New-York tribune., 1879-05-24
THE NERRILL WILL CONTEST.
MRS MERRILRs ABUSE OF HER ADOPTED son AND
HIS WIFE.

,,ps NERRIIL's ABUSE OF HER ADOPTED son AND
HIS WIFE.
Interesting testimony was given IN the Mer-
riu Will case Yesterday probably the last oral tesu
ony that will be offered in behalf OF the contestants
Mrs Elizabeth f. r. Lang, the inotHer OF Mfs' "eo'Bo
Merrill testified that in 1872 short time Daor' her
daughters marriage the esariX eahed upon her W ~
il her son George was betrothed to Miss Lang. ""on
answered in the affirmative Mrs Merrill said tnat she
did not think the ought to take pace 'asS
ap father was in the coal business, and she dd ho'
think the yOuag woman socially the eqiAi oi nei
sdopted SON. Besides, she said, George was an lhhiu
man she had written history OF his life In Wnch sno
had depicted bad character, and II the marriage oo
Cured she would publish the book
Two letters from Mrs Merrill to George Merrill were
read the substance of OF which has already been
prbushed. The other was dated Paris, Dtcemoer a.
1892 In this she called her adopted son monster
accpsed him OF being without faith in religion win.
out natural Affection without In fact one element when
eeyates a human beng above brute The writer con
tinued:
Ibo,rtilv saw may you become deaf as your sister
NAV you become blind that you cannot Distinguish
night from day; may you have every trial. every as
aso everv aficton that was ever sent upon man-may
i've TO see you hung hung up by your tohsu my % %
ceasing wish In conclusion give you ie % an vaps.
Won have called mother" for twenty seven yeate5
"a Won the widows curses. and promise you tha an
have done you ormore than quarter & ~ 0 aye
your yllauy exposed The horrors OF remoise you 0H
not have for you have no conscience.
lanes A. Platt lawyer, testified that be became aci
onointed with Mrs Merrill at the hew-lorA ho'c'
tventy-fye years ago when she was living there WIN
her husband She frequently. at that tme' SPOKE u
George Merrill as her son. and talked proudly oi us
progress at Trinity College, Dublin. She often eoh
versed with the witness also, about her hopes 10 feg
"a tho future marriage OF George Merrill enc inV 90
fioned frequently families into which she bVpev ~
might marry-the Taylors J0hnsons ana othef ,n.
Affer the marriage OF George Merrill 20 MISS iling &
manner OF Mrs. Merrill became changed 10 unp' =, "a
witness heard Mrs. Merrill once at saritoga 50 ~
foule.t and most obscene rms OF Mrs feoige Ha,5i
The witness said that the Language used 10y ME- n,i
was the most disgusting and obscene ne bad tNo,
from the mouth Of any woman under any sn.
subsequently az WIZARDS Hotei at Masnlls.on 49,
,pjke iu much the way, accusing Mrs. OsOi "a
rill of disgraceiul actions aua abusing the SOuhS
himself - ,,sa..,, ,g,,ness 10
MIR Platt, although lawyer was difneuH wtuess w.s
manage. When asked one question, on ..rnt
tion he would answer Ia regard TO three or tOu % "a
mnt,ers Mr. Mcclure tried TO hold tue witness snr
definite answers, but was Det 0y reOuAe ltOu 30
rosate who said that be was hurting BIS case ~ iiv
ouestion he asked. Neither would toe surroga'o Ina
Ine exact language of Mrs Merrill 10 be cailed par
execution taken alarmed tine other SIDE anu ~ ma
sous that the testimony should o. gwen vri,h
Surrogate said he did not propose 10 Ohcho NJ NJ
H. aud would take tho responsibility oi - ina
The manuer III which Dr. Piatt testned caeu 90. -
criticism that lawyers we're always poor "''"'''