The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-22
A SON AGAINST HIS FATHER.
EXTRA ORDINARY sCENE IN THE sU-
PREME COURT, BROOKLYN
Ex-senator Conaer's Son Oppcssse = Report
In hts FATHERS Favor in - Strange III
vorce sutt-Mr. Conger's Remark bic Lie.

Ex-senator Conaer's Son Oppossse = Report
In hts FATHERS Favor in - Strange III
vorce sutt-Mr. tcnger's Remark n bic Lie.
Tn the Supreme Court in Brooklyn a mo-
tion was made yesterday in behalf OF -Stnte
Senator Abraham b. Conger. for the connrma-
ton of the referees report. in the suit for abso
lutte divorce instituted by Jane McCrca Conger.
his wife. and in which the referee Mr.. Edward
kctcham made report in Mr. Conger's favor.
An extraordinary scene was witnessed In the
court room IA Clarence Conger the son Of the
defendant. arose to oppose the confirmation OF
the report which cxoneratcd his father from
the charge OF adultery. Much astonishmcnt
was created by his appearance in the case. Mr..
Conger said that the report showed bias
and prejudice. Dust had been thrown into
the referees eyes in this case. and he had mis-
judged the conduct OF the pdriiceps c1'tn,inis.
who. IL had been shown had received visits
from A. b. Conger This father). and had been
seen 10 kiss him. The referee had reasoned
unfairly. and had allowed defective testimony
to break down important witnesses. The Pres
bytery had been asked to investigate the
charges. but 1t did not entertain the charges.
because the counsel that made them was an
Mr.. sewell. counsel for Mr.. Congcr. said that
the ease was made unparalleled by the appear
nnce of the son of the defendant as counsel for
the plaintiff. He said that the suit WIS an at
Tempt to divide an old couple. who were on the
brink OF the grave. and that tshould be STAMPED
Preached and unimpeachablc.
The story of the divorce as told in the papers
and 10y counsel. is that the couple were married
iorty-hve years ago. The wife was Miss
Hedges. the granddaughter and hcircss Of Col;
property in the Twelfth Ward of this city. For
twenty years the family has lived in Rockland
county. and has raised many sons and daugh:
tors. MIR. COnger had "A large landed estate. and
the discovery Of fine clay beds on his property
led To the manufacture ofhricks ut Haycrstrew,
now n great industry. He imported blooded
cattle. having n fine breed Of short horns. and
stud Of highbre horses He spent money for
this purpose so extravagantly that IN 1873. at
the time OF the panic. his sons. who be-
gan an Investigation into his Affairs.
found that he had becomc greatly involved.
After an accumulation OF Judgments, his
hloodcd cattle were sold at n ruinous sacrifice.
the sons being the principal pnrchascrsi II *
bought by them for 81 900 WAS sold for $4,000.
MIR. Congcrs library. To- which. as physician.
LEGISLATOR. and man OF culture; he had de
charge Of his Affairs Mr.. COnger being untitled
for business by a fall from his wagon which
ment between him and his sons He had n
courtesy title in the estate Of his wife. which. II
u alleged his family desired To obtain. and
they conceived the notion OF "A suit Tor absolute
divorce.
Near Waldberg. where ex-senator Conger's
estai" was. there WAS a Presbyterian church of
which he was "a trustee. and the Rev. Mr.. North
rup was pastor. ii was the wife 81 tins clergy
man VINO WIS implicated with MIR. Conger in
the cause uf action. She was formerly "A teacher
- public : 'hOul in ltOckland county. of which
Mr. tons.r WAS trustee. and II was alleged that
he had been ovsr-ntimntr with her. The
formal chargH grew out OF village gossip.
John Palmer. the ch.rf witness for tue plain
tin. WIS employed about the minister's hnus".
He is 20 years old. six feet high, and il afllct Il
with rheumatism. lie -worr that hn hid himself
IN dumb waiter in SIR. Norihrup's parior IN
sntr' iwruiy TWO in'nrr hS twenty. aud that ne
stayed ihcr" for four hours. while Mr. Con-cr
aud MIS-. Norlnrup were IN the parcr. He thus
obtained. he avrrrcd. evidence against them.
lie r manned two or three weeks IN the family.
tut dll not t.lI Wunt b" hnl sren. md NJ lrn-th
he told II To- Nj. Cungrrs son for the first
Ine referee visited Ma.lberg. saw the par
sonns". pirior and it, surroundings ana lie
deems Il I'M rohanlc That john Palmer should
dos 'rihcS. and he thinks his story wholly IN
credible and that the act was phynscally impos-
sitl, under thf circumstances. The t'rtimony
which WIS gwen 10 show that Mrs. Northrnm.
a. a rhoul teacher. wis commonly intimate
with - pupil. the referee dis cards, and nc nud-
| inn' ilr r'1u NJ VISITS oi MI. tonscr To MS
pastor hous "orei"- Nat e. ~ he Vas organ
i-t. 'ia r. trustee. irc3.sur +. and SunuayS hoo
suprrin'end. nt The Charge taat Mr.. tongrr
WAS wn~ung his wifc's c-tut, on his parainour
- Also d ia 90 b not PROV n. The reirr'c eN-
plains the true AUS "i the ire.dle To b" in the
income ~ bis wa" .stti" 10 buy lands IN
hI- own name. and that h. hai d'pirted
! her forum ami had SURROUNDED hm- 10 with
rmnarra--mcnt. 'lnr cuiidren. who wcra u,'-
ustomcd o. aNigencc were at first distressed
t'on an-ry. 1nr youn- son. an edu ap
lawyer. accused his iuti.rr 81 tho ,riinc alleged
~ tno complaint and ia" defendant rcp"llcd
| tn charge.
The r.icreo concludes with the opinion that
tho Il" i"ntAnt is not a,uuts oi the acts 81 adul-
tory ai"t"d IN ia" c"inllhint. and TINT IN"
! cores tD.asuf tNr~. NOpnruI il not ruilfy
VITA any OF tho persons WHOSE names have On
the trial. been connected with hers III evil re-
ports against her.
| Yesterday aud watched with anxious face his
SON. VINO appeared To- condemn him. He II
past Co years II age, tail with light complex ion.
| gray hair, and full beard and strong blue eyes.
Justice Gilbert Reserved hls decision.