Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-15
Correspondence of the SUM-

New HAVEN, June 30.-I have just as
sisted in distressing ceremony. The
scene was painful in itself, and the inev-
table misery of all mortuary events was
exasperated by domestic differences, and
knowledge that bad blood and a strug-
gle for the estate of the deceased must
lead to protracted and bitter litigation.
The man for whom the last sad offices
were performed this afternoon entered
upon his adult years endowed with every
thing to render life desirable. The idol
of an affectionate father, with an ample
fortune, tenderly nurtured by a loving
mother, with every advantage in the way
of education, and the means to fit him
for career of usefulness and honor,
he has gone to his grave at the early age
of thirty-fve, leaving widow to deplore
his death, and numerous relatives to
squabble about his inheritance.
Jehiel Forbes, one of our most re-
spected and successful merchants, died
at an advanced age, nearly twenty years
ago. leaving widow, his third wife, who
still survives. George Forbes, who was
buried to-day, was his only living son.
His mother, who was the second wife Of
his father, died when he was child.
The widow was her sister, and that lady
was, therefore, his aunt as well as his
stepmother She was amply provided
for in her husbands s will, but the bulk of
his estate was bequeathed to George, sub
ject to her right of dover Another son,
who was the partner Of his father in bus
mess, an accomplished and most estim-
able gentleman, died before his father,
leaving considerable estate and large
and interesting family. George Forbes,
having completed his education and
made the tour of Europe, returned to his
native city, and settled down to enjoy
the wealth inherited from his father.
He soon fell into careless and idle habits
Having no aptitude for business, and
some enterprises in which he embarked
proving only moderately successful, he
early abandoned industrial pursuits,
and devoted himself to harmless
amusements, such as yachting and the
diversions Herewith connected. He was
a man of fair capacity, amiable deport-
ment, and excellent disposition, but in a
community where everybody is engaged
in money-getting, the mere pleasure
seeker has no recognized position and
few eligible associates. A man of facile
mind so placed is exposed to great
many temptations, and to some of them
he yields, as ninety-nine out of every
hundred have done before him. But he
had fine constitution, uncommon vital
ity, and cheerful, hopeful temperament,
and up to few short months since he
seemed hale and hearty But when his
health broke, he went down by the run,
and all the spring he has been a wasted
and pitiable wreck. Last summer, and
while in good health and condition, he
made the acquaintance of fine woman,
equally accomplished and attractive,
and, after the usual preliminaries, an
engagement to marry was contracted.
And here commenced the domestic
difficulties above mentioned. The home
of George Forbes was with his step
mother. They lived in the family man
sion, the lady enjoying her right Of
dover, the property to pass into his pos
session at her decease. History is con-
stantly repeating itself, as well in the
domestic circles as in the progress of ma
tions. New parties and new interests |
were thrust into the family, and the same
results followed the new arrangements |
that have been experienced under SINH
lar circumstances ever since the organi- |
zation of society. The intruder, who |
had married relative of the widow, an
svaricious man, whose god is money,
soon obtained such power in the house
that he was able to dominate the family,
and every important step taken by the
widow was at his dictation. Under his
George was induced to make
a will, devising all his real and personal
estate to his stepmother. This Of course
excluded his natural heirs, the children
of his deceased brother, and as George
had no children, the intruder and his
wife would inherit the property, either by
natural descent or by will.
The arrangement was a snug one.
Evidently George was not destined to
long life, and they lived together pleas
antly enough, he being caressed and
fattered, and his eccentricities and ir-
tolerated and palliated by
the whole family. But his marriage en-
raCement made a change in the pro-
framme. The consummation Of the
contract, with its possible consequences,
might invalidate the will, and there was
CONSERVATION, general and utter. among
the parties to the scheme. The marriage
was to have taken place last Christmas,
but those interested in preventing il pre-
vailed upon George 10 postpone IL on
some frivolous pretext or other.
Meanwhile the bride elect was staying
at q seaside house in q neighborhood
town on the sound, called Double Beach,
a great place Of resort for Forbes, Who
there found a safe harbor for bis yacht, i