Evening star., 1899-03-31
The Mental Condition of Mrs. Eliza
R. Dainger6eld.
PROGRESS OF The WILL CONTEST
One Witness Overcome With
Emotion While on the Stand.
LETTERS Id n 7 T I Z D

ALEXANDRIA Va. March 81, 1892
The twelve men who have listened to tes-
timony and argument in the Daingerfeld
will case since Monday morning showed to
a slight extent the mental strain they had
undergone when Judge Nicol convened his
court at 10 o'clock this morning. In fact.
almost everybody officially connected with
the court appeared somewhat careworn.
This condition was also noticeable among
the ladies of the Daingerfield family, who
have been in constant attendance on the
sessions of the court
After The Stars account closed yesterday
afternoon DIR. Klipstein, the Daingertield
family physician, was put on the stand.
His testimony related, in the main, to the
health Of Mrs. Eliza r. Daingerfield. 1t
had been bad It times but the doctor had
not noticed any mental deterioration.
DR.. W. Fl. Wilmer of Washington was
the last witness called last night. He had
examined the testatrix for a local lesion of
the eye. known to the medical profession
as choroiditis. Witness said paralysis did
not necessarily affect the eye, and less SO
if the lesion accompanying the paralysis
had been of the corteX connected with
covering the seat of the intellect. If there
had been brain lesion resulting in paraIy-
sis, produced by moral shock, paralysis
would not necessarily affect the eye, said
the witness He could not say from his ex-
animation that the testatrix had not suf-
fered a stroke of paralysis, or that her
brain had not been impaired.
First Witness Today.
Capt K. Kemper was the first witness
put on the stand this morning. He was
handed a deed to which Mrs Eliza r.
Daingerfelds name was signed. and which
was drawn in 1890. Capt Kemper had
seen the deed written and had affixed his
signature thereto. Mrs. Dafngerfield at
that time appeared to witness as rational
and as well usual
Mrs. Charles H. Garter of Baltimore, for
merly Miss Sallie Daingerfeld, daughter of
Mrs. Efie Daingerfeld was the next wit
ness called. Mrs. Carter appeared nervous,
though she had not fully recovered from
the fainting spell which had overcome her
in the court room yesterday. Her grand
mother, the testatrix, she said, had spoken
to her in the spring of 1896 in regard to
the will which she proposed to make The
testatrix had promised certain household
valuables to the witness, and had said she
intended 10 give all the girls a wedding
present. Witness had seen a copy of the
will IN contest. She said the property of
her grandmother had been left, in the pa
per she had seen, to her father and moth
er. Mr.. and Mrs. Reverdy Daingerfield.
During the progress of her evidence the
witness became overcome with emotion and
frequently had to stop talking. Judge Mic
Ol. reassuringiy, told her to take her time,
and she falteringly continued.
What were the relations of your grand
mother and mother TO the children of your
Uncle Henry?" asked Mr.. Johnson.
They were not the most pleasant an
swered the witness. She had eorresponded
with her grandmother in the summer of
1897, and she recognized certain letters
which had been written by her grand
mother relating to domestic affairs.
Family Matters Discussed.
Mrs Carter told of the circumstances
connected with her marriage in November.
1896, and said her grandmother had fur
nished money to defray the expenses Wit
ness had heard stocks" discussed at the
breakfast table a short time before her
fathers death. Mrs. Ellie DaingerfieId and
her husband, Reverdy. participated in these
conversations. Sometimes Reverdy Dain-
Serfeld would ask his wife: How is wheat
THIS mornings?
In speaking of her relations with the
other members of the family and partic-
GIarly to little Catherine. the witness broke
down and shed tears. Continuing present.
Iy, she said that incidents occurring at the
family table showed the coIdness between
her aunt. Mrs. Virginia Daingerfield. and
her grandmother. the testatrfx. Mrs Car
ter had always tried To be poIite Ia bor
aunt she said.
The mother Of the witness had paid the
expenses Of her daughter (the witness) at
boarding school. Her grandmother, she
said. had always kept the keys of the
house, and directed the donaesti., afsairs
having complete control of the servants
This continued UaciI the time of her death
Her mother, said the witness, was atten-
= TX.
Held. and the latter had said she did NOT
know what she would do without the for
mer.
What dill your mother call Mrs Eliza
r. Daingerfeld?" asked Judge Nicoi.
Mrs DaingerfieId" replied The witness
Mis-. Virginia DaingerfieId also called the
tesiatrix Mrs. DdingerfcId.'
Witness Cross-Examined
Under cross-eNamination witness stated
that her grandmother had expressed a
wish TO present Mrs. Efe Dainserdeld a
new dress. but was afraid 10 do so. because
the latter would probably spend the money
Tor the dress in stocks. In one of the lei
ters' which We're now put in evidence. from
the writer had said:
The lady continues a nv side. she has
the 1mpudence of A brass monkey.
Witness said this referred TO Mrs yir-
gina ,paingerfeld In another letter there
fearful '-e 4'uS
This also referred to Mrs. Virginia Da;.-
gertield. '1'-''
Julian 7. Burke Recalled
Nj Julian T. Burke was recalled He
stated that the present net income from the
dover property Of Mrs. Eliza r.. Dainrer-
field was not enough TO pay taxes az, tt.,
property At the time of Mrs Daineer-
fields death the net income was nothing
The same was true at the time When the
VIII was drawn. Witness stated that he
had not loaned Ms. Eliza r. DainsarfieId
Sl"" as he had before testified. but that
more thorough examination of records
convinced him that he had made some
other business transaction whereby a debt
Tor that amount contracted by Reverdy
Daingertield was paid by his mother.
Mr.. Robert Elliott was then called by
counsel fer the contestants. He testified
that he real estate agent and was
acquainted with the value Of land in Alex
andria county About certain properly
owned by Reverdy DainSeTficId in AleXan-
dIia county the witness said he could not
positively estimate its value. and as he
stood aside. counsel for the contestants an
nOunced that they would rest their case
Some discussion then followed as TO wh4n
the counsel should prepare and submit
their Instructions. The jury was dismissed
and il was decided TO adjourn court until
3 o'clock pm, for submission of instru,.-
tiOns- Then. by agreement of the counsel
Judge NicUl said n would allow each side
four hours in which 10 make final argt-
m TT. The argument Will be commenced at
{ O'Clock tonight.
II 10 oil har