The Washington times., 1913-07-16
AL|EN|ST TO FIGHT
RALLLUNACY CASE
New York Expert Prepares for
Hearing Before Justice
Gould Tomorrow.

Prepared to do their utmost to pro-
cure the release of Mrs. Elizabeth Prall.
who viii be tried on charges of insanity
In Justice Gould's court tomorrow morn
ing, DR.. H. r. Humphreys, noted New
York alienist: the Rev. James A. Nc
Cague, New York pastor and cousin Of
Mrs. Prall; and Clifford c. Roberts,
an attorney, arrived in Washington to-
day. The three men had an interview
with Mrs. Pran at ST. EIizabeth's Hos
pital for the Insane today, and later
arranged to subpoena several wit
nesses to appear for Mrs. Pran at her
trial.
Hayden johnson, who has represented
Mrs. Emma Prall Knorr, in defending
suits brought by Mrs. Elizabeth Prall
against the PraIl estate heirs. will also
represent Mrs Knorr, the prosecuting
witness, in the lunacy hearing. Gas A
Schuldt of the corporation counsers Of
flee, will prosecute the charges before
Judge Gould. Robert Sroufe, sanitary
officer, has subpoenaed a large list of
witnesses for the prosecution. among
them. it is understood. former court Of
ficials and attorneys who represented
Mrs. Prall in former hearings of her
suit against the Prall heirs.
Documents As Evidence.
As evidence in support OF the insanity
charges it is expected the prosecution
will introduce several Of the legal docu-
ments filed by Mrs. Prall after she had
discharged her attorneys and acted as
her own lawyer in prosecuting equity
proceedings for the share of the Will
liam 4 fa which che darnan nd
ed She was represented by counsel
when, as the widow of Edward Prall,
jr., she brought suit against Emma
PraiI Knorr, Miss Virginia Prall and
Mrs. Annie NJ. Fahnestock, the other
heirs. and was awarded quarter share
In the property at 1915 and 9ls Avenue
OF the Presidents, worth, II is said,
from $4,000 to 100000.
During the preparation of subsequent
proceedings, in which she demanded a
larger share Of the estate, Mrs. Prall
discharged her attorneys. studied law,
and represented herself In court.
In the supplementary proceedings filed
in court when she was acting as her
own attorney, Mrs. Emma Pran knorr
claims her life was threatened, and that
threats were made against Judge An
derron and other officials who had had
a part in the trial of the cases. The
overt act upon which charges of lunacy
were based was the entering of the
home occupied by Mrs. knorr ana tne
demanding of possession by Mrs. PralL
Fears for Her Life.
Mrs. Knorr in filing the charges ex-
pressed the belief that her life would
be in danger if Mrs. Prall was allowed
to remain at large On the other hand,
Mrs. Prall declares that in entering the
home she was attempting 10 gain pos
session of the property through eject
ment proceedings, which made II neces-
sary for her to appear in person and
demand rentals.
The Rev. James A. McCague. who has
interested himself In the case, Is pastor
of the Bethany Congregational Church.
at New York. He enlisted the service
of DR.. Humphreys, who was formerly
head of the New York Hospital for the
Insane, and who knew Mrs. Elisabeth
Prail when she lived in New York with
her husband. DR.. Humphreys, after
visiting Mrs. Prall, declared that she
showed no trace of insanity. Clifford
Roberts, of New York, was retained as
counsel in defending the charges of in
sanity. He is preparing a line of de-
tense by which he hopes to obtain the
release of Mrs. Prall when the lunacy
charges come up for hearing tomorrow