Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-01-02
s--- = .
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.

Cor. CHUOudence Ot tNe New 1nih llit1s
RoNDoUT, N. Y, Dec. 81, ls7l.-lnler-
csting and important litigation is about TO be
commenced in Ulster county, which may |
result in hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
worth of property changing hands. II bas
grown out of the complicated condition Of
the affairs Of the late Major George f. Won |
Beck, who died last spring, leaving an i'm
mense estate, which was in dispute between |
the children of dead wife and a living |
wife and her children. Tue circumstances
leading TO the peculiar condition OF the
affairs of the lamily-or these two families,
rather-aIe us follows: George Frederick
Won Beck came IN this country from Ger
many in 1880. lie was graduate of one
OF the German universities, and desccD-
dant Ofihe nobility. lie was acivil engineer
and previous to his leaving his native coun-
try was person of great distinction. lie,
in company with three others, was appoint
ed 10 survey the boundary line between
France aud Germany, and at the completion
of their task was the recipient Of mlnY
iavOrs at the hands of the King OF Bavaria.
lie afterwards fought in the Spanish army, on
he staff ofthe commanding officer in the war
between that country and France. Being
wounded in an engagement he returned to
Germany, where lie was married to Marie
Ann dc Ruyter, daughter of wealthy
burgher He was shortly aiterward made
Mayor OF Salzburr, holding the position
some years. In one OF the German revolu-
tonary wars he took an active part, on the
losing side, aud was complied to fly the
country. lie went TO London, England,
and soon thereafter embarked Tor America,
landing in New York with very little money.
Ills wife and children he left IN Germany,
and his property there was condscated.
1t is said that he tramped the streets OF
New York for SIX months, with hand-Organ
and monkey, subsisting upon the pnlance
a. .l.g gnf A ffuan N.
ware and Hudson Canal Company had been
completed, and Won Beck, thinking that his
knowledge of engineering might some day
be Of use to him on that work, hired out as
q canal hand. For two or three years he
followed this lite, occupying his spare time
.''sllpg 40 hrs etAer accomplishment the
year 1923. Russell II. Lord, then tka head
and irOnt OF the Delaware and Hudson
Canal Company, but who died a few years
since, oYerburdened with domestic unban-
piness, was inspecting a large break In the
canal, and preparing TO slowly measure MS
dimensions, IN order to have il repniTed
Won Beck's boat cbanced 10 lie near. and
the ambitious boatman stepped up to tue
break, aud making calculation ON scientific
principles, informed MIR. Lord its extent in a
few seconds. Ths Superintendent at once
made up his mind that this was too yalulble
an aid to have running on q boat, and gave
him position very much advanced. Won
Beck's services soon made linn nay-mnstsr
OF the company-a position even then of
great importance.
In all these years Won Beck had kept his
old-counlry marriage a secret, and soon
after bis promotion 10 tue position of maj.
master, he was married 10 Miss Jane Dom
ing, Of Eddyville, daughter OF a lsading
ciIizen. Alter be had been several years in
the Company's employ, certain suspicious
inapgMrapinq IA re- dieaoyar.d L. 4 -
and he was compelled to resign, which he
did, with large fortune Alter leaving the
Company, Won Beck engaged in variou i.
sPecuatiOns, all Of whlcl added 10 his
wealth and iniluencc-so much so. that in
lS44 he Induced the Legislature OF This
States TO ass an act legalizing his second
marriage and making his children bv n legi.
innate This he considered necessary as,
having heard that his first wife was dead
be had the children by her sent 10 tbis
country but, still keeping his first mar
riagc a secret, Introduced them into his sec
ond NY as servants, and they finally
marrying and becoming estraDged from
iEeir father, revealed the fact OF his first
marriage, and that their mother was etiiI
living The latter fact was demonstrated
in the Spring. at 1860 by the arrival of
The flrst Mrs Won Beck at Rondout, where
the Major (having been appointed a Major
OF militia few years agO,) had taken up his
abode.
The slrangesi part Of this "slranee. event
iul history" is then when his first iCe an
ptared upon the scene, Won Beck immedia-
lely took up his abode with her, and trans
ieTred his affections TO her children This
action 1n bis part asthe signal for tie COM
mencem0nt Of legal proceedings, and upon
petition OF TIE childreR OF the second wife.
commission was appointed 10 inquire into
the alleged lunacy OF Won Beck. The sec,
Ond wife died 10 less than month after The
arrival OF the first wife, and did not see the
partial triumph in her cause, notwithstand-
ing tue fact that the law legahzug her mar.
iiage was declared unconstitutional. The
Major died in an apopleeio nc last Spring.
Suls have now been commenced by Mary
Ann Won Beck against all parties WHO pur-
ehascd real estate of her husband during
his lie, and against the children of Won
Beck by her ana by his second wife, TO re-
cover downer, as it was decided that the
property should be equally divided among
ihe children. The cases will be watched
with great interest, as they put an entirely
new phase upon the litigation OF the ts'aie.