Evening star., 1897-01-28
TWO WITNESSES HEARD
Van Riswick Case Continued in the Courts
Today.
Lawyers Contest Every Point to the
Bitter End-The Family Re-
latiOns Disclosed.

The fifth witness in the Van Riswick will
case vas called to the stand this morning.
when the eighth day Of the trial COM
menced before Judge McComas. in Circuit
Court No. 2. The examination Of Miss
May Cleary. the grandniece of Mrs. Mary
Van Riswick. whose will is being contested
by her daughter. Mrs. Martina Carr, was
concluded just before the court adjourned
yesterday afternoon, after she had identi-
fed some account books kept by Mrs. Van
Riswick up to within a few days of her
death. and after she had repeated her as
sertion that Mrs. Van Riswick about the
time Of the making of the will was blunted
In mind and a woman easily Influenced.
The court room was again crowded when
the trial was resumed this morning, and
counsel for Mrs. Carr, Messrs. r. Ross
Perry and A. 8. Worthington. proceeded
to call witnesses in support Of Mrs. Carr's
allegation that the will was procured by
her nephew. Mr.. Wilton ]. Lambert,
through undue influence. alleged to have
been practiced by him upon his grand
mother. They called their next witness
Mrs Henrietta Newton.
Another Witness.
Mrs. Newton stated that she Is seventy
three years of age and the late John Van
Riswick. husband of the testatrix, washer
VI uiotHei- oHe was very lntlmate WIN ner
sister-in-law. and with the Lambert fam
ily She related an incident when Mrs.
Lambert invited the witness to 20 driving
but did not invite her mother, Mrs. Van
Riswick. Mrs. Van Riswick seemed very
much hurt and wept some. She told the
witness. some time after the making of the
alleged will, that she had never made q
will. that she did not intend to make one.
as she had but two children, and wanted
her property to go to them, a matter her
lawyers would attend to. Mrs. Newton said
that subsequently Mr.. Lambert spoke to
her about her conversation with Mrs. Van
Riswick. and counsel for Mrs. Carr offered
to prove that he told her that what his
grandmother said about not having made
will was not worth row of pins. But up
on objection of Mr.. Lambert's counsel.
Messrs Jere NJ. Wilson, VIM. F. Mattingly
and Henry p. Davis. Judge McComas over
ruled the offer.
Continuing, Mrs. Newton said that two
weeks before her death Mrs. Van Riswick
said she objected to Wiltons marriage, be-
cause. as she thought, he was not well
enough off to take such step. Mrs Carr
seemed to the witness to be her mothers
favorite daughter. Mrs. Van Riswick ap-
pearing more comfortable in her company
than in the company of Mrs Tallmadge A.
Lambert. her other daughter. In fact re-
marked the witness. Mrs. Van Riswick
seemed afraid of Mrs. Lambert who was.
said Mrs. Van Riswick, very hard to please.
While at Oakland Mrs. Van Riswick COM
planned four or five times to witness that
Mrs. Lambert failed to invite her to go
driving. On the other hand, said Mrs. New
ton. Mrs. Carr was always very affection
ate to her mother, always inviting her to
go with her.
An Argument.
Mrs. Newton was speaking of disrespect
alleged to have been shown to Mrs. Van
Riswick by her granddaughters. Maud and
Mildred Lambert. the latter, the younger
about twelve or thirteen years of age, when
Mr.. Lambert's counsel objected. Counsel
for Mrs. Carr replied that the other side
had first gone into the matter and they,
therefore, had the right to inquire fully
into it. In other words, submitted Mrs.
Carr's attorneys, Mrs. Carr having been
given only a life interest in the estate.
while the two granddaughter were given
three pieces of real estate absolutely, 1t
| was very proper that the jury should be
| fully informed as to the relations and con-
| duct of all the parties. Mrs. Newton then
said that the granddaughters were disre-
| sIectful to their grandmother at times and
| that some times when she was refused
| money the younger would help herself.
| Counsel for Mrs. Carr next offered to
prove by Mrs. Newton that in a conversa-
| ton with Wilton ]. Lambert shortly after
| ness that Mrs Van Riswick was we'll when
| she made her will that his mother did not
know of it being made; that Mrs. Van Ris-
| wick asked him to draw 1t up: that she
L u.
| Darlington to draw 1t: that it was placed
| in a bank, and that later 1t was returned
| to Mrs. Van Riswick.
| The offer Was overruled by the court, as
vas one to show by the witness that Viii.
| ton had been said by Mrs. Van Riswick tC
| want to get Van View. the piece of sub
| ul ban property given him in the contested
| will. After counsel for Mrs Carr had ex.
cepted to the courts ruling and after the
| witness had said that Mrs. Van Riswick
after her attack of the grip. was defective
| in memory and sight, she was croSS-eXam
| ined by Mr.. Wilson.
Mrs. Newton admitted that she had ex-
rected to be left house by Mrs. Van Ris,
! wick and then she explained that while
Miss Maud Lambert was not disrespectfu
| to her grandmother. Mildred was at times
refusing to obey her and stamping her feet
at her. OF Wilton Mrs. Van R!swick was
| very fond and he treated her very respect
fully and affectionately.
Miss Bell Testiaes.
Miss Nettie Bell, a niece of Mrs. Var
Riswick, was the next witness called b,
Mrs. Carr's counsel, and she stated tha
during the last eight or ten years she wa.
very intimate with her aunt and family
She said she had never heard Mrs. Var
Riswick say she would make a will. II
fact, Mrs. Van Riswick was very super
stitious in the matter, believing that peopl,
always die soon after making their Wills
| one was also very SupeFStltlOuS concern
ing Friday. Miss Bell said she frequentl
visited Mrs. Van Riswick, often remain
ing a week or two at time. Witness re
marked that she had not only noticed tina
Mrs Carr was her mothers favorite child
but Mrs Van Riswick had also told her sc
Mrs. Van Riswick also told her that Mrt
| Tallmadge A. Lambert was not only yer
self-willed, but also from childhood tina
she ruled everybody. even Mr.. Lambert
She also told witness that she was afrai
to ask Mrs. Lambert for the return of
sealskin cloak, which belonged to Mrs. Va
Riswick's deceased daughter, Mary Jane
Miss Bell said that she never considere
Mrs. Van Riswick a very good busines
woman and thought that she was yer
deficient In memory later in life. She spok
Of Wilton Lambert's frequent private con
ferences with his grandmother. who spok
|, Of him as a sharp. shrewd business mar
and great lawyer. saying that he wa
different f.om other great lawyers, as
|, wrote his speeches. Miss Bell said sh
: knew that Wilton filed out his grand
I i, mothers checks and attended to her bus
ness affairs. During the conference b<
tween them no enc else was allowed to RI
main in the room.
. The witness said that Mrs. Van Riswic
told her more than once that Wilton want