Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-12-08
A DEsERTEDr MANSION.

- tne Purehe VI synons III.
A DESERTEDDMANSI0N.
Remarkable Story of ConjugaI Az.
7 feettOu.
From the New York Evening Post.l
Not far from Morristown, New Jersey,
and situated on what is known as the
Madisoneroad, may be seen large and
fine house, standing in the middle Of ex-
tensive pleasure grounds, and, with the
grounds, bearing the marks OF having
been the abode Of persons of taste and
wealth. The once beautiful park now,
however, presents the appearance OF
having been the camping ground of at
least regiment Of ofdemoralized soldiers,
so numerous are the traces everywhere
of fires, and wanton hacking among the
trees, shrubs, aud eyergreens.
Where once were tlower-beds and rare
plants now browse stray cattle, and pigs
by the score root to their noses content
in the soft turf of the lawn. On ap-
preaching the house still more terrible
scene of ruin may be found. The hall
doors stand wide open, and as the stran-
ger enters several cattle calmy survey
him from their comfortable positions on
the drawing-room floor. The house is
three stories high and surrounded with q
cupola. The rooms are spacious and
numerous, and we're finished in the best
possible manner when built. Windows
opening to the floor, and consisting of
large and valuable panes of glass, oppose
little or no obstruction to the cattle and
pigs, the former generally taking sash
and all with them when leavingin haste.
On the floor of what had evidently
been the library, tramps or mischievous
boys have lighted fires, whose flames
were fed, from appearances, by the
doors of cupboards, stair railings, and
other small pieces of woodwork Of the
house. In many places the floor has
been burnt almost through, and how the
house has escaped from fire is wonder
With carbonized ends of wood hideous
and revolving pictures have been drawn
Oh the pure white walls, together with
words of an indecent character.
The plaster center ornaments OF the
rooms have been the mark for the intru-
ders to shy empty bottles and stones at,
and all are greatly damaged. Door
knobs, bells and their wires and pul
watcr-faucets, the paraphernalia Of the
bath room, and everything of "A like
movable nature, have been wrenched
from the fastcnings and carried away.
Window shutters have also disappeared,
though probably burnt as fuel and not
taken from the house. Such scene OF
rack and desoation can seldom be found
within thirty miles Of the city of New
York. One might imagine such wreck
among the desolation of the South, but
in the prosperous North it is unpar-
alloled.
The house has its sad story. Built
but a few years ago, it passed into the
possession Of wealthy New York mer-
chant, who used every cndeavor to rem
der il home of beauty. No expense
was spared, and the house and grounds
became noted for their appropriate be-
longings. The mistress Of the house,
the wife of its owner, unfortunately
then sickened and died. The friends
gathered to attend the funeral, and
the body was borne from its beauti-
full earthly home to the cemetery. The
last to leave the home was its owner,
and he, turning the key in the lock, left
it lust as it was to its fate. The neigh
bors clamored for days for entrance, but
no one was within, and all attempts to
persuade its owner, who had gone to New
York, TO return to it, were unavailing.
Attempts we're made TO rent or purchase
it. but to neither plan would the owner
accede. If sold at all the ground should
be sold for cemetery. On their peril
he forbade his neighbors TO enter the
house.
The thieves of the neighborhood soon
found out the rich field, and for nights
pillaged it. The constables, hearing of
this, laid in wait in the house one night
and ARRESTED three men as they were
rolling up fine carpets for the purpose
of taking them away. The owner, when
notified to appear and prosecute the
thieves, not only refused to do So but
threatened to prosecute the constables
for entering his house, saying that it
was bad enough to have three thieves
break into house sacred to the mem
ory of his wife, without having as many
constables also therein.
Some friends seeing the peculiar state
Of feeling Of the owner, removed the bal
ance of the furniture TO a safe place,
and the house remains open TO the world.
Bad persons congregate there, and the
house at night is supposed to be the re-
sort of thieves and robbers.
Some years ago squatter settled
himself in little gardener house on the
property, and plows the land and reaps
his crops as il the fee simple rested in
him. The owner has refused to notice
him or turn him out. Last spring a
certain general in the United States
army offered to buy or rent the property,
but not being himself cemetery, or
possessing any Of the religious or sooth-
ing influences of that locality, his appeal
was rejected. On all other subjects the
owner is said to be most'rational, and
carries on 0 large business with great
success. The property Is valued st
S35 600.