The evening times., 1897-01-25
THE WILL CASE CONTINUED
Important Evidence Was Given
by Miss Cleary.
MRS. VAN RISWICK'S PURPOSE
The Witness Is a Niece Of the De-
ceased and Told of Her Great
Aunt's Supersfitions- Effort to
Snow Breach Between Mrs. Tall
msdge Lambert and Her Mother.

a little OF the inside life OF the Van ISis-
wick family was revealed today in the
viii contest, brought on by the filing OF a
caveat by Mrs. Martina Carr, who charges
her nephew, Nr. Wilton j Lambert, with
undue influence eXerted upon the late
Mary Van Riswick who died leaving an
estate valued at S3co 900.
Counsel for Mrs. Carr sought TO show that
a breach existed between Mrs. Tallnladge
J. Lambert AMI her mother, who appeared
to he persona non grata in the Lambert
household. The attorneys for Mr.. Lam
tert conteute1 themselves with recording
objections 10 Mr.. PerTy's questions. There
were many ladies in the court room. Mr.
AMI Mrs. TaIlmadge Lambert. Mr. and Mrs.
Wilton j. Lambert. Mr. and Mrs. Carr,
ami The Misses Lambert were among
those present. There was ALSO a sprink
ling of lawyers. who were interested lis
jeners II the rulings OF Judge McComas ON
The bench.
The first witness examined was Miss
C.cary. a gran1niPce OF the late Mrs. Van
Riswick. Miss Cieary is pronounced
tlonde. and quite petite. She has blue
eyes ana light, wayy hair. She is the
granddaughter OF Mr.. william a Fenwick,
whose deposition was read 10 the jury last
Thursday. Her father was the late Jar1es
A. Cieary, the partner of Mr.. Frank Hume.
The witness said she first TccOlieCted
seeing Mrs. Van RiSwick at Van View,
the old lady's country home. Miss Clcsry
was bat a little girl 1T that time. From Van
view Mrs. Van RSw ick went To live ut No.
SI1 NJ street. and later at No 14l3 X
street. The witness. ia answer tO the
questions OF Attorney Perry. detailed sev
eral matters OF family history, and said that
Mrs. Carr. who was the youngest child,
was marie in 1855. and that the mother
Of Mr. Wilton ] Lambert was married in
1870.
At was testified that Mrs Van Riswick
died last February at the &c OF seventy
SIX years. Mr.. Lambert and family lived
with Mrs. Van Riswick at the K-Street
house for several years Later she lived
with another daughter. Miss Mary Van
RiSwick nd after her death the old lady
went to Norfolk and persuaded Mrs.
Carr to come TO Washington to live.
The witness said that after Mr.. Van
RiSwick's death his widow had remarked
that if Mrs Lambert had offered her a
room she would have gone with her For
some time Mr. and Mrs. Carr and the lat
ter's mother resided together.
Miss CIeary told the jury that her grand
aunt had once remarked that Mrs. Lam
bert was very exactinE. She said that
she did not have the freedom at the Lam
bert's that she did at her own home
Later the witness replied 10 a query from
Mr Perry that Mrs. Lambert, W hen
visited by her mother. required Mrs. Van
Riswick to transact business with her
friends on the stairs"
Miss Cleary stated that on several occa-
sions Mrs. Lambert hadcriucised her mother
fO- certain purchases. Mrs. Van RiswIci1
explained her action 10 her daughter.
There wasmuch contention among
over the admission o. evidence showing the
deceased : manner of answering Mrs. Lam
bert. and, as Miss Cleary's recollection was
more n the nature OF hearsay than fact, the
court sustained an objection.
Later Miss C1eary said that the purchases
referred TO were OF handirons and curtains.
She said that at another time Mis-. Van Ris-
wick had arranged for the kalsonmmng OF
the back hall. and when she spoke to Mr..
Wilton Lambert about 1t ne had remarked
that white washing was goodenough for the
back hall
She wanted to have il kalsomincd
tinted pink" asserted Miss CIeary, land
every Ume Mrs Lambert came to see her
mother and observed any new purchase she
would ask aboIt it, Mr. Wilton Lambert
canie to see his grandmother every Sunday
morning. He had a key, and would come
in an 20 straight to her room
Mr.. Perry-Do you know anything about
Nj Wilton investing money for lis grand
mother
Yes" answered the witness, Il have
heard her say that he always invested her
money and that every time she received
a large check she gave it to him toinvest."
did she ever say anything about his
qualities?'
she used to say that Wilton was a great
business man, and far exceeded her ex-
pectations. He had surpassed his grand
father. He was very sirewd and had won
many cases in the Supreme Court"
Asked about a conversation between
Mrs. carr and Mrs. Van Riswick, respecting
a win. Miss Cleary responded that she was
present, and heard Mrs Van Riswick say:
to leave Mother Benetlicta something"
Here the witness explained that Mother
Benedicta is a sister of the deceased who is
in a convent at Abingdon. she sail also
that she would like TO give to st. Paul's
Church. and remarked to Mrs. Carr,
how would you like a life INTEREST," Mrs
Carr replied. IF you want to leave me any
thing leave il out and out ntleaveit to
me under the Lambert's' Mrs. Van Ris-
wick replied that she had not done that.
Miss Cleary said that her great-aunt was
very superStitiouS. She would not let me
raise an umbrella inthe house and she would
not pass through a funeral procession.
The witness aftcrward asserted that Mrs.
Van Riswick often remarked that she want
ed to leave Father Mackin, a Catholic priest,
something, and after a visit To the con-
vent where her sister was had said that
she mustleave Mother Benedicta something,
as the convent was no fit place for her TO
live in.
THIEVES TOO COLD TO STEAL.
Not One Case Reported 10 Police