The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-28
Sisters Say Il Caused Miss
BsrgsT's UnsoundnsSs Of Mind
HAS HOUSE FULL OF CUROS.
Rugs Six Deep In The Home Of Former
Belle Of Brooklyn Says Mother Wished
III &c q Museum.

New York, Noy. 2s.-Miss Victoria Ber-
ger. the wealthy and eccentric spinster of
No Al South oxford street, Brooklyn.
whose home h crowded with rugs and
curios, yesterday on the witness stand.
before Judge Chase. and a jury. In the
supreme court, in Brooklyn. protested
against the proceedings taken by her Sis
ters 10 have her declared insane.
Mrs. Josephine l.. Ketcham OF No 35I
Macon street. and Mrs. Adelaide Il. Bar
re-, OF No. l~ Pulaski street, Brooklyn.
sisters or Miss Berger. say that because
of her mental conuiuon. when they AS
cribe 10 the use OF nalr aye, ncr estate
which was worth $3JD.0v0 at the time OF
her mothers death 10 years ago. has been
wasted until IL mas "A value now or ABOUT
$4,000, end that thousands of dollars
worth or Jewelry and furniture consist
ing or rare curios gathered IA All parts OF
the world, have Deen taken from her
home on a chattei mortgage. Part OF this
property mas been solu, they say, ana
,their lawyer has held up the proceeds by
Injunction. The rest OF IL they have not
been able 10 find.
a. II. Sanders, counsel for the sisters,
the hair dye in Paris. lie then asked the
witness her age.
"rhirty-two years" she responded
promptly. Mr.. Sanders wanted TO know
something of the hair mixture. Miss Ber-
ger denied that she had purchased any
such thing, that she had ever had a head
dNilt il ileI me- ana tnat She ndd ever
taken any medicine. She said she owned
the house In South oxford street, house
IN Fulton street and property at Bath
Beach, worth altogether $4,000.
As TO the South oxford street house,
she said her mother had intended that 1t
should be an art museum, and she was
trying to carry out the wish OF her mo-
ther.
Miss Berger said she had been swlndled
by men i'm real estate transactions.
had 70 desks. which were taken from
under "A EhAtfHt 70 .h "a
They were inlaid, and were valuabie.
The drapery OF one window which was
taken under the .chattel mortgage con-
sisted OF two cashmere rugs. which were
worth $4,000; lace worth 5000. clothing
and diamonds and other jewelry.
Miss Berger was asked about her mis-
sion work, and said that she liked Il.
Do you think yoar sisters wish you
-witness-wit glance e-i,. che -4lpee-
ton OF Mrs. Barre and Mrs. Ketcham.
Then she added: my sisters are socle-
Of life RI they meant any harm ar Ito TO me n'si
night"
Brookiyn?" Miss Berger smiled as as she he
answered: That was when l was in so
You have a good musical education?''
II once sang Tor people; now sing only
for the glory of God"
Mrs. parre testified that she loved her
Miss Berger's home. There were five
hundred rugs on the floor. They were
pinned to the walls and were everywhere.
One rug she had there was worth $500.
She had $4,000 worth of iewelry.
THE change In my sister began when
she started to use the stuff for her hair.
She became eccentric after that She is
30 years old. Mother Is dead IS years A
year ago / had myself appointed trustee.
Mr.. Goldfarb had himself appointed trus-
tee and manager of the estate. ! asked
him To pay the interest on the mortgage
Or. Savage held. and reproyed him for
his negligence"
DIR. Edwin Reynolds of No: 100 I.afay-
ette avenue. who was the family ply
stefan when Miss Berger's mother was
alive, said Miss Berger was. he thought.
irresponsible.
The jury handed I'm sealed verdict,
which will be opened this morning.