The morning times., 1897-02-04
THEIR TRUMP CARD PLAYED
The CaveatOrs to the Van RisWick
Will Call Mr.. Darlington.
he Drew Up the Paper-The De-
ceased, He Said, Talked INTEL
ligently About Her Property.

The trump card of the caveators to the
will of the late Mary Van Riswick was
offered yesterday just before the con-
|, olusion of the days hearing MI. j. j.
Darlington, the well-known attorney, oc-
cupied the stand after recess and proved
rather a good witness on behalf of the
Lamberts. Mr. Darlington drew up the
will which is being attacked.
Mr.. Darlington said that Mr. Wilton
Lambert told him that Mrs. Van Riswick
desired to see him. He called on her
and she conversed about the disposition
of her property. Her conversation, he
said, was intelligent and connected, and
her mental condition clear and good. She
was ayerse to the making OF d Will and
wanted the property conveyed by deed,
but desired the deed withheld from record
until after her death, as she was afraid
OF the trouble it might cause. She thought
she would like to have Wilton made trus-
tee, as he much resembled his grand
father in business qualities.
She insisted at all times that she wanted
to Keep the property in the Van Riswick
blood, saying that all of it represented
the labor OF herself and husband, and She
thought she had right to keep the
estate i'll the family. The conveyance
for life was a result of this determine
ton. Mr.. Darlington at one time sug-
gested that Mrs. Carr, the contesting
daughter, be given two acres OF van Vie W
in fee simple, but Mrs. Van Riswick re-
fused to do so. She did this on two
different occasions. One Of the reaSons
why she wanted the deed kept secret
was that Mrs. Carr might not know of
it, and Mr.. Darlington, when cross eX-
amined by Judge Wilson, stated that Mrs.
Van Riswick had said that Mrs. Carr since
childhood alwa VS. felt offcnded il she
thought the other children@ got anything
more than she did. g
the trump card 10 be played, was Mrs
MARITIME Carr herself. shesisa rather good
looking, well preserved lady between forty
and fifty years old, and wai astired in deep
mourning. She said that she married MIR
Carr in June, 1895, and went to Norfolk
with him. Her father was then living, and
| he gave her for a wedding present $4,000
worth of ice stock. Her>older sister had
married Mr.. Tallmadge Lambert and they
| lived with Mr. Van Riswick, who was
|
| Mr. Van Riswlck was stricken with
| paralysis and managed it so that Mr.
| Lambert, his son-in-!aw. was elected presi-
| dent in his place. Mrs. Carr stated that the
| present to her was as a compensation for
/ what her ia her ha1 done for the LambertS
| On her return from Norfolk she was in
formed by her father, however. that MIR
| Lambert refused to sign the certificate OF
| transfer Of the ice company stock. At that
time ne said Matte, Mr.. Lambert has re.
fused to sign your wedding present" "My
father was m IcA agitated.' said Mrs. Carr,
| "and | went TO Mr.. Lambert's room several
times TO see him about it, but could not
| see him.
At this point the witness proceeded tC
| tell of a conversation between her fathel
| and herself which was, however, objected
| to by counsel for the caveatees and al
| argument ensuing the determination of the
question was postponed until this morning
| Mr.. Perry contended orally that he woult
show that Mr. Lambert had refused to sigr
the transfer of stock unless something wer,
| given Mrs. Lambert eq liva,eaS to what Mrs
Carr received.