The morning times., 1896-01-24
DAVID MOORE WILL CASE
Testimony Describes Peculiar Traits
of Eccentric Old Man.
Never Heard Him Speak without
Swearing.

The old suit over the VIII of the late
David Moore came up before Judge Nc
Comas yesterday.
tract OF land near Prospect Hill Gem
etery, at the end of North Capitol street,
aud some city property are at stake. Mr..
Moore was very old when the win wa.
| made.
The contestants are the widow and chill
dren of the late James L. Moore against
his sister, Mrs. Annie Z. Barbour, widow
of the late James L. Barbour. During Mr..
James Moorc's life Mrs. Barbour offered
their fathers will made in 1876 for pro-
bate, and IL was admitted without con-
test. Mrs. Barbour entered into possession
OF the property. After his death Mrs.
Moore made a claim to her husba nds share
in his fathers estate, and Mrs. Ba rbour re-
fused. The present action, suit in eject
ment, was begun, and in II the contest OF
the viii came up. In 1898 IL was decided
In favor of Mrs. Moore.
The court OF appeals, however, reversed
the court below. Pending a decision, Mrs.
Barbour retained possession of tn g property.
Messrs. A. s. Worthington, W. l.. Cole,
and William G. Johnson appear for Mrs.
Moore; Messrs. Henry Wise Garnett, Henry
Blair, and Jere NJ. Wilson for Mrs. Barbour.
There were a number OF the ladies' OF the
family present.
The testimony showed that Mr.. Moore led
very unusual life. His granddaughter,
now a handsome young woman, was on the
stand the greater part of the afternoon.
She lived with her grand parents in their
later years. She said her grandfather
. Il
long time at the table. While eating his
thoughts seemed wholly taken up with tie
meat before him. She and her grand
mother sat at the table with him. but there
was no conversation. Her grandmother
remained at the table as company for him
long after she had finished her own meal.
Her grandfather, she said, was very
profane. Mr.. Worthington asked her il
she could say what words he used. She
hcstated Il moment, fearing failure to
give the exact expressions might prejudice
her mothers success in gaining share
of the property, but finally declined to
utter such words as she had heard her
grandfather use. When asked by Mr..
Worthington If they were such profane eX-
pressions as men usually employ she said:
mo; they were quite unusual. They
were such words as never knew anyone
else to use.''
Her grandfather had a unique routine for
going to bed. He first dragged a couple
of chairs in from the porch and then went
through series of fixed movements be-
fore lying down. She sometimes assisted
him when he retired, and If she forgot
anything or varied the routine she was
likely to get cursiDg for 1t. 1t never
made any difference to him who was
present, he used the same coarse. vigorous
language. She thought she never heard
him speak In his life without some profane
epithet. He slept between two buffalo
robes and had always three o. four pistols
lying about the bed.
"Any purpose for this arsenal.'' asked
Mr.. Worthington.
Not that ] ever knw.'
At the close Mr.. worthington asked If,
from her acquaintance with the facts, she
considered her grandfather of sound mind.
Judge Wilson objected, was over-uled
and noted an exception. The witness
answered, she thought not.
The trial will be resumed this morning.