The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-01
THE SHADOWY GROOM.

LAKE MAHoPAc's MARRIAGE MYSTERY = THE
TESTIMONY TO BE PRESENTED IN BEHALF OF
THE DIIDE-PRoBADILITY THAT THE DEcIs-
ION WILL BE IN HER FAVOR.
The people OF Putnam county within radius Of ten
miles OF Carmel in state OF great excitement over
the Lake Mahcpac marriage mystery. That this affair
Ii really bewildering puzzle was shown yesterday
during tour taken by the writer through Brewsters
Station, where the alleged marriage took place,
and Croion Falls and other adjacent places
where the most important witnesses and
parties Interested IN the reside. Il inpossi-
BILE TO and single hotel or rural grogshop ,he fire.
qucn'crs OF which agreed as 20 the theory 0, this
unique puzzle. Upon the whole, however the popu-
lar sentiment is, perhaps, favor OF the fair plaintiff
Miss Mary Il. Knox IL is said that she Is far too
simple minded country girl TO practise such gigan-
tic imposition upon John A. Merritt to induce her
brother TO personate Merritt IN the marriage cere-
mony performed by the Rev. DR.. Dean a, Brcwsters
station.
THE BROTHER NOT MARRIED TO SISTER.
II must be confessed that the attempt OF Merritts
counsel to fix the preparation OF this stupendous ard
criminal hoax upon the girls brother has wholly
failed The brother IS thrty.six and erritt rs only
youth OF twenty. The one looks Ike m.ddic-aged
man and the other appears scarcely than boy.
To DO sure the Rev. Dr. Dean said that they looked so
much alike that he could not tell whether 1t Merritt
whom he married to Miss Knox or whether was Mss
Knoxs brother but all the impartial observers IN the
ncighborhood seem 10 agree that DR.. Dean, through
religious sympathy with young Mcrrti's family both
ardent Methodsts-was rather afflicted with blind.
ness, ana there would that Merritt and
no ono else tho man whose destiny he linked to
that OF Miss Knox. That Miss Knox was not
married TO her own brother is also shown
by the testimony OF Mr. Stone, who sold
tho bridegroom the festive pair OF gloves he posi-
tIvely swore that Mcrrtts hands much larger
than were those OF Knox, and he believed that sfcr-
rift was tho veritabc bridegroom who had purchased
the pair OF gloves on the wedding day. What puzzles
the good people OF Putnam county IS TO reconcile tho
utterly nexpIcable conduct OF both parties either
THE THEORY MERRITT WAS rnE GROOM
suppose, Tor instance that Merritt married to
MISS Knox. then how was IL mat tho loving BRIDE
groom, VINO for years had immersed his adored IN
Hood oil love cpistcs and verses calmly drove her
her iahers mouse ana lett her there "A soon as the
ceremony had been completudY How It that he
never, after The ceremony, approached his BRIDE (who
Il Will be remembered, is seven or eight years
older than her alleged huseand)y Hero Is puzzle,
ana the explanation OF the BRIDES friends that they
wanted to keep IL secret from their parents is
altogether satisfactory. But take the other theory
that they were not married Then the girl must
been party to the deception. Who then, was the
bogus bridegroom who personated tho unfortunate
Merritt But tins theory presents other and still
moro perpcxing puzzles.
MERRITT's INDIsCRErIoNs
III Merritt was not TO be married why was II that n
day or two before the wedding he came TO Miller tho
Brcwsters Station lawyer and inquired how no could
get DIVORCE what causes woulu be sufficient &c.
Does this not look AS though Merritt be mar
redY for II Is evident that In Put
nam county DO divorced until he is first married And
again. 1t should be remembered as "a circumstance
which looks strongly against Merritt, that when on
tho day alter the marriage he called upon the Row. Dr.
Dean to inquire whether any man had been married
under his name the previous day he had his mus
tache cut OIL that Dr. Dean declared that tho man
who was married by HIM had long mustache, aud
that II subsequently appeared that Merritt had cut
on his mnslache on the very, day he called
and tho general air OF probability are to
decide the case then tho conclusion must
lawfully welded vito OF the boy Merritt Tho Mcrrtts
have attempted to impeach the character Of Miss
Knox by pointing to the TACT that iIcgiimate child
resides ON the Knox farm whose linoaments bear a
striking resemblance 10 those OF Miss Knox and
New YORK gentleman Of position who boarded one
farm This charge has not been denied by the knoxcs;
but, even If true, does not change tho case at all
THE TESTIMONY roREsnADowED
Tho Court will meet again Tomorrow (frday) morn
Ing ut Carmel when great throng OF rural spectators
prosecution now intend to submit some further
portant testimony. Mrs. Williams who do
nestle IN Or. Deans house on the day OF tho mar
into the back paror, where the ceremony was per-
formed; that she watched them until " was over. and
that she thinks tho bridegroom was John A. Merritt
BOY, named Brown. who went TO Dr. Deans
house on that night, Will testify that he buggy stand
ing the gate rcsembed by Merritt nd was
an opeu, square box buggy, such Merritt was wont
10 drive This will be ia direct conflict with tho testI
mony gwen for tho defence that II was a TOP buggy
The Rev. V. w. Benedict, OF Croton Falls, will tes-
thy that he met Merritt at Croton Falls the marriage
day, on his way to DIR. Deans aud that he also
u certain store kept by ono Ferris buggy in when
lady presumed 10 be Mtsa Knox sitting. Tho tcs
timoDy vi this witness Will only be inierental, he
does not claim To have Merritt in the buggy, but
from certain circumstances thinks he have
away IN IT, HIS testimony Will be Interesting, how.
over. view OF the TACT that Merritt has tried
prove an oiibL He maintained that on that EVENING" no
only drove to Ferris ut CrOon Falls to buy box
Of matches, and Immediately returned, being absent
from six to nIne O'Clock. But in thus statement lie
does not we'll account Tor the time for the drive both
ways only i've miles, and II, he says, he only
ton or fifteen minutes at Fcrrys store where did he
spcnd tho remainder oil the time?
Augustus Knox, an undertaken at Brcwster's sation
will testify that two days alter marriage no went
with Stephen Knox, the BRIDES father, to Dr. Dean
and that the reverend gentleman that occasion
not nearly SO uncertain the identity Of the BRIDE
groom he subsequently in court, but stated to
tho BRIDES father that no thought Merritt was tho
groom
10 have been subjected TO pressure both SIDES
called upon by John d. Merritt The ialhcr OF the
alleged bridegroom, his son. the Rev. H. G. Humphrey
whose church ut Lake Mahopac they ali attendl
and q ncigibor named Oscar Jannng, and they pro-
cured from him an affidavit that he DEAN thought Mer-
BRIDES father Will swear that Dr. Dean told him that
he thought Merritt was tho groom and hal chung 10
that Until the Merritt party above referred
had come 10 him ana persuaded hun to change his
opinion.
1t will BIO seen from tho above that strong chain
OF evidence will be presented showing that Merritt
the lucky bridegroom, and unless this testimony
be rctutcd II Is probable that the justice OF the peace
before whom Tue case Is tricd Will decide next
week that Merritt Is the possessor not only OF loving
wife but also OF tender scpson aad that he - bound
to support them Tho most cOmlCal feature OF the
(thc love letters written by Merritt to Miss
Knox have been suppressed by Justice Gregory.
Merritts counsel threaten to appeal the TO
Court Of Record If tho decision of tho Justice Is
against them.
DOCK LABORERS' STRIKE.