge era TrdcF the witness 50!
that he had given sometimes $1,000 10 -l!eI auH pay
out in this way for Mrs Roebng about - 1900 year
Henry WOodford, OF Suspension Bridge. y y testified
that he was employed by the American Express Com
many and that Mrs. ROeblng was his wlies aunt MA
Roebing was a dignihcd. kind, benetoleni LADY. she
would say 10 him " Ny SON. and My child She
always little pet term to those around hrr
Ellen ate the servants wnen she was at MS mousse
with Mrs oeblng. At Ellsu's last visit, Ia February
1885, he her under the Influence OF liquor since
Mrs Roeblng death be had called on Ellen once al the
Murray Hill hOtel and III meeting her Is5rd her.
James y. Ball lawyer living at No 20 west twenty,
sixth depOsed that last February or March no talKe
with Ellen IN regard her claims against the estae 81
Mrs RoebliDg. Ellen spoke OF her relations WIN MIS-
Roehlpg told what she had done for her ana sId Mrs
Roehng had said that she woud provide for her IN her
will. said that shs expected TO recover 42OoO or
$4,000.
The trial will be continued to-day.