Evening journal., 1921-10-05
ONE-TIME BELLE
LONG PRISONER
Will Suit Reveals Old-Age
Tragedy of Countess
Mother
HER 100000
is WITHHELD

ATLANTIC CITY. oct. 5.-Mrs.
Ida b. Harmon wife of a teacher in
the Atlantic City High School. testi-
fled in the hearing here be-
q fore Judge Robert Ingersoll on the
appeal from the probate Of the will
of the late Mrs. Alice Gerry Girls
void. one time society belle OF Bal
timore, that Mrs. Griswold was kept
virtually a prisoner the last three
years Of her life in an isolated cot
tage at Northfeld. ". j.
Mrs. Gr.swold in her will be-
queathed nearly her entire estate.
estimated TO be worth $500. 600, TO
Mrs. Mary NJ. Drischman, wife Of a
former Atlantic City butcher. Mrs.
Drischman managed the woman's es-
y tate during the last three years Of
her life.
The case is being prepared by the
daughter Of Mrs. Griswold. the
Countess st. Claire Da Contubia. OF
Milan. Italy. who was left only $500
by her mothers will. The countess
appeared in court attired in
deep mourning. but Mrs. Drischman,
who is fighting the case. was not
present Her attorneys. however.
promised to have her on hand to-
day.
One OF the witnesses yesterday was
Francis Baylies Griswold. husband
OF the deceased. who declared when
called TO the witness stand that he
and his wife had been separated by
Mrs. Drischman. He said on the
stand that the value OF his wife s
estate was 100000.
Mrs. Harmon, who occupied the
cottage next to Mrs. Griswold, at
Northfeld. was the star witness for
the countess.
'She often came to my home. T"
said Mrs Harmon, Gin great distress,
saying that she was in fear and tor
ment and in fear OF her life because
Mrs. Drischman was trying 10 force
her 10 make will in her favor.
told her that she should not sign
81 because they would keep her alive
until she did sign it."
Mrs Griswold could not go be-
cause she had no money. continued
the witness and she frequently bor-
rowed money from her to visit her
attorney. Carton Godfrey. former
speaker OF the New Jersey Assembly
Mrs. Harmon stated that she had
loaned her small sums on eight OF
/ nine occasions and she always re-
paid her.
on another occasion she testified
that Mrs Griswold had fallen COM
ing into the house anc she had help
cd to put her in her bed. She went
10 the wardrobe for a nightgown,
but that the former society belle,
though worth a quarter OF million
dollars. did not have a whole gar
ment. Il couldn't find a whole night
dress TO puf on her." were the words
Of the witness
She told me that she had had
beautiful clothes. furs and jewels al
one time. but that Mrs. Drischman
had taken them all from her. The
clothing she wore was old and SO
were he- hat She never seemed "a
have anything new"
Mrs. Harmon told OF a quarrel
which sh, had overheard between
Mrs. Drischmaa and Charles Miller
who was Mrs. Griswold's attendant
in the Northheld cottage.
Il heard Caariey Miller say Z,
Mrs DfiscunAus utNidieh llN VII
ness. III you don't stop abusing
4 this woman will call the police and
I have you put in jail"
Later she said that Miller cam'
10 her home and said Mrs. GriswolC
i wanted to see her. She refused a
4 first TO 60. but later went TO thu
house and found her in bed. Mrs
Drischman at that time appeared
to be angry at her. -
X She also testified that Mrs. Girls
void frequently expressed a desire L
leave the cottage; that she deteste'
: Northfeld and wanted to live II
I Paris. but she could not go becaus'
f neither Ms. Dfischman mol, Carltoi
Godfrey would give her mohey. Sh
made an appointment with Judg
Cole and that evening. the witnes
stated. both Godfrey and Mrs
4 DriHchman rushed 10 the house an
Il appeared TO be very angry.
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