The New York herald., 1921-10-06
COUNTESS WINSPOINT
in FIGHT FOR RICHES
Lawyer Says Mrs. GriswOld
Called Mrs. Drischman a
Thief and a Liar.
WEALTH TO POVERTY
Mother of Titled Woman
Wore Same Gown Five
Years in Atlantic City.
TALE OF BUCKET OF GEMS
Butchers Wife Accused Of Ask
ing Neighbor to Set Valua-
tion on Lot.
WEALTH TO POVERTY
TALE OF BUCKET OF GEMS

n tiOn on Lot.
Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD
ATLANTIC CITY, Oct. 5.--Edward w.
Dewey, retired civil engineer OF At
1antic City. testified before Judge
Robert H. Ingersoll in the Orphans
Court here to-day that Mrs. Alice
Gerry Griswold, formerly prominent
socially in Baltimore, had hotly de-
Ieunced Mrs. Mary M. Drischman.
The latter. who Is the wife OF re-
tired butcher, is the chief beneficiary
of Mrs. Griswold's will disposing Of
an estate valued at several hundred
thousand dollars. and which Is being
contested by Mrs. Griswold's daughter,
the Countess Claire di Contubia of
Milan, Italy. The Countess di Con-
tuba alleges that her mother was not
of testamentary capacity and that she
was unduly influenced by Mrs. Drisch-
man.
Mr.. Dewey testified that he had be-
come involved in the Griswold case
through his acquaintance with a
woman who. conducts shop on the
Boardwalk and who expressed SYM
pathy for Mrs. Griswold as woman
who was wealthy but was unable to
provide herself with the necessities Of
life. A meeting was arranged later
between Mr.. Dewey and Mrs. Gris-
void about eighteen months before
the latter's death.
Mrs. Griswoid told me-" Mr.. Dewey
testified, "that she had come to the con-
clusion that Mrs. Drischman was liar
and thief: that she had stolen every
thing she had, leaving her destitute. She
said that Mrs. Drischnan had even
taken the rings from her fingers and
the earrings from her ears, and had also
taken her watch, so that she could not
tell the time of day. She said that she
had not had a new gown for five years,
and had no money and no credit. She
asserted that Mrs. Drischman had once
taken her to department store. where
she had ordered some new clothes, but
that before they left the store Mrs.
Drischman told the clerks not to deliver
the things. as they would not be paid
for''
Doubted Letter He Received.
Mr.. Dewey testified that he arranged
O meeting between Mrs. Griswold and
Clarence l.. Cole. an attorney. who Is
handling the case for the Countess di
Contubia. and that a week later he re-
ceived a letter from Mrs. Griswold be-
rating him for his fabrication" about
Mrs. Drlschman and Carlton Godfrey,
attorney for Mrs. Drischman. Mr.. Dewey
said that although the letter was In the
handwriting Of Mrs. Griswoid. he was
confident that 1t had been dictated by
Mrs. Drischman.
why do you think that Mrs. Griswold
did not write that letter." he was asked
on cross-examination.
Because Mrs. Griswold was lady,"
said Mr.. Dewey.
why did you interest yourself in the
matter%
II think / am a good citizen" replied
Mr.. Dewey. land ] can't stand by and
eee any one robbed without at least
yelling Stop theft"
B. r. Rosch. a jewe;ler. another wit
ness for the Countess testified that he
and his wife formerly lived In an apart
ment house owned by Mrs. Drischman. in
which the latter also lived. Mrs. Rosch
also testified.
"On a night In January. 1915" Mrs.
Rosch said, Mrs. Drischman came into
our apartment. She wore an ordinary
house apron and had under 1t bulky
object. She went into the sitting room
and took from under her apron a scrub
bucket which was filled with jewclry.
including unset diamonds, other precious
stones, pearls and a pearl necklace.
Some of the jewels were in plush cases.
Mrs. Drischman said: What do you
think Of a big slob like me having all
tkisT She dumped the Jewels on the
table. which measured ffty-two inches.
and was completely covered by the
Jewels.
I'VE were astounded at the tremend-
GUS value OF the lot Mrs. Drischman
said that she wanted to get an idea
of the value of the stuff and we told
her that she had better take 1t to a
jeweller, such as. Biddle's In Philadel-
phia. or Tiffany's' in New York, where
they are accustomed to valuing fine
stones In large quantities. In my own
mind was afraid that Mrs. Drischman
had not come by the jeweiry honestly.
She told US that It had been left her
by her father"
Accused of s15O,Oo0 Theft.
Mrs. Rosch testified also that she
overheard a quarrel between Mrs. Drisch-
man and Charles Miller. an attendant,
who waited upon Mrs. Griswold. This
quarrel occurred In the basement OF the
apartment house. and Mrs. Rosch said
she heard Miller say TO Mrs. Drischman:
You have robbed Mrs. Griswold OF
$50. oo0."
The witness said that Mrs. Drischman
replied:
Remember. / am still trustee"
Attorneys for the Countess read In
court a letter written by Mrs. Griswold
to her mother. Mrs. Eleanor Rice, In
Portsmouth. N. H.. In May. 1920. In
this letter Mrs Griswold said:
IT have passed five dreadful years
and have had all kinds OF trouble.
hate and loa.he this place and hope
never TO see II again In the future.
have suffered too much. ! cannot write
any details, as | am afraid. I am
watched like a hawk. and all my letters
are read"
rhc Countess al contubia was on the
stand during large part OF the after
noon session OF court. She testified that
in all of the correspondence she had had
with her mother. Mrs. Griswold had not
given her the slightest intimation that
she intended TO disinherit the Countess
and her two children.
The Countess was asked II she had
ever had reason to believe hat her
mother used habit forming drugs, and
she replied that she had.