The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-05-28
GAVE MRS. USHER DEEDS
Testimony in the Knaek Suit
Today is Against the Com
plainant's Claim.

The suit Of Mrs. Maria D. Knack to
recover property which she gave to Mrs.
Annie Usher, wife of ex-Assemblynan
James Usher, on the ground that it was
obtained from her by fraud, was resumed
before Vice Chancellor Stevens this morn
ing. Mrs. Usher was an adopted daughter
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Knack, and when Mr..
knack died leaving all mis- property to his
Wife, Mrs. KnacI5 transferred four lots
to Mrs. Usher, who was the unmarried,
as she said it was her husbands S wish that
Annie should be provided for Mrs Knack
now alleges that when she signed the
deeds she thought she was signing wills
The defense opened this morning and
the first witness they placed upon the
stand was Frederick Frambach, the law
yer. He was questioned by Charles G.
Black. He identified his signature to one
of the deeds, and said rhat he witnessed
the execution of the instrument. He re-
membered the circumstances very well,
and was convinced than Mrs. Knack knew
perfectly well what she was doing. Mr..
Eramoach says. he can speak the German
language, and he fully explained to Mrs
knack in that language the meaning Of
the deed and the property it CONVEYED.
Pr Samuel Helfer testified that he was
for several years the FAMILY physician of
the Knacks. One day he was called in "a
see Annie, as he knew Mrs Usher to he
then He found her suffering from a com
pant winch was aggravated by work on
MACHINE, which he noticed that the girl
was doing. He told Mr.. Knack that An
ne NE would have to stop working so hard
M. knack replied that that was all right,
| Sis Wouiu De PROVIDED Tor after his DEATH
soon after the funeral he spoke to Mrs
knack about what her husband had said
about providing for Annie, and it was at
ms *, suggestion e;ai that she made the deed.
Df. Helfef Was crOSS-eXamiIled by Mr.
Charles Thompson. The questions which
We're asked We're evidently for the purpose
Of showing that the death of her husband
SO affected Mrs. Knack that she did not
know what she was doing. DR. Heller
testified that Mrs. Knack was hysterical
and nervous for a short time after her
husbands % death, but when she. made. the
mentally and physically. Samuel e.
Renner. of Highwood Park, a real estate
dealer, testified that he tried to purchase
piece Of property from Mrs. KnaclS,
but she said she could not sell it as Mrs
Usher would not consent to it, The plot
he wished to purchase was one of the
pieces transferred to Mrs. Usher by Mrs.
Knack.
AN important witness for the defence
was, Gustav Stahl, a Union Hill police
man. He was Commissioner of Deeds
some years ago ard took the acknowl-
edgment to one of the deeds giving the
property to Mrs. Usher. He said that
Mrs. Knack called him into the house
one day and asked him to take the ac-
acknowledgement of the deed. He can speak
German and explained to her in that
language the meaning of the deed. He
also drew a diagram showing the loca-
| ton of the lots which the deed convey
ed, which he also explained to her in
the German language She said she
thoroughly understood what she was do
ing and gave Annie the property in ac-
coruance with her dead husbands wishes.