Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-02
MR.. RUPPERT'S WILL.
Testimony Given in the Case ia
Court Today.
WITNESSES VARY WIDELY

IN the uiai OF the issues on the Will Of tn
late Christian Rupert before Justice Brsdlev
ana the jury Of Circuit Court, division 1, ys..
terday, there was some sensational testimony.
When Mr.. Upperen. who was the book.
keeper, was under examination he testified that
Mr. Rupert told him that he (Ruppert) hsA
set the store FIRE. The witness had noticed
him before sprinkling powder on the floor, and
when the cain WAS made for INSURANCE he a.
tered the books - 10 make an inersase II
81, 1000 in the stock
Judge Bradley upbraided the witness, ssyfue .
that ne ought to be in the penitentiary for h
drel
Mrs. Gutridge. q niece. testified to the d.
ceased having been a cross man 60 his wife and
OFTEN said about his relatives that they we're
only waiting for his money, and occasionally
he rallied at Mr.. Simon Wolf who seemed "a
hnve great influence over him. She testifed
that Mrs. Weigman seemed TO rule the house
Mrs. Barbara Krock testified TO Mrs. Weie-
man being intimate with Rupert and ths x
considered was the cause OF trouble.
Gustave Rupert, q brother. testified 10 ths
relations OF his brother, aud he attributed -
cause Of the family dissensions TO Mrs. Weie-
man, whom bis brother appeared TO think mos>
Of than he did his wife.
NOT OF sourp MIND.
This morning Gustav RUPERT testified thai
b o was present during the dying hour Of hs
brother; that he held out his hand TO witpess
know what he was doing. witness
thought his brother Vas going cr.xv.
Their relations were friendly and -
had assisted him in the purchase Of house.
He had consented 10 the probate OF the win,
but afterward withdrew his assent. He did nos
think his brother made the viii in controversy.
and that from December. 1890 TO August 1881.
he was not Of sound mind, cspabls Of executing
a valid deed or contract.
W. W. Brandt testified that he left ths stor,
the night Of the hre about 10 O'Clock. Went
to Mr.. Ruppert's house and 70 bed and dept
until Mrs. Weigmsn told him of the fre and s.
went to it. Mr.. Rupert was excited and
walked his room after the IRE, and Mira weig-
man laid him on o lounge. Witness asksd
Rupert II he accused him Of Getting the store
on fire and he answered "No." RUPERT said
that they had trouble settling up and Ruppert
handed him a bill for ESQ for goods sold and
not accounted for. Witness denied its cor
rectness and told r. that he would sue him and
he replied Sue and be id" Witness said b
could not cheat poor boy - be had the insur.
ance companies and Rupert then thrsssensa
to show hum up and send him 10 jail.
TREATED HIS WIFE BADLY.
Charles ]. Prentiss, a clerk, testified thas Nh.
Rupert always treated his wife badly. H
was opinion tlat especially after the IRE his
mind was impaired. His physical condition
was bad and he looked like . ghost, frequently
soaring people who came on hmm suddenly
Witness testified that Mr.. Ruppert Wa very
close in money matters and that MIRA Ruppsrt
was addic ted to the use Of milk punches Ths
witness testified to the goods that were s.ved
after the FIRE and Of bis going over
the damaged stock His estimate was that only
about 81 500 or $1,000 was the loss. he thoueht
the whole stock was worth about eT5, 600; that
is, ii would cost that 10 replace t. Wines
had left Ruppert's employment in June, 1891
and since then he had worked at selling n
fixtures. and afterward with Mr.. Bernhsim, Who
had bought out Mr.. Ruppert's stock
Mr.. Carlisle asked witness 90 to his life b.
fore coming TO this city and witness testified 70
having lived in Boston and New York, where b
had been engaged In manufacturing. AZ
present he was at work sailing goods on COM
mission. he did not remember what wages
Mr.. Rupert paid him during ths cx months
he bad worked for him
rHouoHr RUPERT vAs nrsERLY.
Geo. II. Shaeffer was the next witness He
testified in answer to Mr.. Tobriner's questions
that he was in government employ. He
was well acquainted With Mr.. Rup-
pert The night Of the IRE, between
/ and 2, he had seen Mr.. RUPERT near shs
building. he was very excited He had seen
Mr.. Ruppert every day nearly for . space after
the FIRE and he seemed in = highly nervous oon-
dition. Witness had found out TO his own sat-
isfaction that Mr.. Rupert WIS . misery man.
Mr.. Carlisle crosse MANNED: Witness had had
some small dealings with Mr.. Rupert during
the little time previous to his death. 1r. Rup-
pert, witness said, had . good home. wisns.
meant that Rupert was misery in that b VS.
sharp in making a bargain.
WITNESSED TEE WILL
Mr.. Charles W. Handy was examined by Mr.
Tobriner. He was engaged in the real estass
business, with his Office in the same building :.
on F street occupied by Mr.. Simon Wolf
He had been asked by Mr.. Wolf 10
step into bis Office and witness Mr.. Rupperts
will he had done SO with two othera In )
answer to Mr.. Carlisle witness testified that
a sound mind. Saw indications that Mr..
Rupert WAS coerced in any way.
Mrs. Christina Beck testified 10 knowing IN
Of the Rupperts for many years Had known
Mr.. and Mrs. Christian Rupert intimately for
thirty years. Mr.. and Mrs RUPERT did mot
live happily. Both were in the habit Of coming
to witness and telling Of their troubles
The question of women was what Mrs.. Rup-
pert mainly complained of. and especially Of
Mrs. Weyman. Mr.. Ruppert had come to Wit
ness house two days after the Ere and acted In
peculiar way. He had thrown his hat away
broken his cane and carried on and was
awful" He had said that be wished the whsis
business had burned up 90 he would never -
it again. Witness testified that after the 6re
Rupert never was any more like himsek
was DSiO-t ne Irtlueutly s2lQ tuat % W1eueQ
that ne was dead and that since the IRE he did
not know what he was doing; that be wished
he was either dead or in an ssyiun
and that il this thing kept up
be would be dead very shortly a. Dr. Maus vss.
CDR. Maus who shot hinselD. The IRE was What
Mr.. Rupert said was the cause of hs
trouble. Witness told OF Mr.. Rupert having
gone to Atlantic City, where Mrs. Teymas w0
and OF Mrs. Rupert being greatly worked up
about It, and threatened 70 take poison
MRS CROSS rEsrrFns.
Mr.. Carlisle Cross testified that Mr. Rapport
was OF an excitable nature, but witness I'D
never seen him in such q state - during
the interview related Mrs Rupert cid
witness, was Of Jealous disposition and Mr..
Carlisle wanted to know il Mrs Rupert lad
ever been Jealous of the witness Mira Beck
replied that she had never been, 70 hsr
knowledge.
HIS BRoTHER TKsrIFIxD.
Mr.. August Rupert, brother Of Christian
RUPERT, was the next witness witnsss had
never quarreled with Mr.. Ruppert In 1851
his brother had visited witness ss
Richmond and witness at that time had spoken
to his brother about wills and Christian had
advised witness 70 make his will a. he bad, %
leave everything to his wife for her life, and
witness had been here at the time his brother
died. Had attended the funeral Mr.. Tobirnsr
asked In regard to q conversation with Mr..