The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-11-21
The Case OF Gen. Va. Ness.

49, VIZ WARRINGTON. Nov. 10, ls46
Owing 70 an unavoidable accident full account O
communicated to the Herald.
joined between Mary Ann Van Ness and Cornelius
Van Ness rdninisrssor Ips Va. Nsss dsSsss
isa sas " e. cSs ana aim
Nav of this city The defendant BY Messr Gilpin (o
Phadelpha, Attorney General Of the United States
!. honor to any court and to any cause.
Judge Crsnch still being too much indsposed to sit on
Judges Morsel end Dunlap.
Il Mr. BRENr of Baltimore for the plaintiff, after the
minay advorted the fact that the counsel originally
engaged had Withdrawn. and gave reason why he and
suitng from the abandonment Of the cause by Messrs
Dallas Mr. Dent and Col Lee Proceeding to the legal
merits he stated what they expected to proves among
Coner-that an Intimacy sxiHsd besGsss = ssvssl
years ago-that the general was man of consumAte
cunning and art and willy serpent in HE pleasures
and aaectionsthat oorialn sGsctioRase Letters are
and the deceassd-hat the general wrote letters dis
gusing his chirography. not to deceive TIE lady but
others and avoid detection in his
his wethat the child died thirteen fourteen months
after i was born that the generals pride Of family in.
Of the tears entreates opportunities Of the fair
to be wooded clandestnel he left this city
the 23d Of July, 1915, arrived in Philadelphia the
OATH and on the Doth proceeded to New York; the
9th August returned to Philadelphia aud the 9th Of
ner Philadelphia By the daughter of the lady they
would prove that Gen Van Ness told her that he had
Mr. CARLISLE for the defendant argued that the
without parallel in courts but might be found
elsewhere. Never in this community did crime shoot
up such trunk bear such fruits. There evis
dence of perjury and fraud the part of this woman
and he hoped for the credit OF humanity and virtue the
daughter would not be brought to the stand The pre-
tended widow did not come forward Immediately on the
death of General Van Ness, which occurred in March
last but waited until she had anxously inquired and
discovered that there will She offered to trade
with the administrator was evident from enc of her
letters telling him he had better attend to certain mat
tiers" SC The letters file be proven to be forge
ries by those who familiar with the handwriting
of tae deceased
Towards the conclusion of the first day which
continued about six hours the petition of Mrs Mary Ann
Van Ness to the Orphans Court read il prayed that
body to revoke the letters of administration granted to
Cornelius Van Ness as the administrator of the estate
of John vsn Ness and that letters be granted to her
the widow. She stated that she married to Gen
Van Ness, and this sworn to.
The answer to this petition from Mr. G. P. Van Ness,
read by the other side The respondent that he
has no knowledge of the alleged marriage and his
beeftbat was not solemnised And this is also sworn
The above contains brief statement of the important
case, SO far as II progressed yesterday.
This morning, Mrs Van Ness came within the bar,
and took seat near her counsel. Mr. Van Ness
the opposite side OF the room near his counsel
Mr. stanisaus Murray was the first witness examined
and he gave his opinion that letter shown to him
the handwriting Of Gen. Van Vsss.
The letter read 1t dated December Ia, 1912,
commencing Dear NJ" and substantially, wish you
10 meet me DetWeen lOur Cock AT the corner
of 18th and streets at of the houses designated
Mrs. DREw, from Baltimore, examined. She lives
in Eden street, one door from Pitt No 80 was in Wash
lDgon some years ago is acquainted with VIM Ogden
Niles; knew General Van Ness by sight perfectly wells
when she last him in October, 1914. at her
house. and at another house in Bsltmoro the lady who
sits there pontng to Mrs. Van Ness he acknowledged
to be his wife. who introduced Mrs Wallace and
he Mr. Wallace. The business of the witness is, TO
attend in the place of doctor" child born OF the
lady in her presence. When the General was made
aware of this, he said, with great joy "My wife has
produced me daughter" He said they could not take
the babe home, as they had servant He informed
witness that he lived over high hills and among tall
trees. tLaughterl When witness remarked to him,
why, General that answers the description OF
your dwelling" he blushed deeply; He said he
had never before had such lovely daughter as his
wife had produced. He wanted a nurse for it. Wit
informed him that she knew worthy woman who
ter having child OF her own and having lost her hus-
band took the babe TO General Van Ness wrote
IL being handed to herr the piece Of paper He adj
vanced thirty dollars TO Mrs Durkee the lady who took
the babe to nurse The General named the babe Ger.
trude Van Ness. The witness remarked 10 him. that
she thought he was coming out" The General there
upon looked astonshed and recovering his posses
sion, said he would visit The babe from time to time
The child lived year. Mrs. Durkee had the day and
date. Witness thinks that although the General had
assumed the name Of Wallace he was puzzled to re.
member ii at times. Witness spoke of certain letter,
which came into her possession from the General which
will be Noticed hereafter.
On the examination the witness described the
breast pin OF the General and the way fixed e
keep down his RIFLES 1t did not her that the
iady anu were not man and WIFE, Ihe Oene
raj called the lady wife" fifty times in her presence
Some OF the letters addressed to Mrs Durkee and
others TO Mrs. Drew Witness thought Mrs Wallace as
much the wife oil Mr. Wallace any lady could DO tho
vile OF any man Some Of the letters in the pos
session OF Dr. Martin but witness thought Dr. Martin
returned them The letter she held in her hand was one
of them They were letters wriuso by General Van
Ness to her daughter. The chidbed of the lady was
protracted case The child died, and was burlea III e
ground belonging to the Second Presby terrain cnurch'
MIR breckenridge formerly Glendys) IL died Oh scar
let fever, and was buried Friday. -,
MIR Mn hair
Drew, the witness Just examined, when he lived IN bsit
more and that she was a woman Of respectability
Mrs DuRxEE the daughter Of Mrs. Drew, testified
hat the paper shown to bore her signature The top
tpart Of The paper was signed w Wallace, but was
CMrs Van Ness copied II, in her presence. Witness
knew him to General Van Ness though he pretended