The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-21
VOL. XLVI.--N0. 2O2.
FIGHTING FOR A MILLION.
TIIE FIERY CURIOUS CONTEST OYER
JOHN a. MERRITI"S BIG ESTATE

A. Unexpected ueir-Mr.. wilson's strange
story of Her Marriage by simple Agree
mrnt, Hair "a Century Ago, 60 the ola Cattle
Deaier-Persunded by hts Quaker Parents
to Leave him md TO Marry Another Man
Deserted, she Marries stiIi Another Man,
whose First Nnmc she Cannot Remember.
In April, 1876, John A. Merritt, cattle
dealer. died in the old farmhouse in Rye Town
ship. New York. near Portchester whore he was
born seventy-four years ago His younger days
were spent in laboring on the farm. but since
his parents death. over thirty years ago. he
thrvod by dealing in cattle. and his estate at
his death amounted 1t WIS believed. to $1,000
0GO. Since his death, 1t has been found to be
only 81 100000 in cash securities. and about
$4,000 in real estate. The old man was COM
monty believed to have lived and died bach
eor. and the last OF his line. being the only son
OF his parents, Jolham and Charlotte Merritt.
30 fourteen cousins OF the millionaire. mostly
named Adec and Merritt. and led by the Hon.
Jared V. Peck. claimed the estate. and Surro-
gate Coffin Of Wcstchcster decided that they
were the direct heirs to the property. President
Jacob Campbell Of the Pacific Bank and Mr..
Peck were made administrators. and the money
was turned over to them. They now hold 1t.
But u new claimant appeared shortly after
the millionaires death. Mrs. Eliza Wilson. who
said that she WAS married to John A. Merritt
1fy-two years ago. and that IL son. William J.
Merritt. now living and 81 years old. was the
son Of the old cattle dealer. She Joined with
her son in suing the present administrators
and heirs. and on Monday the suit was begun
in the Supreme Court OF Westchester County
In White Plains before Judge Dyckman.
Mrs. Eliza Wilson claiming to be John A.
Merrus widow. II years old. walked to the
witness chair. supported by her eranddaugh-
ter. Mrs. Wilson wore deep mourning. and a
long veil hung over her face as she faced the
spectators Her answers were feeble. and
Judge Dyckman. after trying vanly to hear her
answers told her to throw up her veil Though
wrinklcd on check and brow. yet her face reg
uar in feature showed that she had been very
comey In youth. Her blue-grey eyes were
bright and intelligent While talking she
rarely looked into her quesioner's Dyes. but
picked n"rvous'y at the fingers Of her black
elov,s or her lacc-edged hnndk ,rchicf. or the
Whit lace that protruled from the black dress
sleeves.
Lawyer Frost objected to her testimony as
incompetent when She began to talk OF her
husband" John 4. Merritt but Judge Dyck-
man told hcr to 20 on. She said that when she
was IA years old lothian and Charlotte Merritt
who were Quakers in belief. took her to work
for them on their farm. She and Mrs. Merritt
did tue housework while John A. Merritt. three
years older than She with his father and a
hired boy. William Johnson. worked the farm
She ate at the same table with the family. vs-
tied n.ighbors with Mis-. Merritt and accompa-
niei the family to the Friends meeting house
Mr. NJ .rrtt taught her to sew and to write
She learned TO read in school. When she was
II years old John told her that ho loved her
better than Lucy Meade. a girl with prospects
OF money ahead whom his mother wanted him
10 marry. Mrs. Merritt had told her that she
wanted John to marry Lucy. especially MS Lucy
loved John.
One day Mrs. Merit went away for two
weeks and on that day Joiham and the John
Son boy were making brush fence John and
She were alone ia the house. and he said that
now that mother WAS gone they would do what
he hal talked about SO long and had promised
hrr. He had tnlked lovingly 10 her for a year.
and Ind asked her 70 marry him. She had con-
sentHl. but on that day replied that she was
only poor girl, with nothing hut her charac-
ter 60 defend her. and she didn't want to get
into trouble. About 10 i. NJ. after Jotham was
asleep in the next room but one to hers John
entered her room hy tho stairway leading down
dressed and waiting for him. Her candle was
burning. John said that he had come 10 marry
her. The Friends, he argued, could marry
NJ min .ster was necessary. no insisted. so he
took her hand and said that he took her to be
l.s wife IN the sight OF God. No one found out
" marriage until year aitrward. She and
John n"anwnil- lived as husband aud wife
suddenly one night At midnight Mrs Merritt
opened the bedroom door and saw by the can
De IA her hand John and Eliza together, Mrs
how they we're married. but Mrs. Merritt psie said
That Oh" marriage WAS not valid. as thore were
no Witnesses 10 IT, Eliza must 20 away, and II
hchil should be the result OF the marriage, it
wouIi ne taken care OF, But whatever hap
kusDani SsSt dsy & ,e went e on o9 toot seo 10 her
gran imothers Hannah Wilson. In Horscnock
tonI;, hni stayed week. when she returned 70
lam n N
{olhHm took her to the house Of a relation.
BelSy Avery in Greenwich. Conn. where her
rhili WAS born When II WIS 3 weeks old
yothnn took herself and tho child back TO the
nom stead where they lived until the child
Thon Mrs. wilson said that she married a
man unmed Ahouse. although John told her
nni o. do So. 4 Baptst minister married. them.
HIS mother induced her to marry 10y promising
10 take care Of William and to give her 5000
sshsd shd ne lower meadow. thirteen acres Of land.
H. ran away from her, leaving ten cents on the
tiiI", ana she mad not heard from him since.
Alter he deserted her she was very poor and
was helped by the town of Greenwich. After
trylng io l"arn b. make cigars she gave II up
beeHus" the tobacco made her sick. She went
Jgtnam and his wife had died. she went to
Uh'"a." and worked as professional nurse and
sctuoirrSs. There she married David Howard
IN ls1- lived with him over year and left him.
Bhpusi minister married them. =.
Dil YOU marry any one in New York city"
Tnnts nothing to the easel" replied the old
Then She admitted that Baptist minister
mhrrl"l her with man whose first name she
GpulHh rrmeniber but whose last name was
and she was two months in the city. She hired
room In Mott street and lived less than
munli with Rowland. because she had 10 sup
Then Mrs. Wilson was asked II she had not
sworn before squire Close that the father Of the
was ,J9hn Ayrry. She had seen Avery but
..i..