The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-14

An Unfortunate Domestic Affair-The Other
Side Of the Case-Letter from the Come
nodore's Discarded SOn-in-Law.

An Unfortunate Domestic Afair-The Other
Side Of the Case-Letter from the Cons
nedore's Discarded son-in-Law.
vNELAND, N. j., Dec. 10, 1868.
TO THE EDIroR OF THE HERALD
Az numerous reports have been published in the
papers, giving an incorrect statement Of the case
OF commodore Meade and as my own name has
peen made more prominent than the truth Of the cir
cunstances fairly admit; in short, shat had Cont
"ouore meade arrested upon criminal charge
ana that when he could be held upon that charge
had him incarcerated in a lunatic asylum upon
the certificates OF two Tombs physlcians;n I bea
the liberty OF setting myself right before the
pubic. have heard OF men In oldeu
times attacking castles and taking their wiyes
by force. l have heard OF their TAKING
them out Of third story windows, ana have also
heard OF their quietly walking away and getting
married; but never heard before, either In historic
or fiction, OF man. first combining his Intended
father-inlaw in lunatic asylum and then immeJ
diately marrying hts daughter. and am not ambis
tious to be theone to start such precedent !.
frst met my wife at the Commodore's own house.
In Washington, last January. was then told that
u was worth as much as mans life to pay any
attentions to his daughters. or the number Of
suitors who had been actually driven away by force
OF arms upon further inquiry ascertaned this to be-
the fact. When had decided to propose to my wife
sent formal notice to him and request for his
consent. His answer to this was q peremptory
order to desst from all attentions to his daughter
reiterated by another letter threatening serious con-
sequences in case continued these attentions and
placing the grounds OF his objections follows:-
First-My age. Secondly religion. Third-Being
an utter stranger. Being at the time thry-four
years old was at loss whether he meant
1a SS gU any o eN d 5
fully his equal in birth and education and having
lived for eleven years upon my own estates in New
Jersey, could not possibly sympathize with the last
objection. In respect to the last letter consulted
his son, Lieutenant Commander r. w. Meade; Father
Hiram Paulding the father-naw OF two Of his sons;
Charles A. Meigs, OF New York, his brotherin-law,
and other members OF his family and they all adj
vised me to pay no attention to It, "that the Conn
modore was suffering under alteration Of mind and
had been in this state for some time" This fully
great injustice from the government In being un1
Justly Kept out Of claim, amounting, believe, to-
and Justice Of the claim had been fully estabished5
and also that from some personal jealOusles he had
suffered Injustice in his court martial for the loss Of
the san Jacinto and had not been awarded the rank
ana promotion which he deserved, which to an of1t
Ger Is worse than DEATH The letter itself was inco-
After this was informed that the Commodore
was watching around the Staten Island ferries that
he might shoot me at the first opportunity COM
blushed at the thought Of anything like personal dam
ger influencing my conduct. For some time pre-.
uncle, Charles a. Meies, Of Staten Island. A Few
Of the Commodore was disturbed and that he would
shoot me for certain In case he saw me. decided,
mat aOd % an
and stand any amount Of shooting that was necess
sary felt that men bad often risked their lives fog
the terry safely in company with my father my sss
ter and my chief secretary, NJ. John 1. Burk. and
Commander r. W. Meade Immediately informed
f me that sna they mad pang
for months past he had been threatening diner4
emit peoples that he had threatened the lives OF MA
Navy and his own that upon his person several ref
volvers had been found, and four more revovers IN
raaed to commit Violence upon myself IN Crossing
the ferry. Instead OF this being done In order ID
promote my marriage It was done only from motive4
terrible occurrence in the family would postpone
the marriage or break it OF. The family was also or
marriage should take place. Ny afianced was not
responsible this heartrendng misfortune; and,i
o. III family sa
become lunatics, would have been all the more
@ With 10 e
mean TO stay married and shield her ali her life from
every evil that may threaten;
member OF my wifes family excepting the Commo,i
dore. Relative 70 the Commodore's confinement 8
OF 1t before the morning of my marriage. But d
have letters from Secretary Wees OF the Navy
and from General George q. Meade and others, ap1
proving Of the confinement Of the Commodore upon
the ground Of humanity, and expressing surprise
that It had not been done long before. The Conn
tenant Commander r. w. Meade, who Ia now in the
Pacific Ocean, In command OF the United states
steamer Saginaw and consequently he was not
present at the trial In New York, but was simply
represented by counsel.
Ii the Commodore has recovered his health there
Ia one more loved ft than myself or who
wish him better health or q longer life.
CHARLES X. Lands.