The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-14
MODERN REAL.LIFE ROMANCE.

Another Version of the Meade-Landis
Case-Lunncy Of the eCOmmOdOre-What
Drove the Gallant Tar to Madness
Why and How He was COnIined-Per-
sOnaI Explanation OF Mr. Charles K.
Landis.
the confinement of Commodore Meade in a
lunatc asylum and his subsequent discharge
and the peculiarities connected with the case
have naturally awakened deep interest in the
public mind, and several partial versions of the
affair have from time to time appeared. The
following clear and full statement OF the whole
case is from gentleman most deeply interested,
Charles K. Lands, Esq, of Vneland the gen.
tleman whom the Commodore threatened to
put to death at all hazards:
THAT have ta'en away this old mans daughter
i is most tue; true, have m srried her
The very head and FROM of my offending
Hath this extent, no more."-Othett0.
Ed. EVENING TELEGRAPH:-As numerous re.
ports have been published in the papers giving
an incorrect statement Of the case O.. Commo-
dore Meade, and as my own name has been
mace more prominent than the truth of the
circumstances talrlY admit-in short, that [
had Commodore Meade arrested upon criminal
charge and that when he could not be held
upon that charge, | had HIM incarcerated in
lunatic asylum upon the certificate OF two
Tombs physlclans," ! beg the liberty of setting
myself right before the public. | have heard of
men i'll olden times attacking castles and taking
their wives by force. | have heard of their
taking them out OF third-story windows, and |
have also heard of their quietly walking away
and getting married; but / never heard before,
either in history or fiction, of a man first
Condnng his intended tather-n-laW in a
lunatic lum aud then Immediately marrying
his daughter, and am not ambitious to be the
one TO start such precedent.
| first met my wife at the Commodore's own
house, in Washington, last January. l was then
told that it was worth as much as mans life
to pay any attention to his daughter. OF the
number OF suitOTs who had been actually driven
away by force of arms, upon further inquiry, |
ascertained this to be fact. When / had de-
cided to propose 10 my wife l sent formal
notice 10 him, and request for his consent His
answer TO this was a peremptory order to desist
from all attentions 10 his daug hter, reiterated
by another letter threatening serious conse-
quences IN case | continued those attentions,
and placing the grounds OF his objection as
tOlloWs:-tlrst, my age; second my religion;
third, being au entire stranger Being at the
time thirty-tour years old, | was at a loss to
know whether he meant that was too young or
too old, did not care about adopting any new
religion, and being fully his equal in birth and
education, and having lived Tor eleven years
upon my own estate in New Jersey, with my
banner on the outward wall, f." | could not pos
sibly sympathize with the last objection.
In respect to the last letter | consulted his
son, acknowledgements r. w. Meade,
Father Franciali, of Brooklyn, formerly his
priest Admiral Hiram Pauldmg, the father.iu.
law of two Of his sons, Charles A. Meigs, of
bers of his family, and they all advised me to
pay no attention to it, that the Commodore
was suffering under alteration ofmnd and had
been in this state for some time.n This / fully
believed, as ! knew that the Commodore had
suffered great injustice from the Government
in being unjusty Kept out of a claim, amount.
ing, believe, to millions of dollars, even after
the legality and justice of the claim had been
fully established, and, also, that from some per-
sonal iealousies he had suffered injustice in his
court martial for the loss of the San JaCinto,
and had not been awarded the rank and pro-
motion which he deserved, which, to an officer,
is worse lhan death. The letter itself was
incoheTent.
After this was informed that the Commodore
was watching around the Staten Island ferries,
| that he might shoot me at the first opportunity.
] continued my attentions the same, aud would
have blushed at the thought OF anything like
personal danger influencing my conduct. For
some time previously my marriage was ap.
pointed to take place on the l4th of October, at
the residence of my wiie's uncle, Charles A.
Me'gs, ESQ, of Staten Island. A few days before
! received warning that the mind of the
! Commodore was disturbed, and that he would
| shoot me for certain in case he saw me. de-
| clded, however, that on the l4th of October
| would cross the ferry IN open daylight, in au
! open carriage and stand any amount of shoot
| ing that was necessary. | felt that men had
often risked their lives for objects less worthy
| than mine.
On the l4th I crossed the ferry safely, in com.
| pany with my father, my sister, and my chief
] secretary, Ar, John i, BVVk, and arrived At the