The evening times., 1897-01-27
MANY SHARP QUESTIONS
Miss Cleary Was Subjected to a
Rigid Cross Examination.
THE VAN RISWICK CONTEST
The Witness Said That Miss Mildred
Lambert, a Granddaughter, Did
Not Show the Deceased Proper
Respect and Gave Instances Her
Reluctant Admissions.

A fun hour was consumed by arguments
this morning at the opening of the seventh
! days trial of the Van Riswick will case.
The discussion was participated in by
Judge Wilson and Messrs. Mattingly and
Davis, for Mrs. Lambert, and Attorneys
Worthington and Perry, representing Mrs.
Martina Carr, the cayeator.
The question to be decided was as to
tie admissibiity of testimony as to a
declaration alleged TO have been made by
Mr. Wilton j. Lambert concerning Mrs
Carr S extravaganza. Miss Cleary testified
| yesterday that Mrs. Carr had been accused
Toy her mother of extrava gance and of
dispoSihg of her property
Mr. Perry attempted to show a train
OF circumstances tending to indicate that
Mrs. Van Riswick had been prompted in
! her accusation by some statement made
| by Wilton. The question asked was for
| the purpose of eiiciting a reply as to what
! Wilton had said to Miss Cleary on the
! subject. The court sustained Judge VIII
sons objection, however, and refused TO
| admit the Information. This Was another
point against Mrs Carr in the validity
of the viii.
The cross examination began soon after
tic courts ruling. Judge Jerc Wilson
tookthe witness in hand and subjected Miss
May Cleary TO a long and vigorous ques-
tioning. He covered rapidly the yoiIlg
lady 5 life from the time of her birth, in
1870, up 20 when she went to live with
Mrs. Van Riswick at Van View.
Miss Cleary said that Mrs Van Riswick.
her great-aunt. was very fond of children.
Her sons had died ia infancy and Wilton was
the oily grandson. Miss Maud Lambert
ami Miss Mildred Lambert, his sisters,
were her only granddaughter. Mrs
Van Riswick was never denonstrative in
her affection. Tut thought a great deal OF
her granddaughter.
Judge Wilson wanted to know how her
affection was reciprocated by Misses Maud
and Mildred.
Miss Cleary responded that they were
very disrespectful to the old lady.
How" inquired Judge Wilson: tell Us
| some action
Wen, Mildred would come in and de-
mand money from her grandmother. and
WHEN refused, would stamp her foot at her :"
when did She DO that" was asked.
''Oh, I have seen her do so up 10 just he
fore Mrs. Van Riswick s DEATH" responded
Miss Cleary.
The attorney wanted to know Miss Mil
dred's present age, and Miss Cleary replied
About fifteen years"
"Did you ever see anything else disre-
spectful?' questioned Judge Wilson.
Yes; Mildred made faces at her grand.
mother Mrs. Van Riswick would let rer
ride over her"
The witness was asked il she had heard
anything about the relatives of Mr. Van
Rswick drawing lots for his property. An
objection from Mr.. Perry met with a with
| drawal OF the inquiry.
Miss Cieary replied TO a query from the
lawyer that Mrs. Van RiSwick had never
| told her anything about Mr. Carr having
failed in business in Norfolk before ne came
to Washington.
Il have heard it from the Lalaberts, the
witness stated
Miss Cleary was questioned as to GER
tain letter written by Mrs Carr to Miss
Maud Lambert about The time the will was
| filed, in which Mrs. Carr severed all friend
Iy relations with Miss Maud. The witness
adroitly remarked that ''she heard Mrs
Carr say" but Mr.. Worthington's objection
prevented further revelation.
Judge Wilson went into the details of a
certain occurrence at a reception given by
Mrs. Carr the Tuesday before her mother S
death
You had refreshments, did you?'' he
asked
Wen, we had tea and waters, answered
Miss Cleary.
Where was Mrs. Van Riswick?''
upstairs, sick. 1 was with her"
did she not ask for a doctor, and want
the coachman TO go for him?''
Miss Cleary responded affirmatively. She
admitted that the coachman was engaged,
and that Mrs. Lambert, who was present,
declared that she would go for the doctor.
Did she go?' queried Judge Wilson
''She must have, because he came" an
swered the witness
"DId you not say on that occasion that
yUu did not think Mrs Van Riswick needed
a doctor" asked counsel and Miss CIctry
replied with an almost inaudible ad-
mission
Miss CleaTy said that every time Mrs.
Lambert came 10 see Mrs Van RiSwick the
latter hurried considerably to get down
stairs 10 see her daughter, and Judge VII
son wanted 90 know more OF the details
The witness said that when the girl an
nounCed that Mrs. Lambert was down
stairs, her mother would get excited
"splotches would come on her face. and
she would ask all Of us at once to get this
and that for her ! would tell her that
Mrs Lambert would watt
Counsel for Mr.. Lambert drew from the
witness tie infeTential admission that Mrs
Lambert did not come up the stairs because
OF her physical condition, which prohibited