New-York tribune., 1921-10-07
Dynamite Used
A. "a Drug by
Mrs. GriswOld
Divorced Husband Saws in
Will Contest Hearing She
Had Been Addicted to
Narcotics Since 1888
Mrs. Driscllman on Stand
Denies Bucket of Gems
Story; Estate S5OO,OOO
in 1915, Now $4,000


ATLANTIC CITY. Oct. 6.-Counsel
for Countess Anna st. Clair da Con-
.ubia. who is contesting the will by
which her mother, Mrs. Alice Gerry
Griswold, left her only $500 and gave
The rest Of her fortune to Mrs. Mary
u. Drischman, vino had been trustee OF
her estate and IS said to have kept her
virtual prisoner in her home, called
Mr.. Drischmau herself as witness
to-day T. Orphans Court.
Dy her testimony and that of John
Il. Cross. who formerly managed Mrs.
Grlsvoid's affairs, it was brought out
,hag since 1915, when Mrs. Griswold
deeded her property in trust to Mrs.
Drisc'iman, the estate had shrunk from
s5oo. 600 10 $4,000 Mrs. Drischman
admitted the $4,000: Mr.. Cross esti-
mate the value OF the properties at
$4,000 at the time Of their transfer
to ser care
SAYS Mrs. Griswold Used Drugs
David Stewart. an attorney from
Baltimore, who was Mrs. Griswold's
second husband. testified that the prin-
cipal reason for their divorce was that
r VIE had been drug addict since
1855 She had taken many kinds Of
drugs, he said, and at one time had
mania for dvnam te, the niain constit-
uent Of which. nitroglycerine, has been
used by unscrupulous trainers as
s.imulant for race horses, sometimes
with fatal results.
Il could not control her" said Mr..
Stewart. "She was spoiled when | first
knew her. You see she was a very
beautiful woman and was used TO hav-
irg her own way about everything"
The announcement that Mrs. Drisch-
nan, whose absence from the hearings
h4s been noticeable. was TO be called a
2 witness by those seeking to jnvali-
date the viii caused sensation. In
terest was the more acute because of
'ne testimony given yesterday and by
additional witnesses to-day concerning
me privations and solitary confinement
suffered by the former Baltimore belle
while under the care Of the trustee Of
her prcNerty.>
Unable to Answer Many Queries
Mrs. rischman was unable to answer
giany of the questions put to her, be-
cause. sde said. she would have to re
fer 10 her books. She testified how
ever. that the estate now consisted of
1000 III Atlantic City properties, an
electric automobile ard some furniture
Mr.. Cross testimony was that the
estate was at least $500 900 when he
turned It over TO Mrs Drischman and
Welded ret income OF $4,000. He
estimated that by now it should have
been a SloO0,00 estate.
Questions put 10 Mrs Drschman re-
vealed the fact that several valuable
properties which had heen included in
he cstat- raL pa sed into her hands or
those o. her relative. amos invariably
coming - them through the hands of
some third person. TIE reason for this
roundabout method OF transfer she
could no. explain, she said, without
reference 70 her books.
The eTen.ual transfer Of the prop
cry 70 her or some member OF her
fanny. however was in accordance
with tho wish OF Mrs Griswoid, she
50 d, vno appreciated their kindness to
her ard took tAis Way Of rewardine
'aea. eAe testified that in 1915 she waa
the owner OF only three properties in
ATLANTIC City, ali OF them heavily mort |
gsged
Denies Bucket of Jewels Episode
The episode Of the bucketful OF
'e7eis. described yesterday by Wit |.
nssses. WITH the iutimation that thew
might be those Of Mrs. Griswold. never I
toon place. Mrs. Driscnman asserted /
she denied that she ever had called /
vpor trars Roche with pail of
leTe ~. Tho mysterious disappear I
snce ~ N~s. t-isDolda jeNelry, valued /.