The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-01-14
CONTESTED WILL CASE
Testimony of Witnesses fO- Plaintiff.


fixed Aug. End and 3rd, 1903. as
the time of two business visits paid
Mrs. Monroe and swOre that on both
occasions her mental condition was
so bad that she was unfit to trans
act business.
Mr.. b. s. Pates, deputy sergeant.
heard her screaming about 2 o'clock
in the morning during May, 1903,
and when he rushed into the hall-
way at her request she shot down
the steps. the bullet narrowly MISS
ing him. Said burglars were In the.
house but none were there. saw her
again in June, 1909, about business
but she was in bad mental eondl-
ton: thought her mind affected
Robert Stewart. of Stafford, stop
ped at her place in May or june
1909, and she made him move from
one room to another three times
during the night, though none OF
the rooms were occupied. tlnally
locked his door and refused to be
again moved. In July at breakfast
served him whiskey in place OF col
fee; thought her crazy.
John Shopoff, of Stafford, was
there In July and her mind was
bad. At one meal brought a dry
bone and told him II was a nice
piece of beefsteak She was unable
on that occasion to attend to any
business and couldn't make right
change for him. Had known her
for eight years and noticed great
difference in her condition.
Silas Brown. of Stafford, had
known her for thirty years. In Sep
TENDER Of 1909 was there and Mrs.
Monroe was crazy. Tried TO drink
a tumbler full of whiskey at one
drink. Bought lunch to him and
then took 1t away for no reason.
Mrs. Brown swore that on Satur-
day, July 81. 1903. Mrs. Monroe at
the request OF Mrs. Max consented
in her presence. that of Mrs. Max,
Mrs. Mayhem and Mr.. Mayhem for
Katie to be married and agreed tc
send for Father Perrig and pay all
expenses. Didn't know why the
agreement was not carried out. Mrs.
Monroe was changed womn after
the loss OF her liquor license, which
seemed to pray on her mind.
John Davenport told Of many
strange things he had seen Mrs.
Monroe do In 1903, and his testi-
mOny was cOrrOborated by his wife.
who. as Kate Max. lived with Mrs,
Monroe for eight years. Both
swOre that she drank and that her
mind was affected in the summer
OF 1903.
Peter Murphy. OF Stafford. testi-
fled TO the same effect as did James
Batten. of this city. who drives
one Of the Cool Spring ice wagons.
Batten testified that he began TAX
ing ice to her in May 1903, and
continued until the fall and that
he never looked upon her as OF
sound mind. Had seen her time and
again in a sleepy. stupid condition.
Mrs. Max. Of Brooke, one OF Mrs.
Monroes old cronies. was the next
witness and she created much
amusement by a display OF Irish wit
and humor. which convulsed the
court. counsel. jury and spectators
She fully corroborated Mrs. Brown
testimony as to Mrs. Monroe giving
her consent to Katie's marriage and
told Mr.. Fitzhugh that she was
positive about the date. She
swore that Mrs. Monroe drank hard
and said that whenever she stop
ped there, which was often, she
slept with Mrs. Monroe and IN the
morning she would drink whiskey
and Mrs. Monroe gin. Told Mr..
Fitzhugh when he asked her II she
ever drank too much that she would
like to see gentleman who hash l.
Said she and Judge Embrey had
drank toddies in Mrs. Monroe's and
caused much laughter by eXclalm-
ing. you know Mr.. Fitzhugh, Mrs.
Monroe was infatuated with Judge
Embrey. Thought Mrs. Monroe S
mind had gradually given away al
ter the loss of her liquor license.
All OF Mr.. Fitzhugh's efforts to
stop Mrs. Max from having her say
were totally unsuccessful.
Robert Powell worked for Mrs.
Monroe a long time as all around
man. Knew that she drank Holland
gin habitually, but secretly. kept
n bottle of gin behind the screen
down stairs and another upstairs.
Mrs. Monroe said she took 1t for
her back
All OF the witnesses against the
will without single exception
gave Mrs. Mayhem a good character
Thursdays Proceedings.
Court convened at IL am. Thurs
day. ,n,,
Mrs. Kate Mayhem, the plaintiff
stated she was Fl years old, was
adopted by Mrs. Monroe when she
was years old and had been with
her 10 years. Her maiden name
was Kate Quish when adopted by
Mrs. Monroe. She always looked
upon Mrs Monroe as her mother
/ She had been sent to the puDic
schools and took music lessons.
She worked around the house COOK
| ing. cleaning and making up beds
She would start work at in the
morning and work TO or IL
o'clock at night. She stated MIS-
Monroe treated her as a mother
would treat child up to the time
she lost her liquor license and theh
her attitude changed. Mrs. Mon
roe would trust her with anything
she had. She often took large sum
of money to the bank for her, AT
one time as much as $lO,OOO. She
stated Mrs. Monroe was hard
drinker in her latter days, would
commune as much as a quart DAY
and It would make her very cross.
Kent large sums of money around
the house. under the stove and De
hind pictures. Asked how much mon
CIV she had when she went away 10
get married, Mrs. Mayhem said $z4
and this was given to her by par
ties during her stay with Mrs. Mon
roe. Said Mrs. Monroe had tried
to get men to open up her Saloon
after the legislature of 1908 cut wo-
men out. The loss of her license
seemed to pray on her mind. she
sent for lawyers to get her license
she was in the habit OF carrying a
dirk and sleeping with a pistol uh-
der her head and would imagine
some one was in the house. She
would take meat from some OF her
boarders' plates with her hands ana
transfer II to another plate. Mrs.
Monroe had said in the presence OF
others that she had put $4,000 on
mo fKatol Whau ohQ CqmQ there,