The Washington times., 1913-07-15
FIGHT TO FREE
ELIZABETH PRALL
Woman of Refinement and
Prominence Prepares to
Struggle for Estate.

Elizabeth Pralrs fight to escape the
madhouse. scheduled 10 begin in Jus
tice Goulds court Thursday. promises
to attract national attention, through
the unusual nature Of the charges end
counter charges on which the case is
based, and the striking characteristics
of the two women who will oppose each
other.
On the one hand there is the de-
fendant in the lunacy hearings. a wo-
man of culture and refinement and in
telligence enough to have fitted herself
as a lawyer that she might make her
own fight for the thousands she de-
mands from the estate of her dead hus-
band.
Is Musician.
On the other hand, there is the
woman who filed the lunacy charges,
Emma Prall Knorr, a handsome
woman, reared in a fashionable home.
talented in art and music, and piano
instructor at the White House during
the Roosevelt Administration.
Mrs. Prall declares that she is the
victim of persecution by heirs trying
to defraud her of her estate; MIS-.
Knorr is equally emphatic in declar-
ing that her life will be in danger II
her sister-in-law is liberated. A Bit
ter, unyielding legal war is considered
to be a certainty.
For a month Elizabeth Prall has
been locked up in st. Elizabeths Asy-
lum for the Insane in Washington, her
detention following an effort on her
part to gain possession OF the prop
erty at elS and s20 Avenue of the
Presidents, by ejectment proceedings.
She was then ordered from the home
after a policeman had been called by
Emma Prall Knorr, and two days
later was detained on charges Of
lunacy filed by Mrs. knorr.
Send Letter.
Then Mrs. Prall smuggled out letter
to her cousin, the Rev. James A. Nc
Cague, pastor Of Bethany Congrega-
tional Church. New York, and powerful
pressure was brought to her assistance
In fighting the lunacy charges. DIR. Nc
Cague called DR.. H. R. Humphries. for
merly of the New York State Hospital
for the Insane. and one of the best
known alienists
DR.. Humphreys then employed an
attorney, Clifford c. Roberts, who came
to Washington examined Mrs Prau.
and returned with che conviction that
she was wrongfulIy imprisoned. Steps
then were taken to aid Mrs. Prall in
her defense and the New York clergy
man, alienist, and attorney plan to at
tend the trial when 1t is called by Jus
tice Gould and take the stand IN the
woman's defense.
An unusual story of the shadow cast
over the lives of several families by
litigation over the Pran estate viii De
brought to light in the lunacy hearings
Division of the estate OF Wilham Z.
Prall was made by 4 deed executed in
the childhood of ;he four Prall children.
The elder Prall had been wealthy. but
he was an inventor. and he shared the
Impractical business tendencies OF the
man of genius.
of almost the entire block on the west
side of the Avenue of the Presidents,
between / and X streets, occupied by
the Hotel Gordon, but the property
was solo off by degrees until at his
death only the houses at numbers 91s
and ESQ remained.
Four Children.
The deed executed by William e
PraIl left the property to four chill
dren, Virginia NJ. PralL Annie NJ.
Fahuestock, Emma Frall Knorr, and
William E Prall. jr.. during their
natural livesas tenants in commap,
with remainders to their children in
fee simple.
William Edward eloped and married
against tne WISHES OF MS pdT6HIs ne
had one child, a son. who died a little
over ten years ago, at the age of foul
teen. and a few weeks later the father
died leaving Elizabeth Prall, the widow
as heiress TO a share of the estate.
Mrs. Prall brought suit and received
a fourth interest in the estate But
she was not satisfied and decided to ap'
real She said that her son was the
first grandchild. and that her husband
had automatically inherited the entire
fee TO the property.
Advised against making the appeal by
her attorneys. Mrs. Prall decided to act
for herself. and. after studying law suf-
ficiently 10 enable TO prosecute her own
case, she appeared as her own attor-
ney and won a reheering in the District
Court of Appeals. In the second hear
ing she was granted a quarter interest
in the property and a half interest in
the remainder.
She then tried TO gain possession of
the property through etectment pro-
ceedings and was arrested on lunacy
charges, precipitatinc the hearing which
is expected to bring such sensational
developments.