Evening star., 1897-02-17
VAN RIS WICK CAS- e
More Testimony introduced in the Will
Trial.
Evidence a. to Mrs. Van Risvvfck's
Attention to Business-The
Witnesses Today.

| port of the validity of the will of the late
| Mary Van Riswick. contested by her
| daughter, Mrs. Martina Carr. was contin-
| ued before Judge McCon.as in Circuit Court
No. today by counsel for Mr.. Wilton J.
Lambert Mrs. Van Riswick's grandson
who is defending the instrument. Before
proceeding with the trial today, Judge Nc
| Comas called the attention Of respective
counsel to the fact that visiting militia will
| be Quartered in the city hall the Sd and
| ith of next month. and he suggested that
as this is but TIE seventeenth day of the
| trial. the court should sit hereafter on Fri
days. Counsel for Mr.. Lambert stated that
previous engagements would prevent their
attendance next Friday. but Judge Nc
Comas said that thereafter the court would
sit Fridays
When The Stars report of the case closed
yesterday, Mrs. Katie Joyce. friend of
| the Van Riswick family. was on the stand.
She testified that Mrs. Van Riswick In
formed her in October, 1894. that she had
disposed of her estate. giving Van View TO
Wilton, house to each of her two grand
daughters. house 1413 K street to Mrs.
Carr for life. and the income from the resi-
due of the estate equally between Mrs. T..
A Lambert and Mrs. Carr. Mrs. Van Ri5-
wick also told her that she had given her
relatives nothing. because she found she
did not have enough to go all around. She
T.
always spoke of Wilton as their principal
male feir. not wishing the estate to leave
the family.
Mrs. Borden Called.
The first witness called today was Mrs.
Eugenia r. Borden, a cousin of Mr.. Tall
madge A. Lambert. She said she was well
acquainted with the Van Riswick family
and said that Mr.. Van Riswick and his
wife highly esteemed Mr. T. A. Lambert,
ard had great confidence in him. the for
Fer once remarking that he would give
half he had to possess Mr.. Lambert's mind.
During the last year Or two of Mrs. Van
Riswick's life the witness noticed no fail
IRE OF her memory or any great change in
her health. she appearing well and rational
mrs. Lambert since her marriage has been
in poor health. Mrs. Van Riswick she
said. was a woman of strong will and fixed
purpose. Mrs. Van Riswlck once remarked
that Wilton should have Van View. as she
regarded him as her rightful heir.
Business Capn biIities.
Julius 1. Atchison. a local plumber. said
he had known Mrs. Van Riswick for about
five years. and did much work for her.
dofrg the last work for her. repairs at
Van View. in July. 1893. She always ap-
peared to know just what she wanted and
how 1t should be done. Mr. Wilton Lam
bert had nothing to do with the work in
any way.
Plumber John Mitchell gave similar tes-
tinony, remarking that in his opinion she
was always well capable of transacting
business matters.
Alexander Brown. one of Mrs Van Ris-
wick's tenants, testified that from 1891 to
June or July. 1888. he paid the rent to her.
and subsequently. at her request. TO Wilton
Lambert. The witness said Mrs. Van Ris-
wick once told him that size did not wish
to tax her mind with repairs: that she
was getting old. and that she desired to
have her property as 1t was. In his opin-
ion Mrs. Van Riswick was a woman moi
easily moved.
Nellie Quinlan, the next witness, stated
that she lived at Mrs. T. A. Lamberts as
a chambermaid and waitress from March,
1894, to last October. Mrs. Lambert was
ascending the stairs. The relations be-
tween Mrs. Van Riswick and Mrs. Lam
bert and her son were very devoted and
affectionate. Mrs. Lambert would always
ask her mother to drive with her This
was particularly true while they were al
Oakland Md. Mrs. Van Riswick was al
ways very solicitous respecting Mrs. Lam
bert's health and comfort, feeling fully
reciprocated by Mrs. Lambert The wit
ness said she often heard Wilton Lam
bert talking with his grandmother, but
never heard them talking about business
matters. They generally were engaged in
relating jokes.
The witness said to Mr.. Perry that she
had often seen Mrs. Van Riswick write.
ION what?' inquired Mr.. Perry.
''On paper sure" replied the witness.
James Jarboe. a colored bricklayer said
that he did the work on Mrs. Van Ris-
wick's Missouri avenue house. occupied by
Brown but said that Brown paid him. and
that Wilton Lambert had nothing to do
with 1t.
Policeman James b. Cochran stated that
before going on the force he was a painter,
and in the spring of 1885 did work for Mrs
Van Riswick: that she superintended it,
,of
easily influenced. In payment for the work
he received the check of Wilton j. Lam.
bert, having been referred by Mrs. Van
Riswick to him.