The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-23
TIE MERRITT ESTATE.

THE CLAIMANTS PROSPECTS FOR DISTRIBU-
TIVE sHAEE or THE PERSONAL PROPERTY.
When the Merritt called In the Westchester
County Surrogate Court yesterday forenoon, exJudge
Tappen In behalf OF tho claimant, William J. Merritt
or Wilson, presented petition asking that citation
DO issued ordering the administrators TO die their
preparatory to division of the estate, rs It
now ready for distribution. Counsel SAID regard
10 the ppcaon made by him at tho last hearing for
an Increase OF the administration bond, and also
the appon tment OF other surotes, they had deter
mined merge that IL the petition for distribution
OF the estate; that II this was granted they will be
prepared 10 prove who Is the rightiul heir 10 the
estate OF John A. Merritt
SOCIETY FRIENDS MARRIAGE.
Counsel added that accompanying the petition was
an AFFIDAVIT Of Mira Wilson, setting forth that she is
the mother OF the claimants that the year 1927 sho
then being single woman OF tho age OF eighteen years.
and John A. Merritt single OF the age OF twenty
years, murrngc was lawfully contracted between
them according the rites OF the Society OF Friends,
of which John A. Merritt member: that such
marriage ted and consumlnaed by cohabi-
tation and wife AT the residence OF lothian
Merritt, the father OF John A. Merritt, in
tho town OF Rye, Wcs,chcstcr county; that
the only issue OF such marriage
son, William j. Merritt, who was born tho 9th
day ol tebruary 1928 tnat ne was brought up IN his
fathers house, supported aud educated ny HIM, and
was known by the name OF William J. Merritt Until
fourteen years old, whom al tho request OF his grand
mother, tho vile OF Joham Merritt, and with the as.
sent vi his parents, he assumed the name OF W am
Wnson, by which he continued 10 DO known until The
death OF hts father, Jonn A. Merritt, IN April 1875,
when he resumed his original name oil William Mer
reit.
CALVIN Frost OF counsel for the adm nistrators,
Piled say ing that an application having been made at
last hearing by counsel the other side Tor other
administrators, ne thought that question should be
settled irs, and then hts side nigh, have sometbing
10 the rant oil opposing counsel TO cite the
administrations TO distribution. He asked that tho
matter OF reyokng the letters OF administration DO
either proceeded with or dismissed.
Ex-Judg TnppaD, turning to MI Thayer, asked him
II the administrators were making any Preparations
Tor final accounting to which the latter replied that
he had nothing 10 say that subject NJ present.
Mr. StiliweI asked The SurrOgatc's intcrpostion to
prevent the admnstra selling the crops certain
Counsel the crops alluded 10 had been advor
tsel Tor sale ny Mr. Peck. In his capacity OF admins
TRAITOR aud that he had right to take such course
when they claimed and intended 70 prove that William
j. wison Merritt tho legal owner oil all the real
estate Of which John A. Merritt was possessed at the
time Of his death.
The Surrogate said that II the administrators did
anything kind mentioned by counsel thoy would
be liable for trespass but ne would not
should do, as they had taken an oath before him that
they would faithfully perform thor duties as such
ADMINISTRATORS
tho surrogate granted the citation ordering the
admin strators 10 appear the 30th prox. for tho
purpose rendering account oil Their proceedings,
and show why the ciaimants share OF tho por-
sonAl estate should not be paid.