The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-03
If NOT MRS. MERRITT, WHO?
PUTNAM COUNTYS MYSTERY MORE
MYSTERIOUS THIN EJER.
Mary y. Knox Says that y. a. Merritt IL her
Husband d-Tcstimony OF Mrs Susan Will
Hams, who saw the Marriage Anothc cr Suit.

Husband d-Tcstimonv or Mrs. susan WILL
nnm-, who saw the Marriage nother suit
On the evening Of Nov 8, 1876, the Rev j.
J. Dean Of Brewstcrs Station married Mary r.
Knox of Lake Mahopac TO man who gave his
name MS John A. Merritt. But John A. Merritt
declared that he never married Miss Knox or
any other woman. and he refused TO recognize
her as his wife. Thcrcupon she brought suit
to compel him to support her. The story Of this
strange marriage was fully told in The Sun
soon after Il occurred.
Tho trial began on Dec. I. in the reading room
OF the Smallcy Hotel at Carmel but thcrc was
such n crowd Of country pcoplc present. many
OF whom hal driven miles over bad roads to
hear the evidence. that the Court adjourned to
larger room in the County Court House. Am
brose Ryder and John G.. Miller were counsel
for Miss Knox. and !. 4. Williams of Chappa-
qua for Merritt.
plainant. She occupied the stand all day. and
testified in substance that Merritt asked
her to marry him over year ago, but
their parents opposed the match. Finally.
he offered to 20 with her and be clandcstinely
married. and at his request she got a $50 bill
from her mother and gave II TO him to pqy the
expenses. He said he didn't like to ask his
father Tor money because he was under age and
his father might ask what he wanted II for.
Then. she said. they drove to Croton Falls.
and nftorward to Brcw-' rs. whore tho Rev.
MIR. Dean. who was in haste to go tc prayer
meeting, married them. There were no wit
nesscs, After the ceremony was over they
drov" homo, stopping twice by the way. He let
her ont 10y the side of the road in front of her
fathers house and then drove away and she
never saw him aitcrward. except us ho was
driving past
The irinlwas then adjourned until Doc ls when
Miss Knox was cross-cNamined. and Howard
WiXon the, dry-goOds clerk at Brcwsters who
sold the wedding gloves to the BRIDEGROOM on the
night Of the marriugr. testified that he thought
the. man who bought the. gloves and who was
with Miss knoN was John A. Merritt. Other
]
then the court adjourned until Jan. g. The
heavy snow storms during the holiday senson
blocked the country roads To such an extent that
further adjournment became Necessary.
The trial was rrsumcd in the County Court
House before Justice Gregory yesterday morn
As the time foropcning court approached. the
throng Of countrymcn increased unt il the wood
! en- benches were all nlled and n dozen sturdy
farmers occupied the jurymen's chairs. After
! the Judge, the counsel and the witnesses came
| in. the aislos and every inch Of standing room
around the walls werc occupied. The great
number Of gray heads visible gave the audience
very Venerable appearance. Evidently the
| patriarchs OF the country side were Interested
! in the solution Of the great marriage mystery
which has puzzled them for months,
Thcra were no women in the audience except
me complainant and her sister who came into
court with their father. gray-headed farmer.
/ and sat lust behind the counsel for Miss Knox.
/ Ihe defendant. Merritt, drove To- the Court
! House IN n cutter with his counsel l. I. Will
lians. He hru- he'd against Miss Knox in en-.
/ t'ring the rallied spa'" before the bench, and
! both Of them cons lou-ly blushci and nvcrted
their gaze. Miss Knox has small, angular
face. som what nur.d. and peakrd chin. Her
mouth has peculiar expression on account of
/ IL ShortncsS oi the upp'r lip. which constantly
/ ylninly. in black. Her sister. who is Older but
| better look ing sat by her side all day. Merritt
is rather short and stout. lie has dark hair, 9
| low forehead. n now mOustache and roll Of
| dark whiskers under his chin. His brown eyes
| look rather dull and sluggish. He sat with his
| back 10 the complainant, and deiantly eyed the
| witnesses whenever their testimony bore against
NJ. c,.,, yvitio,.s .-,. ,.,..,. H., T.
| the Rev. Mr.. Deans family. and who called
th"r" NJ tho tifne oi tho marriage. testified that
she saw the marriage ceremony performed in
/ tn iAflur while sho snt in the sitting room adj
/ iuiuns. She had clear view Of the bride and
' Wa this the man who was married on That
! occasiunf asked Mr.. Ryder. pointing to John
A. Mrrrlu VIII" loaned forward and looked the
'' Yes SIR. WAS the positive reply. Thore was
roar ol shuilllng ir"t. laughter. and halt-sup-
pressed cxrlamations at this answer Tho Wit
ness cupred. and then exclaimed: Yes, he is
anl III say il before lO,ooo."
The key. \. ". Benedict. pastor ~ the Baptist
! chnr'h at tloion Fails, testified that he saw
Merritt ut Croton Falls on the oven ng ~ the
marr,gs1 aa IN nv VILLAIN A. i.rrs-s store bctY.een
Of the NJ train was heard hc lrii the store. Tho
witness connected Merritt in his mind with II
wagon containing % lnly which he had seen
n nr th" store. and which WAS gonr when. alter
ulk.ng politics for about an hour. he wen out
Mr. Bsn' ti't Was tcdiously crus--eNamined in
reference % IN" dress and appearance II Mer-
rtt ard IN" movements of the wagon. II t.sti-
m1ny WINS Introduced Ia confirm the story of
Miss Knox that she and Merritt had driven to
trot1n Falls previous 10 going 10 Brewster on
tho might of the marriage
Charles Wiley testified that one night in elnr-
tiun w'ek-h' believed u was Nov. :. the night
Of the murr.uge-hc ~nw VI I-- KnoN in the street
in Brewster accompanied 10y "a man, WHO he
thought was John 4. Merritt
At tn" inclusion of Mr. Miloy's testimony the
court adjourned for thr., weeks.
Mnnnwhl" the ru-e has assumed now phnsc.
On Thursday Mary l.. knuN and hrr father.
stephen Knox. Wrrr served with the papers in
suit lOr cons piracy against John 4. Merritt.