The morning times., 1897-02-24
MANY WITNESSES EXAMINED
Taking Of Testimony Continued in
the Van RisMick Case.
The Evidence, Tended to Show the
Excellent Mental Capacity
of the Deceased.

Many witnesses were examined yester
day IN the Van Riswick will case. Already
over forty persons have testified on be
half of sustaining the will and it is eX-
closed tomorrow noon with the examl-
nation OF at least-a dozen more wit
nesses Nearly all of the testimony has
tended to show the excellent mental capac-
ity Of the deceased and how hard it was
for anyone to influence her. This evi-
dence was submitted to disprove the as
sertIon that Mr. Wilton j Lambert had
influenced his grandmother in the max
ing of her will, by which he was given
Van view property, worth about $4,000.
Witnesses for Mrs. Carr testified that
Mr.. Lambert had transacted his grand
mothers business, and some of the teSti
mony yesterday was to refute that allega-
ton. John King, who had been a tenant
of Van View from 500 to 1895, was
the first witness. He asserted that he
had made all arrangements with Mrs.
Van Riswick and had paid his rent to
her. He exhibited one receipt for money
paid. 1t was dated February g. 1894,
and in Mrs. Van Riswicks handwriting
Counsel for Mr.. Lambert called the at
tention Of the court to the fact that the
date was two da VS. after the VIII had been
made King thought Mrs. Van Riswick
was a sound minded, shrewd business
woman.
b. H. Stinemetz, the well-known halter
and furrier, said Mrs Van Riswick had
dealt with him few weeks before her
death. He believed she was a woman Of
good mental capacity.
Walter Stewart, a brother -in-law Of Mrs.
Van Riswlck, followed Mr. Stinemetz on
the stand. He asserted that the deceased
had been of sound mental ability. He
referred to her purchases of the street
houses anu said Mrs. Van Riswck was
provok ed with Mr.. McLeran, her zeal
estate agent, who had committed her
10 the bargain subject To trust. She
had directed him to arrange for the sale
only for cash, but the property could not
be purchased, except subject to the trust.
| This she objected TO, because she did
| not want to buy except for cash. Mr.
| Stewart said Mrs. Van RiswiCk stayed at
his house during the fan OF S95.
Charles II. FicklIng, II real estate agent,
! and James NJ. Collins testified To the
| good mental condition of Mrs Van Riswick
Dr. Lee McColnas, of Oakland, Nd,
was the star witness of the day. DR.
! McComas had attended Mrs Van Riswick
during her visits to Mr. Lambert, AT oak
| land. In reply t4,a question from Judge
| Wilson the physician said:
Il don't think anyone could influence
| her.
He was questioned as To the relations
| between Mr. and Nrs Lambert and Mrs.
| Van Riswick, andssaid:
The relations Mere of the most happy
character You know a family physician
| usually sees these little skeletons in the
closet. but | never noticed anything ef
that kind
| Tie doctor said he found Mrs Van Riswick
| very obstinate on one occasion when he
visited her for n spraned foot. She
| attempted To quiz me too much, and as
| dent like that sort of thing il rather
prejudiced me against her, but l grew to
understand afterward that her reason was
TO learn things herself
Mrs Talimadgc \. Lambert, mother OF
VIII on Lamtcrt and daughter Of Mrs Van
Riswick, occupied the stand in the after
| noon. Tie witness denied having required
| her mother 20 tfanSlCt BUSINESS Win Hti
| friends fiom the back stairs, and claimed
! that her doing so was of her own volition
She detailed the visit of heI mother in the
| spring of 1894, when Mrs. Carr had gone
| to North Carolina. II was while Mrs
| Van RiswiCk was staying with Mrs. Lam
bert at this time that the viii was drawn
! by Mr. Darlington.
Mr Mattinsly examined the witness, who
denied having asked her mother TO Civ,
Wilton the Van View property She ais
denied having ever asked her mother tC
make a Will. She had heard Mrs. Van
Riswick hint as to the disposition oi
certain houses to Miss Maud and Mis-
Mildred Lambert, the witness daughters.
A neat thread cutter for sewing ma
chimes that is always ia its place consists
of a very small nair of Scissors Fastened