The New York herald., 1875-11-18
THE SINGER WILL.
Yesterdays ReVela tions Be-
fore Surrogate Coffin.
A CURIOUS LEGAL DOCUMENT
A Coachman's Memoir Of the
Dead Inventor.

single handed contest coupled with the somewhat
astounding revelations which has evolved ana the
millions which depend upon the Issue the number OF
spectators in attendance has been yisbly increasing
While the hearing in progress yesterday citizens
from the most remote portions OF weschester county
well from New York and vicinity might have
been among the auditory, some Of them stopping
only long enough to take q good look al the
leading parties to the suit while others
listened attentively to the proceedings until an
adjournment was announced Mrs. Mary Ann Foster,
the contestant who has doported herself throughout
in digni6ed manner, accompanied by two grown
daughters-children OF herself aud the tesator. The
impression among members Of the legal fraternity at
White Plains who have watched the case thus far is
that Mr. Van Pe counsel for the contestant has
turned the most material portion Of the testamenary
document in question. Even Surrogate Cofin, in
suggesting that IT not necessary TO
introduce cumulative testimony establish
:he marriage relationship existing between the
testator and the contestant has admitted that the
latter had already made fair case In view Of
this state OF the It is surprising that those
terested in sustaining the viii have as is understood
from excellent authority within the past week in
timated their willingness to increase the sum of
81 600 900 So 600 order to effect compromise
with the 1t almost unnecessary to state
that the offer not accepted
Mrs Mary Ann Foster having been again called TO
the witness stand by counsel for the executor was
further oss-examined as follows:-Mr. Singer IN
1886 performing actor New York; played
actress with him in New York and other States
travelled together and played under the names Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Merritt, the middle Of Singer; we
were in Baltimore when he procured divorce from
Catherine Maria Haley; he handed me; asked him
then II he would not fulfil the promise he
had often made If he secured this divorce
and have the ceremony of marriage performed
between US; he refused saying If he did so would
have him in my power; have lived constantly with
Foster since our marriage; my youngest child was
born eighteen years ago. have had child since then
A coAcHMAN's STORY
Edward De Tongue, a coachman, formerly in the
employ OF the deceased Isaac Singer testified that
he frequently drove the carriage containing the tesla
tor and the contestant Mr. Singer always introduced
the latter as his wife; witness frequently heard him
Introduce the contestant as his wife; de-
ceased sometimes would drive out having
nine horses attached to vehicle capable OF carving
twenty FIVE persons has known OF his driving out
with other females sometimes he would drive TO No
225 West Twenty seventh street and there take up
young woman and at other times he would take up
No 10 Christopher street, he often used to take
females who would be in waiting for him the corners
of streets, with school books in their hands he would
nearly always give some change for myself these
occasions; at these times ordered drive 10 the
Central Park and back again
Charles A. Spensler, on being sworn testifed:-I am
brother OF Mrs. Foster the contestant; first saw
Singer in Baltimore in 1896; that time | think he
advance agent Tor theatrical company; he
manned in our family few weeks; it was known to
intimate with our family after their return
from New York they were received by our family as
man and wife, and were regarded by down
TO 1860; havo travelled with Singer as a mu
i sician, and assisting him IN his dra
maie performances generally ., he 81 has
more than one occasion he said, 'By the gods
don't know what should do withou; Ann at Other
times he has said TO me, ''She is good ana
faithful wife," Singer very poor those days;
his wife used to help him out OF money scrapes.
After some further unimportant testimony had been
offered an adjournment was agreed upon 20 Tuesday
the 30th inst
The following is a copy OF the complaint filed by til,
contestant In her suit Tor divorce from the esator
1861, and which has never before been published. II
admitted as evidence and is now part of the
/ CURIOUS DOCUMENT.
| Netc York Supreme Co,ut-Mdry Ann Singer u.s. Isaa,
Merritt Sin0er.-City and County Of Nep York ss j.
Mary Ann Singer she plaintiff, complains and al
Flrst-That on or about the Goth day OF September
in the year 1885, at the city of New York, she
red the defendant that she and the thence
forward continued live together as man and WIFE,
within this State with frequent absences when accom-
panyng her husband in his professional tours through
out the country as strong actor under the assumed
name of Isaac Merritu, until the time of the com
mission OF the offences hereinafter alleged, and
that since tho said marriage lsave as
above stated and from a period from July, 1887 tc
March, 1882 when she returned TO her because
| OF the deScrt1On OF Der husband, and Tor
prior to September 1s4s twhen he manufactured type
at Pittsburg, Pa they have both been, stili
inhabitants of tile State OF New York.
Secosh-That she has borne her husband ten chill
dren, the issue of said marriage, eight of whom
now living viz Isaac Augustus Singer born July u
1857; youetti Theresa Singer born January l. is40i
John Albert Singer, born January 20, 1912; Fanny
Elizabeth Singer, born January l, 1874 Jasper Hame
Singer, born July 10, 1s4e; Mary Olive Singer born
October T. 1S4S Julia Ann Singer, born June H. 1904
and Caroline Virginia Singer born June 10 1851
Third-That, during her whole married life, she has
received from her husband the most cruei and inhu
treatment, and that his conduct toward her has
been such TO render IL unsafe and improper for her
any longer to cohabt with him. that he has repeatedly
beaten and choked her to insensibility frequently
forcing the blood TO flow In streams from her nose
mouth face head and neck and tho recital to her
family and friends, Of hts unparalleled airocity and
savage barbarty toward herself and children finally
forced her to make Grimm al complaint against him
and to cause his arrest for
A BRUTAL BLOODY ASSAULT
committed on her August lS60 at her residence No.
Ia Fifth avenue, in the city Of New York; that there.
fore out of regard to her children and family she had
borne his brutal treatment silently and uncompfan-
| ngly although his very presence in the house
perpetual terror to all Its inmates family and servants
and his conduct was almost nsupportable and beyond
human endurance; that about year prior TO his ar
rest above mentioned, at her said residence IN
| Filth avenue, her husband beat her almos
10 death, merely assigning as there
for that she had placed in their bedroom n box o
matches without cover and when her Oldest daugh
ter Vouletta, then woman grown demonstrated witt
him, he also beat her in the same hendsh manner S,
that they both lay nseusble together for many hours
ana her nusoanu becoming halncd, was ODnged u
call in the aid OF two physicians, Dr. William IL Max
we'll and Dr. -, who, with great difficulty restore,
them W consciousness and they confined TO the
beds for several days thereafter
Foarh-That, as the plaintiff Is informed and be
feves, during the month following his salC
arrest-vz, September 10 ls60-he went TO Europ,
/ IN company with common prostitute name,
Kate McGonnegal, then nineteen years OF age, takni
passage together IN the steamer from Boston, undei
! the assumed names Of J. W. Simmons and lady witi
i whom, at dtvers places and at various times in tht
city Of New York aud elsewhere and more especially
at the house No 70 Christopher street. IN said city
during the months of August and September, lS60 hS
committed adultery.
Fyl-That, as the plaintiff Is Informed and believes
PRIOR thereto, and during the years ls59-o--og ana
go he kept his mistress al the SAID house. NO "
Christopher street. Mary McGonnegal SISTER OF the SAID
Kate McGonnegaI, with whom he thon and there ire
quently committed adultery and by whom lac had four
bastard children
Sirth-That the plaintiff Is informed ana beheves,
he also kept as his mistress Mary Mathews with whom,
at various rom 1852 10 1860 and az divers places
ia the cities OF New York and Philadelphia and esc-
- LI