The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-23
THERE GOES MY DEVIL"

THE EVIL SPIRIT A WOMAN SAW AT HER HUs-
BANDS FUNERAL-sINdULAR ISLANDER SUIT
HOW THE HEATH FAMILY LrTIGATED AND
coNsPIRED.
"A suit moro complex and painful in its character"
remarked ono gentleman TO another yesterday, ~
think never witnessed in the courts"
at certainly Is very unusual =" remarked the gentle
man addressed, "ior u daughter TO appear Ia the
courts suitor against her mother, particularly
when the charges shown by tho testimony, present
such peculiarly revolving features in tho trial just
finished"
Tbe nrst gentleman quoted is certainly correct
to the complex character OF the suit, and requires
some preliminary explanation to make the matter in
tellig,be For good many years L. G. heath
kept store for the sale of adics patterns at No 3l5
Grand street. He was u married man, and had one
daughter and only child, named Emma J. Heath. In
his employ. clerk and sacswoman, was sophrona
Moody The business profitable one, and Mr.. Heath
became possessed OF considerable real estate In this
city, Brooklyn and New Jersey. Miss Moody lived
with Mr. Heath and his family, aud, as stated. filed
the position in the Heath household of housekeeper
and companion io- Mrs. Heath. Finally, Mss Moody
propretress OF the Grand street store, which
position she still occupies, and meantime Mr. Heath
turned his attention to real estate matters About
three years ago Mr.. Heath died.
There was large attendance at Mr.. heaths funeral
he having wide circle OF acquaintancos and according
TO all accounts being held by them In high respect
Miss Moody of the attendants at the funeral
Mrs Heath IS represented as having been very much
inccnscd at Misc Moody having put in an appearance
at the obscquics "iherc is my devil" she Is said
have remarked during the ceremonies, pointing out
Miss Moody. and to have repeated the observation
she was subsequently, riding with her daughter and
son-n-law in carriage following the hcarse aiming
the nail n. q n c0u god
to their final resting place
MRS. HEATH N A LuSATIc ASYLUM
Circumstances anterior 10 the funeral served 10
throw little light on the peculiarly iratc remark
by Mrs Heath in regard to Miss Moody Mss
Emma j. Heath had, some time before her fathers
death, married DR.. Sumner Mason. Mrs Heath al.
lcpes that her husband, some time previous TO the
daughters marriage, formed hdson with Mss
Moody, while the latter was living at their house. and
that The result OF such alleged criminal intimacy Is a
girl, now known by The name OF Carrie Manners and
living in Division street, child, by the way, alleged
to bear in its features striking resemblance both
Miss Moody and Mr. Heath Between Mr.. Heath Miss
Moody and Mrs. DR.. Mason, II 10 charged by Mrs
Heath that n conspiracy formed deprive her OF
her property OF which she owned good deal IN her
right and that the result OF this piracy wits
her Incarceration for twontyt months in the lima
tic asylum at Trenton, n. j.
QCARRfLLING PROPERTY.
Following her discharge from the iunatic asylum
aud subsequent To her husbands death she having
about two years later married one John LIBBY, suit
OF property which The latter claimed belonged
to her father ahd to which, us sole heir she had Just
SUIT ISLANDER
The case on trial yesterday before Judge Donohuc
damages for alleged SANDER. Miss Moody appears
the paiDtin In this action and Mrs Libby, formerly
Mrs. Heath, the defendant, although the latter claims
that the real parties prosecuting the SUIT were pr
Mason and his wife. Miss Moody, who claims 10 he
maiden lady OF sixty three summers brings the sut 10
punish defendant Tor her statements, charging her
with improper intimacy with her former husband. and
with having gwen birth TO an iilcgitlmato child,
ali Of which she denies Mrs LIBBY Is
mn
pcared court accompanied by her husband
She dressed in sombre coIors, and altogether
very matronly ana dgniicd looking lady Her
daughter, Mrs. Dr. Mason, was also present. attended
by her husband, tho Doctor Mrs Mason is OF the
blonde style OF beauty, and wore rich black velvet
cloak trimmed with fur. wealth Of luxnriant curls
hung down her shoulders. During most OF the pro-
arm teodcrly around her. Between the mother and
daughter and sonnlaw there passed no look o. rccog
milton. There was quite number OF other ladies IN
appeared for Miss Moody and Mcssrs William A.
Beach and Chauucy d. Ripley Tor Mr. Libby.
DAuGnrER's Story
Mrs Mason was nrst called to the witness stand.
She took her with easy nonchaancc and answered
The questions put her with exhibition OF embar.
rassmcnt Amer rectiDg portion Of the story given
above she told more 10 detail what occurred ut her
fathers funeral, Ia August, 1873 she remembered
very vyidy what her mother said while riding In tho
carriage TO the grave.
"w6a, did your mother say ?" asked tho counsel.
''sbc expressed herself very indignant at Miss
Moody for coming to the funeral"
edo you remember her anguagc?n
''Ihcrc goes my acviI'. remember her saying
that"
.sCan't you recall any th,ng else she sad?,
'shc spoke OF Miss Moody's child and said she pre-
sumcd that Mss Moody would want the child 10 como
into some OF the property"
A s0S-S.LAw's STATEMENT.
Dr.. Mason went through the ordeal of an examina-
ton with much apparent n he were dsscct
ing dead body He SAID he In the same carriage
with Mrs. Libby and his wife the day OF Mr. Hcath's
funeral, aud corroboracd hts wic's statement as to
what Mrs. Libby said on that occasion. lie said fur
,hcr that Mrs Libby had told him all aboct Miss
Moody's child tho paternity OF which she charged on
bor hrst husband lie asked her " she had any evil
dcnce that tho child was Hcath's child and she said
Eyes, the evidence OF It's looks"
BoARDER IN TnE FAMILY.
Mr. Warren y. Crook, Mrs Mary Crook and Mre
Elizabeth Iowcnthal we're next called as witnesses for
the plaintiff. The last witness was boardcr at Dr.
Mason's, IN Lexington avenue. He said that Mrs
LIBBY told her about the intimacy existing between
Mr.. Heath and Miss Moody, aud told atout Miss
M"odys child and described It's strong resemblance 10
Mr. Heath.
now THE ENDED.
No testimony was offered the part Of tho defence.
a motion made to dismiss tho complaint was denied,
after which tho counsel proceeded to sum up Nr
Beach was particularly severe on the son-in-lsw, and