Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-21
MRS. PRA[L DENIES
THREAT TO JUDGES
Taking Stand, She Declares
She Never Contemplated
Violence.
CALMLY GIVES COURT
STORY OF HER LIFE
Tells Of Her Arrest and Causes
Laughter in Explaining How Men
tai Examination Was Made.

Denying vehement1y that she had
ever threatened the life Of her sister
ln-law. Mrs. Emma Prall Knorr, and
tnat she ever contemplated the violence
against Justice Anderson or Justice
Wright Of the District Supreme Court,
Mrs. Elizabeth c. Prall today told her
lie story and detailed her attempts
TO secure possession al heir Of her
husband and son the PR ,,erty at 9lS-
S20 Avenue Of the Presidents.
The statements were made in her own
defense at an inquiry before Justice
Gould and jury into her mental condi-
ton.
VINO told OF the threat against Justice
Wright. must have had a delusion. All
she said against that justice was to his
private secretary. on which occasion wit
ness said she stated: Tell your hand
some Judge I would like to slap his
jaws
This happened after Justice Wright de-
cIined to listen to her one day In court
In reference to the threat against JUS
tlce Anderson. Mrs. Prall said she never
sought nor threatened violence. but did
seek Impeachment and indictment Of that
jurist.
Tells Her Story Calmly.
Her story was told calmly. but at such
rapid rate that she had to be stopped
several times by the stenographer, who
The rapidity Of her talk prevented a
clear enunciation, and the jurors had to
request her to speak louder and more
distinctly.
On cross-examination by Assistant Cor
poration Counsel White Mrs Prall in
sisted on her Interpretation Of the deed
executed by her father-in-law. William E.
Prall. which purported to convey the
property to his four children for life.
then to his grandchildren in common.
the witness admit that life estate is
vested in the three surviving daughters
OF MI. FRAN, ST., and that until the
death OF the survivor the fee simple
Mrs. Prall insisted on her view of the
law. and said she acted under the advice
or prominent lawyer Of New York city.
Continuing the cross-examination Mr..
White elected from the witness her con-
viction that certain members of the local
bar who had acted as counsel for her at
various times were In a conspiracy to
keep her out Of her property. She also
told OF an occasion in the courthouse
when Justice Anderson ordered a deputy
marshal to remove her from the court
room. She admitted that she had told the
marshal to arrest the jurist in his own
court.
1t was nearly II o'clock when the case
was reached this morning. Justice Gould
being occupied with other judicial mat
ter. The first witness called today was
Rev. Enoch Schroeder, pastor of Trinity
Lutheran Church. He testified that he
and cOnversed frequently with her. He
gave as his opinion that she is sane.
Mrs. Prall then took the stand and
answered quietly questions put to her By
Attorneys c. c. Roberts of New York
and w. A. Coombe of the local bar Ere
quently she demurred to the questions OF
counsel, telling h m that he was getting
ahead of the story because he was not
SO conversant with her litigation as she
was.
province Of Munster in Ireland and came
to this country when sixteen years O. d.
going to the home of "a sister in New
York state. At the age of eighteen years
she stated. she sought employment in the
metropolis and secured a position as
travelling companion to Mrs. Ironsides OF
an English family. prominent in church
and state. While she was returning In
this capacity from trip to Florida, she
stopped at the Hotel Arno in this city
kept by William E. Prall, ST.
Here she. was introduced to his SON
whose wife she later became.
Tells of Courtship Days.
The witness detailed at length the
courtship Of young Prall. who was only
seventeen years old at the time. She
said she refused to engage herself be-
cause of his youth and stated that he
took a drug with suicidal intent when
l declined to promise to write to him
every day."
The boy said he could not live with
out her, witness said. and shortly after
her return to New York followed her
and in Central Park one day again
threatened to end his life if she would
not consent to be married. She finally
consented. and the ceremony followed
the father OF her husband being in
New York at the time.
Mrs. Praii told of the birth of her son,
December 8. 1859, and of his death, Feb
ruaiy IS, 1903. A month later to the day
her husband died. On the death OF the
child, Mrs. Prall wrote to the trustee of
the estate here for funds, and received a
reply refusing aid She had to apply TO
her sister tor the funeral expenses.
Mrs. Prall went into her view of the
he