New-York tribune., 1900-11-27
MISS BERGER ONTBE STAND
HEARING IN PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT
BY HER SISTERS TO HAVE 4
COMMITTEE APPOINTED.

Miss Victoria Berger Of No ~ South Oxford-st .
Brooklyn. who is said by her relatives to be in
sane and incompetent to for her property.
was a winners yesterday in the Supreme Court.
Brooklyn before Justice Chase and jury, in pro-
ceedings instituted by her sisters Mrs. Josephine
/. Ketcham. OF No. $50 Nacon-st. Brooklyn and
Mrs. Adelaide T. Barre, of No. 19 Pulaski-st-'
Brooklyn, 10 have committee appointed 10 TAKE
care of Miss Berger and her property.
When Miss Berger's mother died. about twelve
years ago. she left her daughter about S%""" anu
It is alleged that only about $4,000 of II Is Iel'
The house at No. 81 South Oxford-st Is owned ps
Miss Berger. and Ter neighbors call her no
Lady OF the Furs," because she wears some Kll.u gnu
OF fur summer and winter. The property NO. Ov-
Fulton-st Brooklyn, and real estate at ba''
Beach, also owned by her. encumoered VIII
mortgages
Miss Berger's sisters say that she has required
them when they reproved her for living the NE
of a hermit. and that she spends her time soa'
ing over valuable curios. which she has corrected
IN her travels in Europe When Harrison. the
Boy Preacher" IN Brooklyn, Mrs. he'0haih
says that her sister sent candy and mowers 10 MS
tent and followed him from place TO place II II
alleged by the petitioners that Miss Berger mas
unjust suspicious against others, has wandered
about the streets in torn and dirty attire and Is
known to children in the neighborhoon OF her
home as Crazy Mary"
Counsel yesterday informed the jury that MISS
Berger had been educated at Paris In music ana
languages and that she woman OF refinement
and ability Miss Berger then took the stand ana
answered the questions put to her quickly and ap-
psrentiy with intelligence. In answer TO the first
question of counsel, who asserted that she hah
houpbt some ''blondine' in Paris, and that after
applyinR II to her hair 1t seemed TO give her mead
ache which apparently the beginning OF her
t-ouhIes she said she had bought any
..hlondine" and had never taken any medicine
7, was her mothers intention, she said. that the
South Oxford-st house should be an art museum
ard she was doing her best carry out her WisneS
by filling il with curios She sao she lhheiGitu el
taste for antiquities from her mother she ac-
knowIe6eed that she had had the gas In the mouse
[IIt on She was afraid however. that the ser
want would set fire the hangings. and' more
over she preferred lanterns. -,
Miss Berger said she had been swtndled IN real
estate transactions Asked whether she thought
her sisters meant any harm by insttuuns tne
court proceedings. she replied that tney were 20
ciety people and that she did not peheNe IN 'h"'
kind of a life - -. ., ~ -
7 do not believe IN cards and euchre parties e1
planned Miss Berger: -, A,, -,
Have you ever been known as Inc "oe '4
Brooklyn7" asked counsel .m Hus
oh that when 1 was in society. MiSs
Berger replied. ~
y used sing for people. but no" S!HS ioi
the glory of Cod -.
Mrs Adelaide T. Barre, of the sisters wen.
on the stand in the afternoon and testlhed lhat
Miss Berger had five hundred rugs IN her houSt
in South Oxford-st, and that they lay on the noor
six deep and were hung all over the walls one
or the rugs $500 Mrs. Barre said that her SIS
ter had At least $4,000 worth of jewelry
DR. Joseph OConnel testified that IN hs OPINION
Miss Berger suffering from paranoia- IL was
not dangerous always, but might become so ne
structed b. Justice Chase TO hand in sealed YER