Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-04
The olmssteah Will Case Goes On
A FAMILY BSTRANGEMENq
Mrs. Hutchinson Under Exam
ipation by Counsel
HER DAUGHTERS FORTUNE

When the Olmstead will case was called
up this morning in Circuit Court No.
Judge Bradley stated there appeared to be
no doubt that the child of Juror Buckley Is
suffering from scarlet fever, and he there
fore inquired what suggestions counsel mad
to make. After few minutes conSulta-
ton between counsel Mr.. Jere M. Wilson
of counsel for Mr.. John F. Olmstead an
nounced that they had agreed to continue
the case with eleven jurors. Juror Buckley
having been excused Friday by the court
from further attendance In the case
Judge Bradley directed that an entry to
that effect be made by the clerk, and the
case was therefore continued with but
eleven jurors in the box
Mr.. Enoch Totten OF counsel Tor MRS.
Linda Hutchinson Webb, who is contesting
the will Of her sister, Mrs. John F. Ohm
stead, by which will Mrs. Olmsteads en-
tire estate. estimated to be worth tt..t more
then recalled Mrs. Hayward NJ Hutchin-
son. the mother of the testratrix, to the
witness stand. When the trial was ad-
Hutchinson was being questioned as to her
daughters last illness, and this morning
she stated that Mrs. Olmstead commenced
to fail rapidly in the spring of 1889, she
dying the first of the following August.
The Enlargement.
BENG asked Whetler Sue SuOWeu ally us
tinction between her two daughters Mrs.
Hutchinson replied that she treated them
alike. Mr.. Wilson asked that the answer
be ruled out, because it was immaterial.
Mr.. Totten insisted, however. that 1t was
material because it would disclose the re-
lations between Mrs. Olmstead and her
mother and sister, and Judge Bradley al
lowed the answer to stand. A moment
later. when Mrs. Hutchinson was asked as
tn q n oct rcr, Mt uVh
Mr.. and Mrs. Olmstead on one side and
herself and Mrs. Webb on the other, be-
cause Of the filing of a bill In equity
against them by Mr.. and Mrs. Olmstead.
Mrs. Hutchinson was not allowed to de-
tail the causes of the estrangement. She
was. however, allowed to state that for
time thereafter the two families ceased
visiting each other. Previous to that time
Mrs Oimstead always had the greatest ad-
miration and affection for her sister. A
reconciliation followed the enlargement.
explained Mrs Hutchinson. and, upon the
occasion of Mrs. Olmstead's wooden we'd
ding, she said she presented her daughter
with fine carriage and outht.
Mrs. Hutchinson then related an incident
" hen she heard her daughter telephone 10
Mr.. Olmsteadi for permission to use the
new carriage. and she stated that as re-
suit Mrs. Otmstead called cut her old car
riage. Mrs. Hutchinson also related an in
cident which occurred at her house after
the reconciliation. Mr.. and Mrs. Olmstead
were visiting the house, and when Mrs.
Olmstead was about to sit down at the
table she suddenly withdrew, when her
husband, In disa greeable manner, lndi-
Gated that he would not join them.
Kept From Her Daughter.
After her dat ghter became confined to
her bed, in the latter part of her illness,
Mrs. Hutchinson stated that she would be
kept waiting in the drawing room, not be-
ing allowed by Mr. Olmstead to see her
In, atfh Mr
nurse or maid being always present at the
interviews with her daughter. One day, de-
clared Mrs. Hutchinson, she was kept wait
ing all day before being allowed to see her
daughter.
Mrs. Olmsteld said Mrs. Hutchinson,
was very weak and helpless during the
last days of her Illness and seemed to lose
interest in everything. Once, said Mrs.
Hutchinson previous to the death of Mr.
Hutchinson, Mr.. Olmstead only allowed her
to see her daughter after Mrs. Olmstead
bad called her in; but when she called later
in the day with Mr.. Hutchinson Mr.. Ohm
stead offered no objection to his wife being
seen.
Difficulties, Over the, Funeral.
Mrs. Hutchinson stated that she was not
informed of Mrs. Olmstead's death until
midnight of the day of her decease. and
old not see Mr.. Olmstead when she and
Mrs. Webb called at the house, about noon
too busy to see them. They saw him that
evening, when, he told them that he had
made all arrangements for the funeral
She asked that Mrs. Olmstead be buried
in certain dress which she had given her,
but Mr. Olmstead declared she had no
such dress.
Mr.. Totten was proceeding to ask Mrs.
Hutchinson to give the details of the flu
neral and burial, when Judge Bradley Sus-
tanned the objection of Mr.. Wilson to such
testimony, the court remarking that few
men consulted their wives relatives re-
spectng the details Of their wives funer-
ais. Mrs. Hutchinson was then asked to
describe Mr.. Olmstead'S demeanor toward
his wife, and she replied that he was over
bearing and virtually dictated her actions.
! Once, she said. he directed her to stop
talking, saying that he would do the talk
ing. Mrs. Olmstead, she said, had very
sweet. obliging disposition, and was very
easily controlled and Influenced by a
stronger will
When the Will Was Made.
Mr. Totten then called Mrs. Hutchinson's
attention to the fact that Mrs. Olmstead's
will was made on the 9th of June. 1889.
| when she replied that in her opinion her
| daughter was incapable Of making valid
| will at that time.
Early in the present trial Judge Bradley
refused to allow Mrs. Hutchinson to detail
| the incidents connected with the making of
| her husbands will April "a, 1883, and Mr..
| r. Ross Perry, Of counsel for Mrs Webb,
proceeded to ask Mrs. Hutchinson, just be-
| fore her direct examination closed today,
| certain questions respecting Mr. Olmstead's
connection with the making of her hus-
bands will, when the court made the same
ruling on the ground that the testimony
would be too remote and also imma terial.
Such testimony, it is said, allowed by
| Judge Cole on the first trial of the case,
and when Judge Bradley ruled it out today
| counsel for Mrs. Webb noted an exception
| in the matter of every one of the several
questions.
| The CrOss-Exa NINA lion.
Mrs. Hutchinson was Their cross-exam-
| ined by Mr. Wilson, who asked her to de-
| tail other acts of Mr.. Olmsteads alleged
domineering disposition toward his wife,
and also any acts of his alleged unfriendli-