Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-13
MAID BARES ABUSE
OF MRS. GR|SW0LD
Former Belle cowed by Mrs.
Drischman's Threats Of Asy-
lum, Says Witness
LIVED IN CONSTANT FEAR

SDcciol Dispatch to Evening Pubic LcdO'r
Atlantic City. Oct. l3.--A mass OF
testimony tending to show the extreme
cruelty whit which Mrs. Alice Gerry
Griswold was treated after she had
turned her estate over to Mrs. Mary II.
Drischman MS trustee was presented at
this mornings session Of the tral of
the will contest instituted by tho
Countess Anna st. Clair da Conturhia.
Of Milan, Italy, the only daughter OF
Mrs. GriSwold.
The first witness was Mrs. Elizabeth
Adams, who was employed rs maid in
the Griswold cottage at Northfeld for
two weeks in 1918. Mrs. Adams testi-
fed that she was hired by Charles
Miller, who acted ms n sort of major
domo for Mrs. Drischman. The Wit
moss said that when she tried to comb
Mrs. Griswold's hair she found 1t
matted so badly that she could scarcely
straightcn II out. She said Mrs. Grs-
woId complained Of The terrible treat
mcnt she was receiving at the hands Of
Mrs. D"isrhman and Miller and asked
th" witness to take her to her home.
Il told her thut she would not like
my homo. as it was poorly furnished,
tho witness continued "but she said
She was willing to go anywhere.
Quart of Wine With Lunch
The witness testified that Mrs. Girls
void was served with quart bottle
If wine at lunch every day.
IF she did not drink the whole quart
] was tod that l was to pour it down
her throat" she added She also said
Miller instructed her to give Mrs.
Griswold n ''pill' every day between
and . o'clock.
Mrs. Adams said that on one occa-
sion, when Mrs. GriswCld complained
that Mrs. Drischman would not lct her
come into room in which the witness
and Mrs. Drlschman were slit 'ng, Mrs.
DrisChman shouted to Mrs. Griswold
"lf you don't shut UP I'll put you
in an asylum"
The witness said this threat subducd
Mrs. Griswold. and TINT she h"ogrd
niteously of Mrs. Drischman, "Plcase
don't put me away"
Mrs. Adams declared that Miller had
instructed her not TO allow Mrs. Girls
void to usc the telephone and that on
one occasion when these instructions
were violated Miller was furious, and
shaking his fist at Mrs. Griswold, de-
clarcd:
IF you ever usn that telephone again
I will have You put away
The witness said she loft her job
ns mnid to Mrs. GriswOld because she
finally made up her mind TINT it was
not right to feed drugs to the woman,
and that Miller told her that unless
she gave the "pilfs" she was not
wanted.
Witness Tells Of Cruelty
Mrs. Antonio Cuthbcrt testified to
meeting Mrs. Griswold on the street
when Mrs. Griswold complained of the
cruelty Of Miller.
"Shc showed me some black and blue
marks on her hands and wrists said
tho witness. "and said, See those
marks: he made thcm.' Sh" told me
that Miller had tied her down"
~ have travelled all around the
world" Mrs. Cuthbcrt said Mrs. Girls
void told her, "nnd have met all kinds
Of people, but I have never met such
cruel people MS these
Mrs Cuthbprt said that Mrs. Girls
void told her that Mrs. Drischman and
Miller were angry II she lett the house
end would punish her for it, and that
to borrow carfare from thc nciGhbors.
Mrs. DrisChman, on the stand Mon
day, denied point blank that she had
ever read any letters addressed 10 Mrs.
| GriSwOld This testimony was fatty
c"rtradictcd this morning by Mrs. Cuth-
bert.
Il was sitting opposite Mrs. Drisch-
man in Il delicatessen store the wit
ness said. "She had several letters ad-
dressed to Mrs. GriSwold. and she
opened and read them.
Mrs. Drischman Recalled
Mrs. Drschman was recalled to the
stand to identify two letters, which, it
wny admitted, were in her handwriting.
Both began, according to Judge Cole,
"Dcar Friend" Mrs. Drischman in
sisted that the salUtHtiOn was Dear
! Fr.d." Judge Cole tried 10 make Mrs.
| Drierhmnn admit that the letters we're
written TO Mrs. Griswold, but she in.
! sisted they had been written to her
nephew, Fred Binder, when the latter
! was in Camp Meade and dealt with his
efforts tN escape service in the army.
| In one Of the letters occurred this
/ phrase: II want to go to Camp Meade
10 SEQ Fred. Mrs. Drischman in
sisted that this meant that she was
irving t. tell Fred and she was coming
F ~ SEQ him.
: And this letter concludes" contin-
ned Judge Cole. " And then YOU will
tw Il free woman, Was Fred a
woman:'
"NU. Judge" answered Mrs. Drisch-
- mah ""rhat was just another one of
my mistakes. | should have said Free.
mnn' instead. You know we ell make
! ulistpkpS Judge ~