The New York herald., 1878-02-20
MRS. MERRILL'S MONEY.
Additional Personal History of Mr..
George Merrill.
LOVE AND POETRY.
SOnnets to Ellen, Ida and
Emma.

OF Caroline A. Merrill resumed yesterday, before
Surrogate Calvin. The cross-examnation OF Mr..
George Merrill, of the contestants, was continued
aud concluded at the close OF the days pro-
ccedings The testimony elected was rather dun and,
with exception OF the relation by the witness OF
a few Incidents OF Irritation his early days and tho
reading CT some youthful poetry, there was nothing
10 eniven the dull Journalism OF legal proof
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Mr. George Merrill again occupied the witness chair,
and in reply to questions put by Mr. Jaques, who rep
resented the Sinclair and Tipbitts contestants said:
have a brother and sister living, both OF whom are
contestants here; know that my brother and sister
were friendly with the decedant and her husband, and
VISITED them; have heard Mrs. Merrill, when was
boy and also my adopted father, speak lavorably Of
and TO my sister Augusta; their relations were
friendly down TO within two or three years Of my
fathers death.
BY Mr Vandervere (who appeared Tor the Bishop
of Poriland)-I received the last letter from Mrs.
Merrill December O. 1868; was then residing IN the
city of New York; have been settled In Paris since
August, 1866; Tor the last six years Of her life
l do not think that Mrs. Merrill had any permanent
residence; dld not attempt 10 have any interviews
with her In PARIS; Mrs Merrill was an Episcopalian
thlnx that there was a change in her views;
should Judge SO from some of her papers that have
found; l have knowledge that she was received
into the Catholic Church and baptized; Mrs. Merrill.
far as l know, my wile. except when she
passed closely Broadway; l don't know that
she either of u.s.
Mr.. Vandervere then handed to witness n letter,
dated April l. 1870 written from Havre, by Mrs. Mer
rill addressed s'Dear Bishop Bacon" at Port
land, which identified and marked rs an exhibit
for Identification, but was not read IN evidence
MRS. MERRILL's ANTEcEDESTs
To Mr. Mcclure, one of the proctors for the execu-
tor-rhe maiden name OF Mrs. Merrill was Tibbitts;
her father resided at Portsmouth, N. Il. the maiden
name her mother Frost; Mrs. Merrill mar
riod when she more than sixteen years Of
age; think that must have been in 1926; my
adopted iather.s age was then about thirty;
Mrs. MerriIls birthplace was Portsmouth; her
parents we're Of moderate means; when she married
my adopted faLner, he captain of ship; think
be ceased to be captain about 1880; my brother
ut the death Of my father was residing with my
grandmother, Tibbitts, at Portsmouth afterward he
went South to college, ana resides now In Mexico;
there some nieces Of Mr.. Merrill who are now
residing at Portsmouth; Mr.. ana Mrs Merrill went
abroad from 1864 To 1896 IN the knight matter maue
some remittauces to Mrs. Randall at Portland. and
made some attempts to settle up that matter, writing
benalt of my mother; went with my mother 10
The Surrogates ohce two or three times, and drew
up check OF 300 for settlement.
1856.
saw the will that has been cut-that Of 1S56-in
1861, with papers, ut the bank, with pumoer of
securities, think IL in envelope, unsealed;i
found since her death in an envelope, with my
inscrip ION upon 1t; know saw this will alter my
fathers death in a TIN box CONTAINING securities;
may, possibly, have seen 1t before my father aud
mother went abroad In November. 1856; l am sure
IL alter my IatheT's deaIn; / saw IL at different
wnen Mrs. Merrill went abroad after that my
business to keep the securities OF the estate alter
Mrs Neral had received letters teslamentary unuer
my adopted ather's Will; think examined tnat
viii after 1887. but cannot swear to the particular
occasion wnen di1 so; TO the best oil my recollection
did the iast time saw examined II IL hot
Cut; that before the deatn Of Mrs Merrill; the
slips tnat had been cu out we're sent 10 me In an
envelope, the direction OF WHICH was in the hand
writipg OF Mrs. Merrill the inscription upon the en-
Rnd been since 1851, lor 10 Keep tbe letters
aud envelopes OF my correspondence, especially II
they are important; the slips were pnotographed IN
slips ever since received them in the winter OF
lS6?-'3; received them while WAS at tue Gramercy
PARK Hotel; saw Mrs. Merrill alter that, but am
not positive whether we had any conversation
FOR, TRUNKS
l present when the contents of about forty
trunks OF Mrs. Merrill were examined; since her
those trunks have been stored IN Pearl street
ana at the Rossmore Hotel; some OF them had been
stored at Taylor & Merrili's; present the
muulated paper found; Mr.. Roiston and Mr..
Henry Mann we're there and a clerk IRON Mr.
Jacques Office; Mr.. Henry Mann took the paper (the
Will OF 1861 OF the trunk glanced at IL and 1t
was then handed over to Mr. Roston; at twelve
O'Clock next duy counsel and my sell met TO exam
Inc the Will; derived an Impression when entered
the room that exJudge Porter and Mr.. Mcclure were
examining the paper; among tho papers found IN the
trunks some cheap pictures oil The Madonna the
Pope ana saints; there were also some Protestant
oil devotion and very handsome rosary; the letter
produced In my handwriting and Is dated Septem-
Der 1861 II was written alter receiving the slips
Another letter Identified b. witness, dated April
Is 1864, as written by him 10 Mrs. Merrill.
Witness umed:- never made any application to
the Legislature reference to my name; l never
heard OF any charge oeug made or any attempt TO
legalIzs my adoption by Captain and Mrs. Merrill;
the CDrIstlan name Of Miss Larg was Emma Fitzran-
dali; think Mrs Van Cleei was about thirty-hve
years age when first met her; called. ss
/ can remember. the 1rst time on New Years Day,
1
abroad IN the summer ana called In October, 1850;
called there May, 1861, before went TO the war;
about the summer 1862 met Mrs. Van Cleef at
Hempstcad; after my marriage met her frequently,
PROBABLY, on visits either at her house or mine once
month.
LOVES YOUNG DREAM.
Miss Lang about eighteen when met her.
T. We're you acquanteu just before or about that
time with other oung ladies? A. Yes, sir
T. DID you know lady OF the name OF Elleng A.
O. You had a weakness for poetry about that time,
ItunkY A. dou't know whether you compliment
II by calling II poetry; used TO write rhymes.
y Here Is sonnet. is that IN your handwriting,
srr A. IL
the Court. Mr. Mcclure then read AS folows:-
MORNING. ELLEs
'Ts morn AL glorious In the eastern skies
HSa ioods s-e siamOering word Win rosy light.
High swinging in the breeze the happy birds
Pour forth sweet Sonas OF welcome to their queen,
Whine muteiy binding flowers, with clusters iuli
81. nnen, ~ with thee. When taou appeared
From every heart the shadows stole away;
Thy beauteous smile dls everything With Jov
Aud wakes full many soul u melody
While many "A silent worshipper. who feels
Unworthy thy regard, kneeIs by thy sArine
And offers Incense from loving heart.
q. NJ. August ~, 1854.
Witness-I think you should read the companion
sopneI. Mr.. Mcclure 1t Is entitled 'EvenIng"
..Io whom was hat addressed, Mr.. MerriIl"
.'Pne sister OF Ellen. Her name was Ida"
the surrogatc--I don't the relevancy OF this,
Mr.. Mcclure
M McClure-The witness addressing love
poetry Two sisters at onco think II goes for
r. eputatIon and shows the Kind OF young man he
(Laughter)
Witness resumed--Mrs. Merrill knew those young
ladies; uid write some poetry TO Mrs. George Mcr
rti ueiore was married 10 her. "a sonnet road)
The surrogateIhc reading OF this poetry Is to show
that the parties whom II was addressed survived
It's reception, suppose.
MORE ABOUT GEORGE
By ex-Juuge Porter, who appeared as proctor for
CARDINAL NJ MoCloskey:--l am practising lawyer OF
twenty years standiug; had an oice IN New Yorka
stort time before war and desk room u1til went
abroad id 1866; nave been pructIsing lawyer ia
Par hav IA three children