New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-11
MRS. PARAN STEVENS WEEPS.
ON THE STAND IN ANOTHER SUIT ABOUT
HER HUSBANDS ESTATE
EDWARD GERHARD SUES HER FOR 500 AND
RECEIVERS sl25 FOR SERVICES RENDERED
HE DECLARES THE DEFENDANTS

RECEIVERS sl25 FOR SERVICES RENDERED
HE DECLARES THE DEFENDANTS
TESTIMONY FALSE.
There was brought to trial yesterday afternoon IN
the Supreme Court before Judge Patterson ana
Jury an action begun by Colonel Edward EeDhdiu
a lawyer and clubman to recover N" when ne
alleges ia due him from Mrs. Paran Stevens for legal
services His contention is that in December 1872
she called upon him and asked him 10 take pfoceeU
ings in her interest in the Surrogaes Court lor 'e
removal of John L. Melcher as one OF the executors
80 tho yvul of her husband He had consultation
with her which lasted about half an hour and from
the facts that ne gathered from her ne prepared
petition for the removal OF the executor upon '"e
3 ground that he had been improvident and had peeh
guilty of stock gambling with the trust funds whch
had been in his charge. The petition for the removal
! of the executor never verified by Mrs stevens
and no action taken by her under H.
Yer counsel az that time were Iioadly Lauterbach
& Johnson the senior member OF which iirm was seen
by Colonel Gebhard. Mr.. Hoadly testified IN Mrs
Stevenss behalf that the Colonel had caHed upon
him in reference to the petition.
y Mrs Paran Stevens took the stand In her own ne
,half. She a black cloth tailor-made gown
carried a wrap on her arm and wore spring nat
decorated with roscbuds. She testified that she "i
not call upon Colonel Gebhard and never heard OF
his existence until he visited her at her house win
a blonde woman whom she did not know and had
Of efforts that had been made for the removal OF
the executors Of her husbands estate. that he knew
that one the executors was a gaupler, anu 81 he
could assist her In the matter he would De e"u 10
do So She said that he went on 10 give MS reasons
for this and told her that Melcher was the most
natorIous gambler in New-York. and that he played
poker with him night after night When not play
ing poker Mecher played at roulette or faro ne saiu
Mrs Stevens declared that Colonel Gerhard toid
her that he was able to give her valuable testimony,
which might be used in proceedings Tor the removal
Of the executor and he asked if he could be OF any
service to her.
The estate was in peril" said Mrs. stevens
very great peril" Al this point she gave way 10
her emotion and could not continue her evidence Tor
few seconds Her eyes filled with tears ana S"c
covered her face with her hand.
She recovered herself and resumed saying that she
listened to him, hoping he said, that he could
serve her. lie declared that he would do this With
out any compensation because he owed a grudse
against this man 0he executor. as he had caused
his Ghe ColoneIs) expulsion from a CLUB
Upon cross-examinatiOn Mrs. stevens, aGmlt1eu
that she had called upon Colonel Geohard WITHIN
week. but not about this case As sne suppoS.I, -,
had been settled She called TO see him about Inc
When Colonel Gerhard recalled 70 the stand
he declared that there not word o. ruin III
her statement in regard his having called at hGr
house Il never called at her house in my NE WIN
when she came 10 my office. called upon me anu
introduced herself TO mv, and told me "hat Sh'
The Colonel was cross-examined and was asked
these questions: 80
you had some difficulty with cluo?'
Eyes. sir"
"And you were expelled?"
mo. sir
"You are about that go
81 do not know / had some diff Guilty with the
board Of managers OF a club. and claimed that they
were doing things which could not subscribe 10,
and got of the club"
The jury after half hours delberatlon, re-
turned a verdict In favor of Gerhard for $50.
Colonel Gerhard was formerly member Or the
New-York Club. In 1887 he had some trouble win the
- soft hat clii In CO "A
bill for services rendered by him in connection with
the title the property AT Thirty-hfhst ana FIttn
ave and the preparation OF the bonds and mort
gage for $4,000 on the property. He was charged
with having removed a letter, when he had sent
from the OF the then president. Smith, and IN
situations made about unfair dealings at cards
Fearing that he to be expelled from the c!up
the Colonel took the into the supreme Court
for Injunction TO restrain his expulsion but was
defeated He represented by Roscoe Conkling,
while Joseph II. Choate was opposed 10 him.