The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-15
RUM, MURDER, AND SUICIDE.
RICH MRS LEGGETT or OFTUCkfHOE SHOT
Ar HER DIUGHTER'S SIDE
Theron Merritt, aner killing his Ncighbor
and Friend. Puts n hall through his own
Heart-What the Villagers have TO Say.

Theron Merritt. amer Killing his Neighbor
md Friend. Puts u hall through his own
Heart What the Villagers have TO say.
Mrs. Ann Eliza Lcggctt, rich widow,
who lived in her handsome country house in
Tuckahoe. was shot and instantly killed in the
presence of one OF her own daughters. in her
own hall. by Theron Merritt, n ncighbor. at
about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. After
shooting Mrs. Lcggett. Merritt hurried to his
own house. and shot himself through the heart.
At the inquest over the body of Mrs. Leggett.
Inst evening. in her house. by Coroner Schir
mer OF White Plains. the testimony was con-
fined to the details Of the shooting. The Coro-
ncr said that rs the man who committed tho
deed was dead. there was no necessity for going
into particulars n to his motive. He deemed it
enough that they should be satisfied as to the
cause Of Mrs. Leggctt's death. The evidence
was therefore limited to the testimony of the
daughter of Mrs. Leggett. n coachman. and DR..
NordIuist. who was called in soon after Mrs.
Lcggctt's death. What renders the affair still
more tragic Is the fact thata few years ago Mrs.
LegGctts husband shot himselfin his own barn.
OF course rumor is busy. Mrs Leggett had
three grown up chidren-two daughters and a
son-and two younger children. all Of whom
lived with her. She was iinc-looking woman.
ij years of age and moved in the best society of
the vicinity. which is largely composed of we'll
to-do New Workers. Theron Merritt was n man
Of about 40. living with his wife and family u
short distance down the road He was related
| by marriage to Mrs. Lcggett. and was on terms
| OF intimate friendship with her. II is said that
correspondence had passed between them Of
which the daughters obtained knowledge and
that the latter had objected to Merritt's coming
to the house.
Yesterday morning Merritt had been drink
ing. He went to Mrs Leggett's house. and the
daughters refused to admit him. In the after
noon he went again. and was again refused ad-
mission. one Of the daughters ran to his house
to obtain the assistance of his family in getting
him away Soon after she had gone Merritt
| got in and had an interview with Mrs. Leggett
hut very brei one. In short time Mrs. Log
gett called to the other daughter He is going
| to shoot" At this time Merritt was in the
| tibule. and Mrs. Leggctt was holdin the glass
door shut TO keep him out. He drew his pistol
| and fired shooting her through the right eye.
She fell dead at her daughters side. Merritt
| then walked out and called to the coachman.
You had better get doctor. have snot Mrs.
He then went to his own house. about a quar-
terof a mile away. There he found Mrs, Leg
| is no cause for alarm. have shot your mother"
he went % TO ms Well f3t iFnS ia NJ 9i water ana
He then placed the pistol to his own heart and
| dropped dead at his mother feet.
Mrs. Leggetts friends speak Of her in the
| highest terms rs an estimable lady. above re-
proach. who was simply annoyed 10y the unwel
come and pers stent attentions Of Merritt. But
Merritt had no visible means of support. aud
| WAS supplied from Mrs. Leggett's plentiful
| purse that he was discreetenouGh when sober
| but when drunk was apt to say things that We're
| very offensive 10 Mrs. Leggett's children. This
| 1t is asserted, is the reason why. the daughters
mother To break off her acquaintance with him.
| or course. Mr.. ,Legggetts suicide in his own
Sasn Jealous OF s s fny % Wa at fe o
to md him, either shot himself or was
found tightly wrsppea in baIaio iIsss TSSe his his
hand holding the pistol close to his side. Mrs
and say that Mr.. Leggett undoubtedly COM
| mitted suicide.
Knots Of villagers gathered last evening in
the vicinity OF both houses. discussing the affair
and Mrs. LeSG.!ts house was crowded during
Sh lHe sheet M AND IN w le pnt psr9r
posed to view. The shattered glass Of the
hall door still strewed the floor. and
lay on the ton Of the debris. Ex-JudGe Tappan.
ansehbor. was prcsent among the spectators.
fined to the mere fact Of the shooting Both
families agree in a'trihuilng III" shooting to in
SAM delusions arising from dissipation. Mer-
rit was a candidate for school Commissioner
last far. but WAS defeated.
A reporter for The sun. who visited the house
Of the M"rrltts last evening, found gathered in
the sitting room some ten or twelve members of
tho family. including tho dead mans aged
father. his son a boy ot = wears and his brother
The father said that Theron was undouhtrdly
insane when he committed the double crime
Several years ago. while in Chicago. he had had
an attack of brain fever. which for "A time left
hun in a worry weak condition physically and
m nally. Al another time. while travelling in
III" South. and riding many miles on horse
back IN the hut sun, he hai been sunstruck,
and Tor while his life had been drspaircd
Of. Since then he had not been himself Julg,
l'urw"n IN" inther-ln-law OF Theron Merritt.
corruhorntcd tins statement. H. said TINT thr
shooting WAS undoubtedly the result of an IN
snn" freak. rs the relations between Theron
Merritt and Mr.. lrggeit hnd always been
friendly; \ sister-ln-lhw said that i'w days
he had flown into violent fit Of rage. Hn
looked 50 fierce. she said. that she WAS fright
4 Yonkcrs undertaken was sent for TO take
chnrgr OF the suicides body. and kilograms an
nounclng the terrible event We're sent TO rca-
tlv"s Of the family in Poughkeepsie and other
places, coroner Sihlrmer OF Nhile Plains. and
Y" same Jury who had served IN the inquest IN
Mrs. L"Egets case, also viewed the body uf
Merritt a verdict OF death from suicide was
frndcrcd.
There was story current last evening that
Mrs. I"gg"ti had loaned Merritt "A large sum Of
hlun' ). and that she had pressed him for pay
nrut II IL thought by some that there VII, "A
quarrel IN regard 10 tins money, whlch may
hay" led To th' shooting
1t was well known thai Theron WAS financially
Gmharrnf sod, and members of his. family told
tho reporter that business troubles had un-
duuht'dly aided go un-citlc his mind.
Ih're was intense excitement in Yonkcrs
over IN" tragedy the nnWs oi which reached
tnnt city about o'clork. Both Mrs Lcgsctt and
Merritt were well known There. Capt. Alungin
0l the lonkrrs police force elid lasl evening:
Theron Merritt lived with his brother Roland
~ Il kHhor. N the Fourth Ward of lonkors
lie leaves wife and three children. lie was "A
prominent 'liil"n ana ran iur school Trust"
two Yeats ago. HIS father left an r-tal. uf lj0
acres y -. Samuel los-eus iaihrr died rr-
renty, leaving great dead Of property. one
Of Mrs. Lnsgetl : sons married "A sister Of Mor-
rlit = WIFE, So lar rs We know here, Mrs Log
S'i Mis Of lrr'pronclable character, and Mr.
Merritt was the same.
THE PRINCES BY OYSTER WfR.