Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-07
OF A SOUND MIND.
That Was What Witnesses Yesterday Con-
sidered Mr.. Nuppert.

OE n cOCND
That Was What Witnesses Yesterday Con.
sidered Mr.. Nuppert.
The examination Of witnesses was continued
in the RUPERT will case yesterday afternoon
after TIE sTAR's report closed, and Mr.. Cook
Of counsel for the caveators stated that the
court would, in all probability. be occupied
with the case all this and the greater part of
next week.
WITNESSES TO THE WILL.
ID. Carroll Diggss. one of the witnesses to
the will, testified to the execution of the will;
that no saw Mr.. Rupert sign it and he wit
messed it; that Mr.. C. W. Handy asked Mr.
RUPERT if he understood tine paper to be his
will and he replied in the affirmative. Mr..
RUPERT was in possession Of his mental fac
ulties and fully able to make q valid decd or
contract.
On cross-examination witness said that he
occupied the same Office with Mr.. Wolf When
the latter received real estate business he
turned it over to the others. Mr.. Wolf called
them back and Mr.. Handy asked if it was his
will.
Redirect-witness frequently witnessed prop
erty for Mr.. Wolf.
Charles Roberts, another witness to the will,
testified to the execution Of the will and cor
rooorated Mr.. Olgges.
On cross-examination witness said that Mr..
RUPERT frequently came to Mr.. VOLTS Office.
CHARLES SCHNEIDER.
Charles Schneider testified he had known
Christian Rupert for twenty-seyen years.
Rupert, he testified in answer to Mr.. Carlisle
was decided man. He was in for right and
was verv intelligent man. kuppert's
mental condition was all right. said the witness,
the last time he saw him. which was not great
while before his death. During the whole
course OF his knowledge Of RUPERT he (Rup-
pert) had Deen Of sound mind. Witness raid
that Rupert was Of an excitable disposition.
Witness told Of Mr.. Rupert having given check
for 800 for church. and Of various other oc-
casions when he had acted in n charitable
manner
Mr.. worthington. for the caveators, asked
witness II he did not know OF Mr.. Ruppert's
having tried at one time TO hang himself. Wit
ness had never heard Of any such attempt 1t
was in 1885 that Mr.. Rupert had given the
600 for the church. Was not at the house
during Mr.. Ruppert's last illness. but there had
been no interruption in the pleasant relations
existing between the two.
ME- WASH. WILLIAMS
Mr.. Wash. Williams was the next witness. who
testified to having known Mr.. Rupert well for
many years, their places of business being
close together. He had had also some business
relations with Mr. Rupert. Had sold him five
shares Of Schuetzen Verein stock. This was he
thought, before the fire. 1t was, however,
after the sale of the Schue.zen land Witness
had never ut any time noticed anything wrong
with Mr.. Rupert. Had always considered him
fully capable Of attending to business Had
noticed no change in Mr.. RUPERT after the fire.
Mr.. GEORGE BREITBARTH.
Mr.. George Breitbarth testified that he had
known Mr.. Rupert intimately for twenty seven
years They had been members of number of
organizations. In January. 1891, Mr.. Rup-
pert sent for witness, and witness called upon
him ut his residence. Wituess asked him why
he did not retire from business when Mr.. Rup-
pert stated that he wanted to, but that Mrs.
Rupert would not agree to 1t. Witness ad-
vised him to 60 out Of business, and told him
to be more charitable. He replied that he had
always been liberal to the church and orphan
asylum, and would always be SO. After his
on Good Hope Hill. He considered Mr.. Rup-
pert always q clear-headed man, not easy Of
being influenced.
Mr.. FRANK D. RAWLINGS.
Mr.. Frank D. Rawlings testified that he had
known Mr.. Rupert In a business way for
twenty years. He was a level-headed business
man. not easily influenced against his will. He
saw him in May or June. 1891. when his mental
condition seemed rs good as ever before. and
he was then capable OF making q valid will or
contract.
To Mr. worthington the witness stated that
after the fire no had refused to insure Mr.. Rup-
pert's stock again. Mr.. Rupert was q director
in the Arlington Fire Insurance Company, and
because Of that and other reasons 1t was
thought best no: to take the risk.
Mr.. Henry Franc said he had known Mr..
Rupert for great many years. He was a
rather reserved man, who seldom interfered
with the doings Of others. Witness noticed no
change in Mr.. Rupert after the fire in Deem
Der, 1890. He believed that Mr.. Rupert was
always Of sound and disposinS mind. One
day when Mr.. Rupert was grumblng about
his place otter the fire witness said: "Neighbor,
why don't you give up business and sell your
rubbish. Your laughing heirs will get it oil
anyhow" Mr.. Rupert said: "Al right Per-
haps they won't laugh much when I'm dead
and gone" The witness explained that the
term Laughing heirs' was common German
expression. meaning those relative, with whom
a testator had not bean on good terms and
to whom his estate eventually would 60.
Mr.. Chas. Graf. president Of the German
Orphan Asylum, was the last witness called
but the court adjourned until this morning
before his examination had really been COM
menced.