New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-13
THE COURTS.
MRS. MERRILES LETTERS.

HOW KINDNESS TOWARD HER ADOPTED SON CHANGED
TO BITTERNESS.
The Merrill will case was resumed before
Surrogate Calvin yesterday. The contestant George
Merrill. the adopted OF testatrx was recalled
The testimony consisted. almost entirely, Of the intro
ductiOn Of letters written from Europe by Mrs Merrill
to the witness The dates of these letters through
the years 1857 and 1853 BY the marked difference OF
the sentiments expressed and by the character tho
letters written during the two years. Mr. Parsons sought
TO show that those datod in 1858 indicated that the
writer was insane The witness said that after leaving
the New-Jersey Zinc Wcrx, he studied law and al
mited to the bar in 1852 With the exception Of the
time when he was employed in the zinc works, he had
always been supported by his fathers money.
The first letter introduced dated Paris, January g.
1857, and inclosed from Captain Merrill This aud
the letters that followed for several weeks referred to
the failing health OF Captain Merrill. and George was
asked visit him before be died. Mrs. Merrill addressed
her adopted in terms OF the greatest affection and
admiration. She complimened him upon several literary
efforts, particularly upon poem published In The Erc
ing POSI- Financial difficulties with Green Co., OF
Paris were mentioned. The witness visited Europe
to see his father before he died, and after
bis death Mrs. Merrill returned to America.
She went .back TO Paris in the Autumn OF
1857 10 prosecute the claim against Green d 90. AT
tins period we're written the most interesting Of the let;
about her sons health aud agreed with his fathers opn
think" she wrote TO him. that you different from
other aud that you can with impuny act 80 con-
trary TO nature. Marry sOme refined, educated we'll
brought up u1rl No ,nrl could refuse you, with many
attractions your favor. member OF one OF the oldest
families, possessed OF wealth, with the advantages or
good schooling fair appearance bright talents and
morals of fresh fallen snow what mere could younS
ASK
Al the conclusion Of the reading Of this letter Mr. Par
asked witness Did yon marry a. etned edu-
Gated well brou ght-up girl T. Yes SIR did,. WAS tho
response. Mrs Merrill wrote that when she should re-
home she would wish TO her son alone, and To
give him Gay kises she made still another visit dur
ing tls Paris look after her business with
Green d Co. The letters werc then changed IA tOEe.
The writer declared that she was given up 10 sore gef
because the OF her husband. DuIl. her absence
the witness he had been left IN charge OF her prop
be 1887 Mrs Merrill complains that her sou was over
stepping the bounds ~ MS authority. She asserted that
he mad business capacity gno she could not submit 10
his dictatIOD. she had brought her own expenses
IN Paris down 10 q Iinimum-D0t more tLan
ten francs a day she drank wine and bought no nov
dresses. HIS letters appegrcd 10 her hgtciui aud M
Interesting. She declared that she Low saw Why wlo-
ows married-tO get care for thcu she NJ.
braided adopted for reckless expenditure ana
no one would notice him. She wrote on January .,
1885, that she had control over her feelASG she WAS
crying All times In May, 1873 she wrote thar sAo
might die in Paris She asked that a. soon rs her tln
had obtained the property he would devote part ~ u
obtaining Justice from Green Co. Ia the same lex
she asserted chat she had passed nght Oh agony
She had DO rest ia mind OF body. .
Mrs. Merrill, the witness SAN, came To New lOFk n
June. $50, ard returned to Paris IA the Autumn Ilf
examination ~ Mr. Merrill was interrupted a. allow
Judge William +. Curtis ~ TESTIFY IN regard q sc;
formal matter.