New-York tribune., 1878-02-16
MRS. MERRILL'S ESTATE.
rnE AnnpTED SONS CONTEST.

LETTERS FROM TIE COURIER ExCLUDED-GEoRGE
A. MERRILL'S TESTIMONY.
Near the close OF the testimony at the hear
ing OF the Merrill W II case last Wednesday, Mr. Parsons
rs counsel for the contestaDt Geo. A. Merrill, offered 10
introduce into the testimony letters written to Mrs.
Merrill bv courier named Mafai, who was engaged In
her service In these letters courier addressed Mrs
Merrill as My dear mamma" and used other similar
expressions OF endearment The object Of introducing
them, Mr.. Parsons SAID, was to indicate
Mrs. MerrlPs insanity, as no woman OF her
character when sane aud occupying her POSITION
in society would retain In her employ, be argued,
pena, who presumed to address such language to her,
udge Porter objected there was no proof that Mrs
Merrill ever received the letters or that slc uo"ed tue
servant to go Calvin reserved his decision u
tn Yesterday when he refused TO allow tue honss VI
Other letters OF various eharacer "cie oo
George A. Merrill remained upon tho witness stand ana
nearly all day In explanation o, cefl M sinst Is
wife, he said that lie never knew OF any IDpIopcs "
conduct o. the part h6 OF 6 yod WiG % or ay L.
man Of fortune. The witness denied haHle eNT ,i
letters were identifed which written by Mrs Mer-
rill the witness after the open rupture between
that George Merrill send her at all the properiy
belonging TO her. from the ettcr9ag 70 tne Dous @
has sept 10 her One open to let out the SIX
cent seovebuttons II George does not act promptly
now Mrs Merrill VIII act on the advice given her by
aver Mrs. Merrill is urged to come out and
DENY Georges story that Mrs. Merrill dlspleased De-
cause ne has married an unfortunate gill. say
George is the liar IL Is conspiracy on tue part ol t
p1rIs family to get his money"
I'm another letter OF S63 Mrs. Merrill wrote: when
Mr. Jones saws that you not 10 give up my prol
crty that your pOssss0n, shall see MN 10 ul
fpreDt character than before. 1Ou nave Always
kent nv keys and had the possession OF ny properly
wien yOu went Europe you left them IN me charge o
stranger For this your character surerel, hoi hhe
have been faithful In the discharge Ot my du@ 10 YOU
on ms diving bed SAID to my bnsDaBd; lie VIII, ne
kind 10 me- but he answered, He wants nOlhbs Dut
orr money yield all my friends TO yon NO person
can insult me more recognizing yOu as Iricnu
Now tell yOu again that never Dad the eab aHtcLlOI
for Won neither had Captain Merrill We oiten taIk.u
il over and let you altogether Without srat
tule." ,.. < ,,.,..i,
Mr. Parsos offered introduce letters from Captain
Merrill showing chat instead of entertaining any sueh
feelings the witness, Captain Merrill 10 he ay
of his death had the warmest affection ana regard ir
him Surrogate Calvin sald that this was pam enough
from former testimony. There was an evident contta-
ctlon H. Mrs NerrIis letter, which would ony De
cxu ned in the theory either that she was insane OF
tl,at she was person OF most yndlctVe temper ihc
letters were therefore excluded. Judge Porter conceG
ug all tLat contestant expected 70 prove Dy tieH
The direct examination of George ~ Merrill clOsch heie;
Ie viii he c'ossrXamined next Tuesday
teu,ral John A. Dix testified as 10 his knowledge OF
the character and social position Ot MI ana MIS- George
Merrill in Paris, at the time when the General was
Minister TO France III lS66-lSG9 MIS- hertiI nc
bed rs "a woman OF excellent manners, inu "Do
Xns nlguiy esteemed the " American Colony" Ihey
botl moved In the besi society.