Evening star., 1897-02-23
THE LONG WILL CASE
Nm Lambert Thstifes in tho Van Riswiok
Hearing.
Tells of the Receipt Of Cats Frou
Her MOther-WitnessesE Ex.
amineA Today.


Court No. 2 But four days a week. how
ever. have been devoted to the case so far
SO that today was but the twenty-flrst one
Of the trial. Hereafter, however. it Is
the intention of Judge McComas to devote
five days at least to the trial every week,
and the court will probably sit as late as
4 o'clock every afternoon.
When the trial was adjourned last Thurs
day afternoon testimony was being intro
duced in support of the will by counsel for
Mr.. Wilton J.. Lambert, Mrs. Van Riswick's
grandson. who is charged by his aunt. Mrs.
Martina Carr, with having procured the
making of the will by undue influence
practiced upon her by him. This morning
the introduction Of such testimony was
continued, Edward M. Lewis, a local real
estate dealer. testifying that he was well
acquainted with Mrs. Van Riswick: that
he transacted much of her business. and
that in his opinion she was a woman of
strong mind, and one not easily influenced.
Mr.. Benj H. Stinemetz stated that Mrs.
Van Riswick had dealt at his store; that
he last saw her in 1893. and that he noticed
no change in her. To Mr.. Worthington
the witness stated that she seldom, If
ever. came alone, generally being accom-
panied by Mrs. Carr.
Business Methods.
John McC. King testified to renting part
of the Van View farm from Mrs. Van Ris-
wick early in 1894. and he identified a re-
ceipt given him by her February 10. 1894.
two days after the date of the will, and
another given him in March, 1895. He
said she was a woman of firmness and of
positive nature. and he explained that he
saw no change in her in 1895 at any
other time.
Walter Stewart a brother-in-law of Mrs
Van RisWick. stated that she was a woman
of firm character. and that he saw no
change in her mental condition as late as
the fall of 1895.
Medical Testimony.
DR.. Chas. H. Fickling said that he was
well acquainted with Mrs. Van Riswick
and that his wife frequently visited the
family at Van View. He detailed a con-
versation with Mrs. Van Riswick as 20
heating her house. during which she ex-
hlbited considerable knowledge in such
matters. He always regarded her as a
very capable business woman. He saw her
for the last time to talk with her about
1891. and then saw no change in her.
James M: Collins testified to building
fences for Mrs. Van Riswick in 1894 and
cleaning out wells. She gave him all the
necessary directions. and no one else had
anything to do with the work. She was
good business woman and one not easily
influenced. She once told him that her
brother William had nothing to do with her
affairs. and she also said that but for her
he would be out on the street as she sup
ported him
DR.. VIM. H. Wilmer said Mrs. Van Ris-
wick called upon him for treatment of the
eyes first on November 16. 1895, and last on
February D. 1896 She called six or eight
times, and he saw no change in her during
that period. She never came alone always
being accompanied by Mrs Carr. DR.. Will
mer stated that Mrs. T. A. Lambert was
an invalid.
Dr. John Van Rensaler stated that he
tre;Aed Mrs. T. A. Lambert in 1892. but
said he is unaware of her present physical
condition.
John H. Wallace. tenant of Mrs Van
Riswick. testified to paying rent to Mrs
Carr's husband.
DIR. j. Lee McComas of Oakland. Md, said
he lad treated Mrs. Van Riswick and the
Lambert family at Oakland since 1888.
Mrs. L. a. Lambert has been an invalid
since then. The relations between Mrs.
Van Riswick and the Lambert family We're
very pleasant and harmonious at all times.
Mrs Van 4iswick he became prejldlced
against, because she seemed determined to
resist his directions and wanted to quiz
him. She was. in his opinion, a woman of
determination. and 1t did not seem that any
one could influence her.
More Testimony.
Winnie Mahon said she lived with Mrs.
T. A. Lambert from May to October, 1894.
Mrs. Lambert was an invalid, and her
mother was very solicitous about Mrs.
Lambert's condition. The relations between
the two were alw avs of the most affection
ate character.
Builder John H. Jarboe of Oakland Md,
testified to building a house there for Mr..
T. A. Lambert in 1892 Mrs. Van Riswick
spent the summers of 1Sgs-94-95 with the
Lambert family there, and he frequently
conversed with her. She talked of repairs,
and complained of having great difficulty
with her pumps, las most people do" re-
marked the witness.
WnrthtnQfnn N
terrupted Mr.. A. s. Worthington.
"Never did," replied the witness.
Il object. your honor" remarked Mr..
Jere NJ. Wilson. smilingly. "to Mr.. Worth
ington attempting to advertise his pump.
If he refers to himself. l think he is the
worst pump 1 ever saw"
Continuing, the withess said the relations
between Mrs. Van Riswick and the Lam
bert family were always most pleasant
and harmonious. In his opinion she was a
most determined old lady.
Miss Maud Lambert. one Of the benef-
ciaries under the will, and one of Mrs. Van
Riswick's two gr1nddaushters, next testi-
fled, saying that she had often heard her
grandmother say Wilton was to have Van
View She never knew of the contents of
the VIII until after her grandmother's
death. Miss Mildred Lambert, the wit
ness sister, gave similar testimony, saying
that she had heard her grandmother say
that she and her sister would get house
apiece. The witness denied ever taking
money from her grandmotSer's purse.
Mrs. Lambert.
The next witness was Mrs. T. A Lam
bert. a daughter of Mrs. Van Riswick.
She stated that she has been an invalid
for many years, although in better health
during the last year or SO, only going out
at rare intervals. She said that after
her sister, Mary James death. she and
Mr.. Lambert extended her mother a most
cordial invitation to live with them. an
invitation she declined because she wished
to keep house. Mrs. Lambert denied ever
having neglected her mother, and explained
that Mary Jane gave her the pair of dia-
mond earrings which Mrs. Carr claimed,
and also the sealslkin coat. 1t was true
that after she returned the earrings her
mother gave her 500 pair, but there was
10 prior understanding to that effect She
said 1t Is true that her mother divided
the vegetables, but Mrs. Lambert denied
ever insisting upon a division of four eggs,
or two beets, or an onion. Mrs. LAM
bert said 1t Is also true that her mother
disliked meeting funeral professions. so
do IT, she said, land we all disliked to
have peacock feathers in the house."
Mrs. Lambert denied ever having OBJ
jected to her fathers gift of 5000 Of ice
company stock to Mrs. Carr. She also de-
MED that l.er mother complained that she
received no sympathy from her.