The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-16
MERRITT AND MRS. LEGGETT.
THAT ~ frERRED TO HiTE PRECEDED
TIE MtRDER AND Suicide
Mr.. I.esrctt. Husband. Mysterious Death
Her Estnte and Income " Whnt was the
nature OF Merritts Frequent Nonfcrences
with Mrs. Ieavctt Twas Mct rita Insane


Tuckahoc was throbbing with excitement
Yesterday The relatives Of both Merritt and
his victim denied the existence OF any such in
innate relations between the parties IA have
becn whispered by tho gossips. The first sto
rIes connecting the names of Mrs. Lcggcit and
Theron Merritt were started about eighteen
months ago. by n German coachman in the em-
rloy Of the formcr-s,ories OF frequent visits by
Merritt to Mrs Lcgeett; intimate conversations
between them; visits together TO the city. ana
finally n circumstantial narration Of a stormy
interview between Mrs. jacob Merritt-Thcron
mother-nnd Mrs. Lcegett. in which the former
after reverting to the current scandal sald;
You may do what you please. Mrs. lcggett.
but you shall not ruin my boy" the rcply to
which was. " will do what please
That there was such an interviews emphati-
cay denied and Mrs Merritt rcpudaes the
use OF any such language.
II is affirmed by near neiehbors that the Mer-
riti family have been Of late years in n condition
OF pecuniary embarrassment Mr.. Jacob M"r-
ri,t the father is the rcpu,cd owner OF farm
OF about $50 acres which was once held at
800 600 but one man holds u mortgage Tor
40 OOO another n mortgage of $1,000. and stu
other mortgages are spoken Of Not long ago
the holder OF the 10000 mortgage coniem-
plated foreclosure. hut was restrained 10y tho
consideration that he would not like to take the
farm for the amount Of his mortgage and tho
other mortgage. of which he knew. Mr.J. Ner-
rtt is too old to carry on business successfully.
and his sons have not been fortunate in their
ventures. Theron Merritt. after an unsucccss-
ful speculation in Chicago entered upon various
commission enterprises in spices. tin Kettles.
oleomargarine. and other things. but not with
results that could have been deemed satisfa'-
tory To n man with n wife and thrse children 10
support. and only a few days ago he borrowed
81 from friend at the depot to 80 to New ,lork:
Accepting as n premise that Theron M"rrlu
needed money. did Mrs. l.egget have any To
lend to him I? Her family profess, 70 know
Mrs Leggett Inherited from her father gave
her merely n life interest in the income from
lnally worth about $500 0OD-not double that
sum. as reportcd-but actually OF considerably
lees value. and Mrs. Leggctt simply had the in
tcrsst upon. or dividends accruing from. one,
half Of that fortune. the principal being will"d
to her children at her death. She Is supposed
il is hardly reasonable supposition that tRc
modest style maintained by her family could
hSys ,hN she rn %aaey ni 70 Merritt and was
ing him for payment. hut this Is denied 10y the
members Of his family, and No eyidencv, OF
Ieggett's papers, and her daughters have no
knowledge Of It's existence.
1t is. however, beyond all question that some
intimacy beyond that Of mere ia,nilyconnection
BY marriage existed between Mrs. IeGgeit and
NeTrltt. ne wis nlt' II seen WIFI nti III ~
cited converse in her house and in the cars be-
tween New York and Tpckahoe. and their
a 6n hSG% S pr
Harlem read started, from NV Yark, Mr.
pied seats on the LETT side Of the car.
with vacant seat between them. which was
occupied by a reighb2r and friend Of both;
Ser S1a
, Srrly eycited. and sat glaring fcrcely Mt Mrs.
IeggeU. Merritt looked Np uussrilV, not Seetu-
ing to recognize him at first, then in moment
smiled IN his ordinarily afrablc manner and re-
in his seat. and. halt turned. continued 70 glare
nt Mrs. Leggett: Before the train reached Noun!
uneasily two or three times. Al Mount Vernon
90 many passenger got out OF the ear that the
Leggett changed her seat TO that side tur,her
back and away from any near neiShbors. Mer-
ritt was outside at the moment. He returned.
and. taking the seat in front Of Mrs Lcggeti.
leaned over its back toward her. and kept NJ an
excited conversation with her all M the w., Way To
and excited. She got into her buggy viii II
was in waiting for her; and, drove on He, got
then after she started. he snaiched the reins
from his boy driver, and lnshing his horse.
her. Both drove very fast At his gate. he
stopped. She went on n little further 10 her
own house. and he did not see her again until
he visited her house 10 kill her
Other villagers had seen the two in similar ex,
unite in saying that while his feeling was al
ways strongly manifested. she was uniformly
calm. What their theme was no one ever as 'er.
tanned. but it is certain that something existed
between them concerning which they both
chose to maintain secrecy.
Samuel Leggeu six years ago: The questions
are now suggestiyely asked. " Who was the man
that fired at Mr. Sloan-the screw pointed ginl-
let inventor who was so prominent a member Of
the Leggett family at that time-and also a. Mr..
LeEsets Did Mr. h"gGettpStaPy IT. .. soWMi' III inl.
rtt was at that time well acquainted with Mrs.
LeGgett. but there is nothing To show that he
him 10 suicide. After the death u Mr. I"rgetl
Mrs. Merritt tTheron'i wifcl and Ms mother
nre said to have eXertcd themselves 70 the Ut
most 10 put down the scandal which rvss rs
were seeking 10 spread about Ia" aili ictcI
widow. and ever since they have been her close
The theory Of insanity is earnestly rut for.
ward py the Merritt family. Mr. kolanr, M'r-
ritt. brother Of Theron said yc-' iIay; Theron
had not been drinkin, at ih On "Wednesday
M 70 noon. am sure. ~ saw MN ~ dinnnr
hnt he was acting sIrangey a. II Nr hGw,icWyrI Wrr q,
said: Il thought he had been taking a LITTLE
wine" Mr.. jacob Morrtt said; " lio ney"l
time that his mind was affected, and he mad o
late been growing worse. he nld shown symp
suicide Often for two ynrs Iast. AZ Ia" time h'
had the sunstrokc in West Virginia. tlrnc years
ago. he fell from his horse, and was insensib
for several hours. since th"n he mas at times
llaned a great deal Of his head. Ny sor
sRs' had hdrrM nonc To- ' d inS Shr r' ha only i a in
como Of what her father loit her. and She live,
w 10 that. Sh" d INT snow the yaur Of mon 3
Her father ,oli her 50 before hc died. and thu
was WY he lail h., estate as he dld, 50 that sh'
snt2In,ld be ,cerel for, dprns her life. and ae
Theron was in Sow York thi- w.ok but don
remember Thni day lie oneA won't down t
the city. lie WIS trying T., DO "A little In th'
commission business, uuA lu'O iy boon hanliiinl
some spers' ana trI"dio 90 '1n"ihing WITH tn