The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-23
IS HARRIET GROSS INSANE?
TWO SISTERS AND A BROTHER DECLARE
THAT HER MIND rs UNSOUND.
She, however, soiennIy Aver. that they are
PersecutinR her In Order 60 Control her
Property, which IL Valued ut 100000.


Francis Gross, one Of the old-time mer-
chants OF New York and director in the Sew
enth Ward National Bank. died in 1870. leaving
| an estate Of at least half million OF dollars and
| 1--WE children-one son and four daughters
Two of his daughters. Charlotte and Harriet
never married. Their mother died in 1872
| Charlotte died about three years ago. and her
/ portion of the estate, she dying ntrstate. re-
vcrted to her brother and sisters. Tho family
has always occupied high social position. 1t
| has however, not been n secret that ever since
the death Of Charlotte A. Gross. or. perhaps.
even before that date. there was serious trouble
| in the family, growing out OF the unsettled con-
dition Of the property. As long ago MS last
year. Miss Harriet Gross cndeavored. through
tine mediation Of cousin. TO obtain from hcr
| brother. John l.. Gross some definite EnOwl-
edge Of what was her actual interest in tho es-
tate. the amount Of her possessions and some
| arrangement BY which that which belonged to
| her might he put under her control The mme-
! diate results OF that cndeavor are best told in
her AFFIDAVIT. and tho ultimate results seem to
have been developed in some recent proceed
ings in court.
| On April 30. 1873, n petition was prepared for
presentation TO the supreme Court by John l..
Gross. Rachel Il. March. and Maria Louisa
| Van Woert tthe brother and two sisters Of Har-
riet Grossl. setting forth IA her present heirs at
law that the said Harriet Gross Ia now and has
been for the space OF six months last past Il per-
son OF unsound mind. and incapable OF man.
aging herself or her affairs and that her act ngs
| and doings during the last six months have
| been those OF an insane person; that the said
| Harriet Gross sccretes herself from all associa
ton or connection with any Of her own family
! connections. and associates with and allows her
| self TO be controlled hv persons outside OF the
| family: that she has written long and incoherent
! letters to your petitioners. Rachel i. March and
Maria Louisa Van Woert, containing the most
extraordinary and inconsistent charges. and
such Ms no ono but mn insane person would
| make: that she Is particularly susceptible from
| her mental weakness. OF being imposed upon
and deprived OF her psoper'y md that atsiy,
! power OF attorney TO one William l.. Moore.
who is altogether irr.spon siblc and man
take possession Of al her property and
that the said Moore has mnde n demand
said Harriet Gross in charge: thni tho proper
! ~ Of the said Harriet Gross consists in money
at least $4,000; that your petitioners ARE d.
sirous that the United States Trust Company
or some appropriate person maybe appointed
trustee or committee 81 the saii Harriet Gross.
Your petitioners pray that n commission in tho
nature of wr; Ne hndfco inqtreHfo may issue
70 inquire of the lunacy of the sal Harriet
| Gross. directed to such persons ~ this court
shall think proper Judge Dononu". ON ipra
rom ssi6n desired j. " Rsnncy. piysic.an:
| II. ID. Purroy. counsellor ut law and Bernard
smyth: al Of this city. who wn.re dire'tel to
| make tho inquiry by n jury. That order also
forbade thcturnnG over of The estate belonging
70 Mss Harriet Gross by the other .custodans
her representative. Wlinm l.. Moor.
William l.. Moore isa Pcesbyierian minister
s sn o w@2 P1 hy Nj i ME- nH
His faiher is the R,v. JOHN L. Moore genilc-
wSo is az present jogrnsyine in Aisicrs.
The commission appointed 10y the court noti-
fed Miss Harriet Grcss 10 BE- ready Tor exam ing-
ton as TO her mental condition On JuneI Pond
ing that event, shc caused to be prepared the
following affidavit:
r, q, S,r,oa' o1t n n, S,''g ~, 70, Your rei
q age maiden lady, lnl reside a. Gis lua avcnne
Year, hS. been At ,h1 wri.or iioiei ard tb- Hot.
~ T. Nc" az" ~, , 10 ,.W wv" am
Gross. now drcea,,d a, 10 te.i sc,,nitcni -rsct
time rast anirshc way. have been irving - got
Psnci. rc.. NJ" my her harriet arr 5 rS. md ' Ne, .
sn nl' pposor,, In. .in e"ous 10 hsn,' If
eros. ani John shaw. an altorne, - '.iar s'tc.t
formed blnns me p,.t yeat asked l0hn / Nouie
VIII known m ic en-, 81 Ncw York 10 .,c M b. .fcf
and MI shay end get ,isi.mert from ncn o. y
rom uicm ,ha' would qaord inc a,'ull know ,'se Of
e" wan %'i a,c.'c F'' ra an. dea 1' a,d * bi %
ny No i '%G Ica2S~ 3oras / r. wa. an ' a,d G
m e S,n,c tn.n .,c'me Xxx" AM .,G
L Gre... nor my sisters Nho loan the pcuuon 10 nave
les. KSpt close Roi ct M, proreriy an Wol , me-
6 know ye e In ' Sny Ting about 4 Il !. noH 2gar
ne. yet he hold. on 20 my rropery and now -cess -
placed in The United S'ac. Trust Comrany or IN ro..,
nv own NV saS 9r,ier ,n in 'e ',5 y,
h,twccn two aud Three hundred thousand dollar. AMI
RoM net In Agr - wa, wy la 'i;'eT
into state ana was informed wa cnt iir H. .oe M
teen thousand Dc lar rom ~ lins1ruct my ..u-n.
before mentioned 10 meet NY hrohcr a othcr. ~ vr
share saSs Mr Moor he 5'Ss,s i'[ po we ~"
am@eneS % Sn,a n ON ~ com To- Mr 10" Ne |,