Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-29
Mrs. May brick Testifes in
Her Mothers Behalf.
FAMOUS LAND SUIT
TESTIMONY OF AN ASSIGNMENT
OF INTEREST.
Witness Relates How She Was Induced
to Sign Certain Papers in
Liverpool.

MIS- F1OrenCe tIZaDeln MAY uIiSh ooohi
gave testimony today at the law offices or
Hayden & Yarrell in the Pacific building
in the case known as Caroline E. Won
Roques against d. W. Armstrong and
others, which was outlined in The Star
yesterday.
p The testimony of Mrs. Maybrick today
tended to show her ownership of a large
parcel of valuable land in Virginia, West
Virginia and Kentucky. Although Mrs.
Maybrick's presence at the hearing is as a
witness for her mother, the Baroness Won
Roques, her testimony Indicated that her
mother made her an assignment of the
lands in question. comprising one-third OF
the property at the time of her marriage,
and prior to that she came into the posses
sion of other portions of the land by the
will of her grandfather, Darius Blake Hol-
brook.
Mr. L. D. Yarrell was this afternoon ex
amined, and identified certain letters and
papers of Importance in the case. which,
it was stated were written by Mr.. ID. w.
Armstrong and others, the examina ton
being conducted by Mr.. Samuel v. Hayden.
An interesting feature of Mrs. Maybrick
testimony was that which described how
she signed certain papers while in an Eng
lish dungeon, Immediately at the conciu-
sion of her trial for the alleged murder of
her husband.
Objections to Answer.
In answer to the question of Mr.. Samuel
V. Hayden of the law firm of Hayden &
Yarrell, the attorneys who represent Mrs.
Maybricks interests, as to her name, resi-
dence and occupation at the present time,
she said:
MY name is Florence Elizabeth May
brick; temporary residence, 1913 West 18th
street, New York; home residence, Norfolk
Va. 1 am journalist at present and earn
my living to support myself and my mother
until l secure my legal rights, by the help
of Cod"
Mr.. Armstrong moved to strike out all of
the answer after the word Journalist" as
irresponsible and not proper answer to
the question.
Mrs. Maybrick added that she was born
at Mobile, Ala. her parents being William
G. Chandler and her mother Caroline Eliza
beth Chandler. nee Holbrook. She was
asked to state whether on August Z, 1889,
she executed or signed any documents in
the city Of Liverpool England, and If so
what such documents were and the condi-
tionS under which she signed them.
In her reply she said that on the date
given a gentleman named Potter called to
see her. She sent word that it was impos-
sible for her to see anyone she was not
In a fit state of mind to ak.
Il was then informed" continued MI 8.
Maybrick, that the gentleman came as an
agent of Mr. David Armstrong for the
purpose of having some deeds signed and
that the American consul was with him to
witness my signature.
Alleged Insistence.
II then said, cannot see any one but
at that moment Mr.. Potter and the Ameri-
can consul, Mr.. Sherman, entered the cell.
He came up to me and said, Florence. am
very sorry for you, but must insist upon
you signing these papers today said. I
cannot sign the papers today; am not in
fit state to consider businessmen in a
mental condition. My life hangs In the
balance; and l cannot think of anything
else. The court has adjourned but it Is ex-
pected to return in a few minutes
Mr.. Potter then said, You must sign
them because this money we want to get
We must have your signature before the
verdict Is given because if you are con-
victed it would be illegal
Mrs. Maybrick said Mr.. Potter explained
to her that the papers were deeds for lands
in Kentucky for $4,000 Mrs Maybrick
then signed them without reading their con-
tents.
II do not recall how many papers sign
ed because almost before l had laid down
by pen after signing the last I tainted
away
Where were you at this timer" asked
Attorney Hayden.
81 was in an underground cell beneath
the court room"
This about an hour and a half be-
fore the verdict and sentence of death was
passed.
what was your mental condition at that
timer"
TT was" said Mrs Maybrick, "the condi-
ton of a woman who had had no sleep for
eight days. under the most fearful strain,
terrible agony of mind and utterly unable
of counterbalancing anything or caring for
anything beyond the fact that her life was
at stake" =.
She added that she did not understand
the nature Of the documents she had
signed while in the English dungeon.
Avoids Direct Answers.
In concluding her testimony today Mrs.
Maybrick displayed marked capacity for
avoiding direct answers to the rigid ques-
tioning to which she was subjected.
She produced a number of letters pur-
porting to have been written by her mother,
Mr.. Potter and others before and during
her Imprisonment, but she expressed her
inability to identify the handwriting of any
one of sixteen years ago. THE impression
of my mothers handwriting prior to my
release she said, sis too dim for me to
identify definitely any letter." She would
not state even that to the best of her knowi-
edge and belief the letter shown her was
by her mother, saying that a statement
of that kind would be too definite.
Counsel for the plaintiff objected to
question If Mrs. Maybrick had received
pardon from the British government, but
the witness nevertheless cautiously replied
that she had papers in her possession given
her by the British government. Asked If
she was willing to produce them, Mrs. May
brick responded. with equal caution that
they were not permitted to be produced ex-
cept at the request of the American govern
ment
On redirect examination, which was con-
fined to one question, Mrs Maybrick de-
tailed the circumstances under which she
acquired an interest in the property in dis
pute. saying that at her marriage her
mother gave her as decided gift one third
of her property interests in Kentucky, Wiz
ginia and West Virginia, and later assigned
the same in writing. The deed and assign
ment. said Mrs. Maybrick, had been con-
firmed repeatedly by her mother up to the
present day by word of mouth. THAT"
she said, lis the agreement that now exists
between u.s. and she willingly left the
stand.
Mr.. Hayden stated during the recess that
Mrs Maybricks stay in Washington would
be indefinite. She Is much impressed with
the picturesque beauty of the city, and
she said 1t is an ideal place for writer,
as there is inspiration in the very atmos-
phere."