Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-04-03
D8INGERFIELD WILL CASE.

Lit SlOSlHS DN'iN-
locked Jury.--CIosinS scenes, &c.
When the Gazette's report OF the
proceedings OF the Daingerfeld will
case closed on Saturday, Mr.. Moore
was still engaged in his argument be-
fore the jury.
Mr.. Moore contended that the coun-
sci representing Mrs. Ellie Danger.
field had put none of the principals
upon the stand, save Mrs. Garter, prob
ably because she was the best looking
of them all. Her evidence was 10 the
effect that she and her sister had been
closeted with their grandmother in the
preparation OF the will and aided in the
making of the memoranda for the
same. Mr.. Moore spoke in the highest
terms OF Mrs. Virginia Daingerfeld; she
was noble lady who had figured i'll
the best society in Baltimore, and sub
sequently in Alexandria; lady who
had ever been pure and noble IN her
actions and intentions, who had been
hated in an unaccountable manner.
She must have been the victim of one
of an entirely different disposition. The
letters received by Mrs. Carter from her
grandmother had been saved for pur
pose. Her grandmother mad requested
her TO burn them and she failed to do
so. Mr.. Moore rapidly ran over many
portions of the facts and references
which had been adduced from the wit
nesses, and urged that the jury should
bring in verdict setting aside the
will. The testatriX's mind was evil
IDENTIFY impaired, and the speaker called
attention 10 the fact that Two Of her
sons were similarly afflicted; had in
TWO years died by their own hands,
He referred feelingly to little Rather
inc, who had been SO unnaturally ignor-
ed by her grandmother, and called atten
ton to the testimony concerning the
stock transactions OF Mrs. Ellie Dam
gerheld, If the testalTlX did not en-
gage in these transactions why did not
the other side put Mrs. Elite Danger
field upon the stand aud let her deny
Ii? The greatest intimacy had in the
past few years existed between tbs
latter and the testatrix, notwithstand-
ing she mad previously expressed the
greatest apprehension concerning this
same daughter She had pre-
yiously SAID she was a gambler and
, could not be trusted with money 10 buy
q dress, yet, strangely enough.
trusts her with the revenues of her en-
tire estate. There is no proof that the
principal legatee has quit stock gambl-
i. ing. Such temptations exist, aud will
as long as the world lasts.
He closed by an earnest appeal to
the jury to consider the evidence and
the instructions OF the court, and bring
in verdict setting aside the will.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Moore's
argument, at half-past four o'clock, the
Judge suggested that recess could be
taken until six o'clock, provided it
vera agreeable TO the jury. Two were
in favor OF remaining and listening 20
the arguments which were TO follow.
The other ten, however, favored re-
cess; and the court WIS accordingly ad-
ourned until six o'clock. The doors
were not opened until nearly that hour,
although numbers were standing
| around waiting TO get in the court room
long before the hour Of reconvening ar
rived.
After the court had again been called
to order and the roll OF jurors called
there was some colloquy between coun-
SCI regarding some OF the minor mat
tiers in connection with the case.
; Mr.. Burke, counsel for Mrs. Virginia
Daingerield, subsequently began his
address to the jury. He began by say
ing his physical condition was such that
| he felt his incapacity to deal with the
case ia properly presenting it to the
Jury. He, however, felt it his duty in
the interests OF the clients he rep
resented to attempt to unravel the H.
tricacy into which the paper writing
called the last will anu testament Of
Mrs. Eliza r. DaiDgeriield has been
thrown. The jury were to determine
whether or not this paper IS an express
sion of the disposing thoughts OF
clear mind; it was their duty TO solemn
ly and carefully inquire into all the
facts and circumstances IN connection
with the formulation OF this paper writ
ing. The jury were TO find whether or
not this paper is the result OF natural
act or the work OF free agent. MIR.
Burke proceeded TO deal with the pny-
steal and mental condition OF the tesla
iriX for some time proceeding her death.
He urged that a physician mad shown
that she had suffered lesion in the
brain which produced brain sotlening
and impaired her intellect. The speak
or then alluded to the fainting spells to
which the deceased had been subject,
which caused her when she would re.
viye to exolaim, 81 wish | were dead"
All this, the speaker urged, was evl
dence OF mental deterioration, which
ended in paralysis. He referred to the
tact that Mrs. Daingerield had omitted
10 tell DR.. Wilmer that she had been
paralyzed when describing her physical
troubles for ten years previously. he
then referred to the terrible strains
which testatrix had been subjected
during the last few years OF her life,
which, in q woman of her age, were
calculated to cause her mental collapse.
The female children of Mrs. Ellie Dam
gerfeld, while their mother was in
another city specializing, were closeted
with their grandmother with splendid
opportunities to use their influence
upon her. This old lady, in years be-
fore, ere the physical and mental ills OF
old age had taken hold of her, had
made will making al equal olstrlou-
ton of her property between her two
sons. This was operative until the
death of Henry Daingerield. He had
never given his mother any trouble,
and his wife, who is an estlmable
lsdv. had never given her cause for