Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-03-29
CROWD soon flled Inc court room.

Mrs. Virginia Daingerfield again
took the stand, but some objection was
made by the counsel on the opposite
side. as she had been on the witness
stand on TWO other occasions. The
court allowed the examination to con-
tinue, as Mr.. Burke said he had mad
vertently failed to PROFOUND q few
questions yesterday. Witness stated
mat two of her sons were away from
the house most OF the time after her
husbands death, and she paid the eX-
penses OF her son and little daughter.
Upon being cross examined she did not
remember Mrs Eliza Daipuerfeld pay
ing her children's bills, she had stop
ped many donations.
Mr.. Richard Gemeny was the next
witness. In 1896 he was telegraphic
operator in H. C. Wards brokerage Of
fee in Washington. Witness said Mrs.
Efiie Daingerfeld was one of the Gus
toners Of the house and dealt on mar
gnes; her transactions came under his
personal observation, and he described
he modus operandi OF winning land
losing in the game OF speculation. Mrs.
Etfie Daingerfeld had business with
the house about four times week
Sometimes her dealing amounted TO
$50, and at others to $500.
Mr.. Burke introduced the bank book
of testatrix and said The checks for 1897
mad been produced, but none for 1896
Abraham McCorkle, colored, was
called. Witness had been employed in
tue Daingerfeld family for about ten
years; he performed all outside work,
such as marketing, gardening, &c.
Six months before Mrs. DaiDger6eld
death she had had severe attacks
of illness There had been de
cided change ia testatrix during the lat
Ter portion of her life; her mind was
weak; she was forgetful. His testimony
was in substance what the other ser.
want had averred. Testatrix was kind
TO young MIR. Henry and his sister
Katherine. Witness was acoustic med
70 20 to the Spring field farm during
Mr. Henry Daineerfeld's life and
,ring vegetables, &C., TO the house. Al
ter his decease such articles were pur-
chased either in market or from stores.
Mr. George Ayers had been warned not
allow Mr. Henry Daingerfeld, jr, to
nave any articles from mis- store; this
order was given shortly after testatrix
had paid one Of his bills. Cross ex.
.mined-Mrs. Daineerield in her nor
nal state had mind of her own; she
superintended everything; Miss Sallie
, seemed TO be head of the family
when Mrs. Eliza was incapacitated.
Witness said the latter had shown
weakness of mind. He was then made
give instances OF her forgetfuluess in
connection with household affairs. For
i've years previous to testatrixs death,
Hiss Sallie seemed to be the executive
head of the family.
Mr.. Gemeny was recalled. Mrs.
Ellie Daingerfeld had paid his house
oy cash and due bills during her trans.
actions with it.
Mrs. L. F Knox was the next wit
ness. She was connected with tesla
trix's family and had witnessed will
made by her in 1888. The relations
between Mrs. Eliza and Mrs. Virginia
were not pleasant; did not know the
cause; testatrix had told witness that
Reverdy Daingerield had nothing but
what she gave him; this statement was
made before his death. Mrs. Virginia
had waited on ner mother-in-law dur
Jog her last illness and so far as her
observation went she did all that could
have been expected from daughter.in-
law. Witness was satisfied she wit
messed q second will, but could remem-
Der no particulars. Her husband had
remarked There is nothing in the will
for US, or We would not have been asked
TO witness it.
Miss Lille Smith took the stand.
She had witnessed will made by
fall of 1894, shortly after Mr.. Henry
tastatrix in 1888 and another in the
fall of 1891, shortly after Mr.. Henry
Daingerfeld's death.
Capt. Il. F. Knox followed. He had
witnessed will made by the deceased
but could not fix the time; his wife
and sister-in-law were the other wit
nesses. Testetrix had said she had
copied the will from one which had
been written by relative witness
thought brother.in-law; she had, he
further said, made some minor changes.
Some delay followed. Counsel for
Mrs. Virginia Daingerfeld desired to in-
troduce copies of prescriptions furnish
ed the late Mrs. Eliza DAingerfeld by
E. i. Allen, druggist. Counsel for the
other side objected and insisted Oh the
production of the original, also the ap-
peGrance of MIR. Allen in court, and the
court ruled that such should be done.
An inIermisson in the proceedings re-
quilted.
When the court was reconvened DR..
Tompkins, of Washington IA native of
r chmond), was placed on the stand.
He stated that ne wac = specialist in
nervous diseases, the latter maladies,
ne said, affected the mind. MIR. Moore
propounded & Hypothetical question,
assuming that Eliza r. Dalugerfeld
was IS years old, Was widow and had
two sons, married and with children
all living in the same house; that both
sons committed suicide in her house;
that she had had spells of sickness, |
during which she fell; had a paralytic |
stroke six months before her death:
mad impaired memory and eyesight; be- |
gan to spell her name different from
previously; had lost all idea of business; !
would lose her keys and money; had j
an aversion to writing letters og she (
conduct of business afAiis; was OBJ
livious to the fact that one of her
good friends was dead, that many of
her GCts showed her to be in a confused
state of mind; that she had previously
made wills making an equal division OF |
her property; had before her death I
o6a hoe O Ina