New-York tribune., 1886-02-03
THE ROEBLING ESTATE SUED
FAITHFUL NURSE CLAIMS $4,000.
MRS. RoEpLING, SHE SAYS. AGREED TO MAKE HEl

MRS. ROEBLING, SHE SAYS, AGREED TO MAKE HEA
INDEPENDENT, But LEFT HER OUT OF HER WILL
Mrs. Lucia W. Rocbling, the widow of John A.
Roeblng, engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, died in
1884. I'm the settlement of her estate question has
arisen which led to the enactment of a somewhat
dramatic scene before Judge Peckham, in the Supreme
Court, yesterday. Mrs. Julia Rhnelander Dodge, o
witness in the of Ellen Graham against the estate
OF Mrs Roebing, rose from the witness seat and with
gesture worthy of SiddOns swore before Heaven
to the dsinteresedness OF all her relations with the
dead woman. Mrs. Dodge called to testify 10 the
close intimacy which had existed between Mrs.
Roebug and her attendant Ellen Graham. and to tho
intention which Mrs. Roebng had expressed Of
making Ellen independent by her WILL When the will
was opened no such provision found and Ellen is
suing the estate of Mrs. ROebDg to recover what she
claims the testator Intended to leave her Rochtort g.
Barbour appear as her attorneys, with General
Benjamin +. Tracy counsel. The ate is repre-
sented by Minor & Willis and Van Duser & Taylor.
The Case is an inter estlng one from legal point of
view.
Mrs Roebng was the second wife of the celebrated
engineer and received fortune of between 100000
and S400 900 at his death She showed her charitable
disposition by using portion OF her mouey to provide
for her relatives, most of whom were not rich.
During the summers she in the habit OF visiting
Niagara Falls and other similar places OF resort. Tho
winters she passed at the boarding house of Mrs. De
Lavoette in Fifth-ave. Ellen Graham was servant
iu this house, and showed much attention to Mrs.
Roebling whose health not strong, that In 1850
the widow put clause in her will leaving 5000 to
her. Shortly after this incident, Ellen, at Mrs.
Roebings request lett the service of Mrs DE Lavoiete
and became Mrs. Roeblings maid and companion. She
dey Oted to her mistress and nursed her through
the sicknesses which preceded her death. Her attor
neys claim that Mrs. Roebnng often expressed her
intentiOn of providing hands Omely for Ellen IN her
will and that species of informal contract was
entered into by which Ellen agreed never to desert
Mrs Roeblng long she should live and the latter
agreed to leave Ellen an independent fortune when
the will opened it found that this agreement
had not been carried out and Ellen, having performed
her full duty, sued the estate for 1000.
General Tracy opened the trial yesterday. The
plaintiff ives in court She is a peasantookng
woman. about thirty-fve years old, and vas neatly
dressed in black Tears stood in her eyes as heneral
Tracy referred to her dead mistress. when the
plaintiffs case had been stated DIR. Cook, OF Hudson,
shortly after Ellen entered Mrs Roeblin9's service,
they were their way back from Niagara ralls'
where they had spent the summer AT hudson MRS.
Roeuling was taken dangerously ILL., Not only was
she unable TO continue her journey, but she was
obliged to spend the winter at HUDSON. Dr; COOK
attended her. He testified TO the devotion OF Ellen to
her mistress told how she had passed whole nights
beside the sick bed, and how Mrs. Roebling had tod
him that Ellen had promised never to leave her and
would be provided for in her will.
Mrs Julia Rhineander Dodge was the next witness.
She had long been friend OF Mrs. koebling VINO
had often told her of her ne ntion to render Ellen
independent by her WILL Mrs. Dodge testified that IN
the spring of 1854 when Mrs. Roebling about to
leave the city for the she told the witness one
day that before her departure she intended TO VISIT her
lawN ers and add to her will codicil wLich should
contain formal expression OF her desire IN regard 10
Ellen She made this visit, aud she never lett
the city Not long after Mrs. Roebing fell SICK again
and was unable to leave her room until her death ,
Mr. TAYLOR cross-examned the witness for the
defence but was unable to shake her testimony on
material points Mrs Dodge Is woman OF middle
age and has q refined face and bearing.
:" What interest have you in this caseF asked Mr.
Taylor
None at ALL" answered the witness, evidently
surprised at the question.
''Will you receive anything the plaintiff wins her
case g. 80
Not penny" replied Mrs. Dodge with the most
solemn emphasis. ,r,,
-" Did YOU ever lend any money to the piantin "
Mrs Dodge repeated the same words even more
emphatically than before. =,
."DId you ever borrow any money OF Mrs.
Roebljngp
Mrs Roebllug at time, knowing that | had
lost money begged me to accept TiOO as gait and
refused 10 take my note for the amount"
The next question related tn the alleged borrowing
of money by Mrs DOdge from Mrs. koebhng AT an
earlier date. The witness explained that at the ume
referred she wealthy and bad no need to borrow
from any one. At this point Mrs. Dodges feelings
seemed to hay reached that pca where simple denial
seems to be inadequate To the occasion ksnS III her
place she cast her eyes upward and solemnly ex-
claimed:
Before Heaven | swear that il i, false"
Jud &c and counsel were s0mew hat overpowered, ana
the case was adjourned 1t will be continued To-