Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-18
Testifies at Inquiry Into Mrs.
PraIps Sanity She Saw
Hatred in Latter's Eyes.
is TERMED A PARANOIAC
BY DR.. Logic, ALIENIST
Not Dangerous, However, He 0pines.
Prosecution Closes-Defendant
to Take Stand Monday.

Mrs. Emma Prall Knorr. known as .
concert artist and teacher of music at
the White House during the adminfs-
tration OF President Roosevelt. testi.
fed today at the hearing before Justice
Gould and a jury which is inquiring
into the mental condition of Mrs. Eliza
beth c. Prall. sister-in-law Of the wit.
ness. The arrest OF Mrs. Prall on a
charge of insanity was made. it ID
said. on complaint of the witness.
Mrs. knorr admitted that no direct
against her life had been made
by her sister-in law, but claimed to be
afraid of her.
The witness said that on one occasion
Mrs. Prall came to the home Of wit-
ness at 9lS Avenue OF the Presidents,
accompanied by deputy marshal. to
serve papers on her. Mrs. knorr told
wild and her face showed an expires.
sion OF hatred" toward the witness.
Has Life Interest in Property.
Mrs Knorr said she was born in the
property where she resides and has .
life interest in ii. and feels that she
is entitled to occupy the house until
a sale Is made. She admitted she had
paid no rent to Mrs. Prall. who owns
at least 1. fourth interest in the prop
erty. The witness SAID she Is in poor
neaith, but has earned a living TOR
herself and daushter. and suesested
that Mrs. PraiI nad AWAY enjoyed
ROBUST health and was aple To earn a
livelihood.
DIR. b. X. Logic, District alienist, gave
as his opinion that Mrs. Prall IS para
noiac. He suggested that no one on
earth has been able to solve tn rsy-
chology of the feminine mind. Dnt
expressed the opinion that Mrs. Prall
is not dangerous at present Although
he life of Justice Anderson may AVE
been in danger at the time OF he
threat made against the jur.st. Or.
Logic said there was no need Of APP
prehension on the part of the jurist
now.
Miss Knorr Also Testifies.
Miss Gladys Knorr. eighteen years
old, the daughter of the first witness.
also testified. Her testimony was cir
cumscribed by the inquiry into the fact
that her two aunts were still alive.
James NJ. Graham. representative in
Congress from Illinois. testified in
favor of Mrs. Prall after Assistant Cor
poration Counsel White had announced
the case of the prosecution closed Mr..
Graham saw nothing in several visits
paid to his Office by Mrs. Pral to give
him reason to inquire into her mental
condition. He said he coached" her in
the study of the law, and was amazed
to see how she had mastered an alb
struse subject. Mrs. Pra came 10
know more about contingent and vest
ed reminders in reai estate than 1
do" testified the witness.
Woman of Mental Intensity.
Mr.. Graham said he had first met Mrs.
Prail when she attended the Ballinger
q woman of mental intensity and dis
cussed with her what she conceived to
be her wrongs. He admitted she had
harshly criticised members of the bench
and bar.
The hearing was adjourned at an early
hour this afternoon until Monday, when
Mrs. Prall is expected to take the stand
in her own defense.
The first witness today Mrs Emma
Prall Kncrr, told of her fear Of personal
violence at the hands of her Sister-in-
law. She said she had avoided meeting
Mrs. Prall during the past two years. In
the spring of 1912, witness stated. Mrs.
Prall came TO the house, No. 9lS, and
went all through the premises, but being
frightened witness ran into the street
and did not speak to Mrs. Prall.
Obtained a Duplicate Key.
The witness said Mrs. Prall came to
the house. and, obtaining the services
of locksmith, procured key TO the
front door Of the property. Mrs. hnorr
said this action increased her apprehen-
sion. and she had a strong bolt and
chain placed on the door. Shortly after
ward, when she was away in the day
.ime. witness said. She found on her
return that entrance to the house
had been forced. She knew from the
broken chain, she stated that the door
had first been unlocked. and so con
cluded that as Mrs. Prail alone had
duplicate key, that she had been the
intruder"
Sidered favorable TO Mrs. Prall by
Attorney Clifford c. Roberts and ". \.
Coombe. representing her, that they
declined to cross-question him.
DR.. Hickling's Testimony
DR.. p. Percy Hickling, alienist. was the
only witness who testified after The
Stars report closed yesterday. He said
he had made an examination of Mrs
Prall shortly after her arrest last
month, following her attempt to enter
the house 91S Avenue of the Presidents.
where her sister-in-law. Mrs. Emma
Prall Knorr, resides with her daughter.
Gladys knorr. DR.. Kicking said he
formed the opinion that Mrs. Prall is a
paranoiac. and likely to become dan
gerous.
The physician declared she is possessed
oI I'll Exaggerated SeiI-eSIeeIIls ana mas
q fixed delusion of a persecutory nature.
He stated the exaggerated ego was
displayed In the setting Up Of her own
opinion that she was entitled to the
whole property in controversy above the
legal view of courts and lawyers. that
the will of her father-in-law, William E
Prall, was not SO comprehensive.
Basis of His Opinion.
His conviction that she is suffering
from a delusion of persecution is based.
the alienist said. on the claim by Mrs.
Prali that the judges were conspiring to
prevent her from securing the rights
claimed by her in her litigation. TIE
witness read statements from yolum-
nous pleadings filed In the equity case
after Mrs. Prall had dismissed her attor-
neys, and decided TO conduct the pro-
ceeding in person. The doctor declared
the contents of these papers clearly
show that Mrs. Prall is paranoiac.
I'm this form Of insanity, he said,
s.patients actually believe there is con-
suiracy against them. They are likely to
become dangerous and seek revenge.
Their threats are not mere idle words.
Such patients are the ones VINO coinmlt
dangerous acts. This patient, in my
Judgment, according to the nature OF the
disease, is likely to become dangerous.
believe she would have shot
Justice Anderson and Justice wright had
they been present a 1.-THE time she made
the threats and she had possessed the
means of carrying out the threat
All Not Dangerous.
On cross-examination by Attorney Rob
erts. DR.. Kicking admitted that not all
paranoiacs are dangerous. He conceded