The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-12
MERRITT'S MILLION.

ALLEGED DEFECTIVE sUaETIRs ON THE ADMIN
IsTRAToE's BoNDs-THE PACIFIC BANK RE-
LEASED FROM IT'S RESPONSIBILITY.
Another hearing 10 tho matter OF the estate OF John
A. Morritt the millionaire cattle drovcr died
testate Rye Wcstcheser county, last year, up
in tho Surrogate Court White Plains yesterday. In
accordance with citation issued by Surrogate Comm
on petition of the claimant, William Wilson, alias
Merritt administrators appeared in person by
counsel to SHOW why thor bonds should not no
increased IRON 900 to 81 600 600 This appIica.
tion made on tho ground that tho per-
sonal estate OF tho deceased, as shown by
tho inventory, amounts to over q million dol.
lars and the statute provides that bonds
in double the amount must DO furnished by the ad-
illustrators. Tho application Of the claimant also
objected TO the alegeo illegal action or the Pacific
Bank directors In becoming security for the President
OF that corporation, Jacob Campbell, ono OF the ad-
mnsraors OF the Merritt estate and also asked that
other suretes be appointed in place OF those whose
Justifying IS such was prcdicatcd upon what
they expect receive out OF tho estate cousins
and he.rs.at-law $ H. Thayor. for the adj
nittcd that II should be summary dismissed,
arguing that the party presenting and calling him
self the OF John A. Merritt had no standing IN
court and that reasonable objection could DO madc
to the bonds of tho Administration. Counsel added
that tho dcccascd's habits and mode OF living wcre
known OF all men IN tho vicinity wnero he resided and
that was absurd Tor any to assert that ho
had wife or child. The counsel said that the petit
toner should bring witnesses 10 prove his prcposter
claim before being allowed any sinnding In court
INFORMATION AND BELIEF.
Ex-Judgc Tappan REPLIED setting iOrth that tho Pc
titionor came there TO assert his clam as . son and
next OF kin 10 the deceased and that tho
GUS cousins who arc asserting their claims az being
next OF kin can only say SO on Information and belief.
Wilam Merritt sets forth that be 10 informed and boz
lievrs that he is the OF the deceased aud such
hc has tight ask that tho bond Of the administra.
tors be Increased. In regard TO the bond Of Jacob
Campbell, he said that the directors signed IL,
while inc law , does not not 'iow any CORPORATION
the Pacific Bank not responsible for dollar Of IL
His client claimed to have an interest in tho estate.
aud when tho proper time comes will II, and
then tie cousins viii havo no valid claims and no
standing IN court They were prepared 10 onor abun.
dant proof that the person known Eliza Wilson, the
mother OF the claimant was the lawful vito OF Jonu
A. Merritt, adding that on the morning Immediately
succeeding the death OF Merritt she was called upon by
person VINO was present at court and advised 10
keep still, and that shortly after tho funeral the
claimant was also sought out by another party and rc-
qucstcd to keep quiet" that everything would DO
arranged satisfactorily.
Benjamin ~ Stiwell, associate counsel for the pc.
tioner, also argued favor Of increasing tho bond,
asserting that Jacob Campbell Of the administra-
tors owes he estate $4,000, while Jared V. Peck the
%e n Inc = ss Sa
Pacac Bank with capital Of s40o, 900, signs bon!
Of 600 for its President while In regard 20 Jared
prepared TO prove that he peek not worth ten
cents Ho also said that two Of the women,
who claim TO DO heirs at law and who
in signing suretes for the administrators justified
IN the amount o. $I5 600 each, were common beggarS
and have no. got two shiliInss the world, adding
that their brother d,ed IN the County Poorhouso
THE suRRooATK'S DECISION. :.
The Surrogate decided that tho petitioner wouIa
he would have "a right 10 object 10 the administrators
or their bonds. He thought II would be best to post
ponc the matter until the I'D insi., when the pet''
toner may o1er evidence to support his claim.
inc surrogate subsequently,. ON the ADMINISTRATOR
voluntarily ming new bond, released the rav,S
Bank from It's obligations as suretles for the adm'nia~
traitors