The morning times., 1897-01-29
MISS BELL WAS SURPRISED
A New Witness in the Van Riswiek
Will Case.
The Niece of the Testatrix Tells
About the Latter's PecuIiarities
and Superstitions.

The continuation of the Van Riswick will
yesterday afternoon.
The cross-exanination of Miss Henrietta
Newton, sister-inIaw of the teStatrix, was
concluded soon after recess and Miss
Nettie Bell, who full name is Marie An
tonette Bell, stepped to the witness plat
form and placed herself under the examina-
ton OF Mr.. Ross Perry. After telling some
of the family history connected with her
| aunt she was asked about when she
heard of the will of the late Mrs. Van
Riswck.
just after her DEATH she responded,
and quickly added, land 1 was very much
| surprised" Judge wilson's objection to
her surprise was little too late to have
| it ruled out The witness found it rather
difficult TO answer directly the questions
put TO her She said she knew that Mrs
Van Riswick Interpretations, and thought
that those who made wills died soon
| afterward Miss Bell said her aunt would
not even cut out an apron or make any
| thing on Friday.
The witness said that Wilton did much
work for his grandmother, and attended
| to her business. He called often to So
anu IL Sic tMiSS Dtii) WAS III lIle room
he and Mrs Van Riswick would talk in
| parallels In other words, they covered up
| the exact details of their business cenversa-
| ton Mrs. Van Riswick thought Wilton
very smart and often Dragged about him.
| saying little lawyers did not write their
speeches, but Wilton was such a great
| lawyer that he always wrote mis- speeches
| The old woman would remark, He is
| Miss Bell, who also told about the rela-
| tionS existing between Mrs. Van Riswick
| her two daughters and their families
| She said that the deceased told her that
| when she stayed at Mrs Lambert's she
| had to talk to her workmen on the back
| stairs, as Mrs. Lambert would not allow
workmen to tramp through her house
Referring to the alleged reception the wit
ness said it was not a reception in its true
| social meaning. 1t was merely an "at
home:'' the day on which Mrs. Carr re-
| manned at home to receive some of her
/ friends. She also told the jury that Mrs
| Van Riswick was not really ill on that oc-
casion. Regarding the Lambert family
| Miss Bell in reply to questions from Judge
| Wilson, testified that Mr.. Talmadge Lam
bert, husband Of Mrs. Carr's sister, was
| 1uleu ny MIS-. LdtnDeTt, WHO maze MIN
| give in to her in everything.
| Judge Wilson wanted to know about
| this, and the witness gave one incident, re-
lating that Mrs. Lambert had compelled
| her husband to wait on her. do you
| know anything else?' asked the lawyer,
| and then Miss Bell said that Mrs Lam
| bert would not allow Mr.. Lambert to go
| to the theater unless he took her with
| him. Judge Wilson wanted the witness
| to relate other incidents, but she could
not think of any, and replied: Wont
| those two do?''
| On redirect examination Miss Bell was
| asked as to the treatment accorded Mrs
| Van Riswick by Mrs. Carr, and replied
| that Mrs. Carr was very affectionate and
| dutiful daughter, always solicitous of her
| mothers welfare.
| The examination concluded with a Ques-
| tion from Judge Wilson as to the identity
| of the handwriting on a certain envelope
| addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Lambert Miss
| Bell said she did not recognize the hand
| writing, and that she had not written it.