The New York herald., 1877-01-17
The SKELETON IN THE CLOSET.

TEN YEARS OF MIsERY-AN ExTonTED BE-
QUEST AND CRUEL coDIcrL.
A few weeks ago a man, nearly eighty years Of age.
died In this city Ho left children, and Is alleged
scarcely friend pay the last rites his ashes c
died at midnight, and alone. No had thought him
dangerously sick, for ho retired to bed at night as
usual and his death was only ascertancd at noon Of
the following day, when his door was broken opon
and he found lfolcss upon his bcd Breakfast had
been prepared Tor him usual, aud his passionate
temper was much feared that one had vcnturcd
TO disturb him till grew late In the day that the
household becamc seriously alarmed at his non-ap-
pcarancc An autopsy held upon the body, and
the whole system of the deceased found TO DO
thoroughly diseased, though the proximate cause OF
his sudden death considered be disease OF the
heart
wIFEs sUFFERxGs
Such painful scenes as those from which the veil has
been partially lifted this old mans almost
sacred One hcsitstes to draw tho aside
veal tho misery. A girl OF fifteen marrics man IN
middle life, wdowcr, with children older than her.
sel Sho lived with him till no Iongor youthful has
borne him ohildrcn, and has sccu him change from
doting lover to qucrulous husband, md finally 10
morosc aud ptilcss old man. Both her own children
aud those by his former wife are doad. He has no
near relatives and no familiar circle OF acquaintanccs
He keeps a solitary home, from which all strangers
are Jca.ousy excluded, ard that homo becomes ncr
prsoh This was ten years ago, and her iic since, all
agree, must have bce weary torture In iact
the stories rocUuntcd by thOsc III p0stOl TO know
the truth see.n 10 60 beyond belcf rho non had
received the education Of gentleman, but the vrrcst
savage would have rcvotcd az the orucltios he
cused OF practising toward his wiic. without tho
slightest proyocaton Is sa'd ne had been known 70
by tho hair, and KICK her brulaliy. His whIms aad
caprlccs were legion. ana the whole household
crouchcd IN terror before him. II was never known
what new vagary would take possession OF him, and
hrs trembling wife and servants would study kis
humors with painful zeai aud yet tail TO satisfy their
capricous tyraoL servants, however, coulc and did
leave the house. but not even this resorrcc was open
10 the suffering wiIc
Az IxrELLIGiBLE THREAT.
Knowing that even woman's endurance has It's
limits, ho threatened openly Il Is avcrred ~ shoot the
who should dare 10 givc her refuge, and either kill
his wife well IN her hiding place drag her b,ck 10
the old life OF torment. Nor was this nn empty bravad0,
believed by those who knew the man bcs, thas 10
meant II 10 tho letter. So his WIFE suffered on, with
out rciei. waiting Tor tho end What ten years Of
suCha liic must have been no ono but tho uncVmpIain
Ing sufferer TELL and the climax to her wrongs was
only TO be reached az the end. e had gwen her many
years ngo deed OF the house and lot whcro hoy wcro
living, and TINS her main resource Tor support
case OF his death.
A PERSUASIVE pisroL
week or two rclore ho uicd, perhaps bong con-
sci0us OF the precarous state OF his health he dccr
mined, II said. to cxt0rt thus deed from hcr As che
kne before hiin he placed pistol TO her head aud
threatened to kill her instantly unoss she would gvo
him back her property. IL Is asserted that witnesses
10 WIS III cOuTt, u neCessnIy,
and to aver that being IN deadly fear Tor her lite che
made tho required surrender. No sooner had he mado
tins last concession than he FASTENED 10 draw up q
codic to his WILL by which hts vie wns shut out from
oil upon his what sho dcrIvcu from
the bare dover which the law makes tho portion OF o
widow.
Will.
Had be any near relative to whom he might natu.
rally have desired to bequcath hts estate or sonc por
tion OF II, tho solution Ol the mystery might not bo
tar to seek. But u rs reported that the properly has
been wilcd away TO distant rcatv aud busiucss
ana unenx fnT hA NnM IN Gln
attachment The statement must be received with
caution, for. apart from the exclusion Of the widow,
nothing definitely known OF the provisions except to
certain gentlemen acting as counsel or executors IL
Is stated, however, on tho authority oi ono 0f these
gentlemen that the bouy oi the Will IS
very loosely and badly drawn, but that not pro.
posed TO contest any portion except tho coiict re-
icrrcd TO- The amount Of the estate cannot be
ratcy determined al present. but tho real estate be-
qucathcd valued roughly nj f30v0U The sealed vii
now in the possession OF the principal executor ana
viii be opened Tor presentation 10 probate ON the ltt
OF February next. Tho fond husband whose strana ae
has been referred TO this article the late
William J. Haskell, rcs'ding ~ No. $40 West Twenty
! first street,