The Washington times., 1913-07-08
lUNACY HEAR|NGFOR
ELIZABETH {. PRALL
Plaintiff in Score of Suits to
Recover Property Said To
Be Mentally Deranged.

Elizabeth {. Prall, who has been
plaintiff in more than a score Of suits
in the last ten years, in an effort to
obtain title to the property at 9lS and
e2o Avenue of the Presidents. between
I and K streets northwest. part Of The
former Hotel Gordon, is asserted to
be a victim of lunacy in a statement
filed with Justice Gould by other Prall
heirs who have been named as de-
PENDANTS in the suits.
As evidence in support of the lunacy
statement, It is alleged that Elizabeth
Prall has threatened the life of Judge
Anderson and Mrs. Emma Prall Knorr,
one of the Prall estate heirs. and has
charged forgery and conspiracy TO
courts and lawyers in the disposal of
suits previously brought.
Mrs. Prall about ten years ago
brought suit and was awarded a quarter
interest in the property. She did not
accept this settlement and on appeal
to the District Court of Appeals was
given a quarter interest in the property
IN fee simple and half Of the remain
der. Mrs. Prall rejected this court de-
cree and has since attempted to have
the case reopened, asserting that she
was the sole heir to the property.
Demands Possession.
A few days ago, it is charged, she
forced her way into the property, which
is now occupied as a home and studio
by Mrs. Emma Prall Knorr and Miss
Virginia NJ. Prall, and demanded pos
session. A policeman was called, and
Elizabeth Pran was held pending an in
vestigation of her sanity.
The suits brought by Elizabeth Prall
have been based on a deed executed by
William Prall, ST., years before his
death. In this deed he left the prop
erty to his four children, Virginia NJ.
Prall, Annie NJ. PraIl Fahnestock,
Emma c. Prall Knorr. and William
Edgar Prall. jr., during their natural
life as tenants in common, with re-
mainders to their children in fee simple.
William Edgar Prall, tr., married and
had a son, who died in infancy. He
his widow. Elizabeth c. Prall, who has
been plaintiff in the suits to obtain the
property.
Members of the family who have
been defendants in the suits brought by
their brothers widow declare that they
have been desirous * selling the prop
erty, as ordered by the court decree,
and giving Elizabeth Prall a quarter
share, but have been prevented from
doing this by the interminable suits
brought by the latter. They resist her
claim that she is entitled to more than
a quarters interest, however as three
other heirs are living.
One Other Heir.
Elizabeth Pran, however, does no. ad-
init that there is any other heir except
Mrs Emma Prall Knorr. In several of
the suits she has filed she refers to
Miss Virginia Pran and Mrs. Annie
Fahnestock as deceased" and in one
suit she charges that Emma Prall
Knorr has been suppressing the truth
and concealing the fact of the decease
Of said defendants, Jennie N. Prall and
Annie NJ. Fahnestock." This is advanced
as evidence in support of the insanity
statements.
Another charge on which the INSANITY
assertion is based is that while the
property is worth from between $4,000
TO So. 900, Elizabeth Prall has given the
value as from 10000 to $4,000.
Threats are alleged by Mrs. Knorr
the latest suits filed by Miss Prall: ''Jf
mans laws are not enforced, then
Heaven enforces her just right De-
ponent would rather give up her spirit
dripping with blood of her last righteous
act than to weaken or relinquish for her
uLscrupulous and iniquitous adversary,
said defendant. Emma c. Knorr. An
other paragraph refers TO the law of
right of our brave honorable and an
cient forefathers to the hilt If need be.
Charges are made against the courts
and attorneys in the following para
graph of one OF the suits:
% High crimes and misdemeanor have
been committed against the plaintiff by
said equity court, Justice Anderson and
defendant Emma &. Knorr. and the
plaintiffs attorneys. cooperating in A
conspiracy and in forgery of the DEGREES
defrauding sd d plaintiff of the estate"
Before President
In one of the legal papers she filed
while acting as her own lawyer. Eliza
beth Prall declares that she took her
case before the Senate and House Ju-
dietary Committees, President Taft, and