Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-07
Another "Trial" Promised.


Before the Vanderbilt scandal has grown cold,
we have the prospect of another judicial process
equally interesting. Mr.. Thomas Lord, rich
widower OF eighly-hfee years has been led to the
altar By Mrs. Annette w. w. Hicks, a clever
widow, con jactulcd by the judicous 10 be some
where between forty aud fifty. The children and
hcirs of the venerable bridegroom are naturally
indignant, as the most equabe of US would be
under similar circumstances. They claim, it i
undels God, that the old man is entirely irrespon-
shle. incapable Of acting with sound Judgment
and no ftier to contract marriage than child
They have moved promptly in the matter. Three
Of Mir Lolds sons Lave asked and obtained an
order Cor an inquiry into his sanity, and pending
this proceeding, be is dcbarred from di,rosing Of
his property.
Certainly Mrs. lIicks-Loid was not so shrewd
a. she thought herself 10 be; for her aged spouse
could sign no Testament nor any CONVEYANCE, nor
execute any in enture in the nature Of marriage
settlement, even had not tins proceeding been set
on foot, through which lawyer of ordinary ca
pacity would not undertake to drive a coacb-aud
four with flying colors. Evidently She bias never
read any of Sir William SCOTS excellent deci.-
ION, OF she would have found out that rich old
gentlemen who marry widows of half their age.
are not considered the ccarest headed of deyi,ors
in courts Of probate. We would not speak di,re.
specially OF THIS lady; it Is possible that she may
en'eitail a sincele affection, and even tender
passion for her elderly husband; but for all that
she has before her dismal prospect of a success
sion Of law poo, edings which will make her life
ppe nil ha !
with expensive and harrassing litigation This,
too, will be battle which she will have to ght
alone for in the course Of nature she will soon be
again lJTn and defcnceless widow. We shonld
be inclined to think that her cleverness has been
overrated, d we not know the grievous uncer-
talnty Of The law. she may win the battle, bat at
best II will be "A hard one. Ne are happy TO be-
eye that great many women would not engage
N It Tor fl thousand times the MONEY!
80 much may be SAID III view of the proceedings
actual an possible, OF eNa,pel aed heirs. On the
other hand, II may be argued that marriages like
this are far IRON being without precedent and thai
0Ctogenaflans as sound minded rs ever they were
have given their hands to women Young enough
to be Their granddaughtors. The first thing to be
established Is the ate of Mr. Louls intellectual
powers and We all know what an astonishing
amount Of evidence on both sides can be produced
when such point is to be decided. There is
nothing more difficult 10 determine as all the
books show, than the sound mind and coutrac inc
capacity Of a very old man. Feebleness of BODY
ALWAYS suggests feebleuess of the mind though
one IS ~ Ie means necessary consequence of
the other. There was no talk of pulling Mr.
LOId's estate into the hands of trustees until af
Ter BIS astounding nuPtials and it Will not be held
we suppose that anybody, juvenile or senile is
non cDulpOs meutls merely because he allows him
sell 10 be married. Nor will the ecceutricity
Of = match lAyalidate it in the eve of the law
Scores OF such marriages are every year solemn
zed without exciting much wonder. There re
mains therefore, only the disagieeabe resource of
establishing the second childishncss OF Mr. Lord
and Tins ior his own children caLnot be pleasant
business. To accumulate evidence of a fathers
decay to depose 10 hundred little circumstauces
occurring IN the freedom of domest c Intercourse
to recall the foolish things which he did and the
insane things which he said; TO act upon the theo-
~ that he could he made the yerest dupe of de-
signing woman; and then to expose 10 the world
BIS intellectual naAedness would he task which
many children would not undertake for all the
wealth OF Wall Street, II every security bought
and sold there were a premium. For the sake
ot justice such a task may be engaged in; but
righteous as 1t may be- II must still be painful to
the high minded aud the aiiectIonate In such a
case, kiudied must decide Tor themselves without
taking advice OF the public which, fond as it is OF
reading reports OF evidence, may not prove dis
interested adviser There i always, too, ia such
cases an opportunity for jndicious compromise,
anu chance TO wash the soiled linen at home.
But when all the details of scandal have been
plladed 10 the newspapers, with every mortify ing
accident ana every pTurent circumstance, it must
NJ adm Tea that one great motive for negotiation
exist 10 longer. If we were disposed t. be cyni-
cal OF pliosoph'c cal we might congratulate those
who, fortunately uot being worth a million and
bali OF dollars, are IA no danger of Il marriage
about vii h people viii talk and newspapers
wii-e. Poverty stricken four-scole has at least
tLat privilege Fork Tribune.