The New York herald., 1879-03-19
MERRITT'S MILLIONS.
ALLEGED SECRET MARRIAGE OF nfIE WEALTHY
CATTLE DEALER-CuR1oUs EVIDENCE OF THE


ALLEGED SECRET MARRIAGE OF nfIE WEALTHY
CATTLE DEALER-CURIoUs EVIDENCE OF THE
PLAINTIFFS MOTHER
Tho suit instituted by william J. Merritt or vii.
against Jacob Campbell and J. v. Peck admins
traitors of the estate of John A. Merritt. the mill
ionnaire cattle dealer, of Portchestcr to try the
question of his legitimacy and title to the real and
personal property Of the deceased. fairly started
yesterday. Judge Dykman presided. General Tracey
opened the the part OF the plaintiff. in the
course of which he gave concise and comprehen-
sive statement of the circumstances attending the
acquaintance and intimate relations Of John A. Mer-
ritt and Mrs. Merritt. generally known Eliza
Wilson. the mother OF the plaintiff.
At tho close Of his remarks Mrs. Wilson was called
to the witness stand. She Is about seventy
years of age. She attired in deep mourning and
was attended In court by her granddaughter She
testified that she became an inmate Of the house of
lothian and Charlotte Merritt. the parents of John
A. Merritt when she little fourteen years
old; John A. Merritt about three years elder
than herself; Johns father. Jotham. was u farmer
in comfortable circumstances; in due time John
paid witness considerable attention, but his mother
had other plans in view for him, and wished him to
marya young lady Of wealth living in the neighbor-
hood; John. however. had ideas of his own. as he
had already manifested an attachment to witness
eighteen years old she and John were married in her
own bedchamber at nine o'clock in the evening,
mono of the family being present at the time.
THE SECRET MARRIAGE.
The marriage ceremony consisted in the two taking
each other by the hand and pledging each to the
other one to be awiie and the other to be husband;
witness, with some reluctance, consented to the
propositions; John, however, assured her that it
lawful marriage because they had thus solcmnly
united themselves in the sight of God; from that
time they treated each other husband and wife in
secret until Mrs Merritt John's mothcr discovered
HON I'm IN rlo bet thsf tam Al ing
that John explained the circumstances OF their pcc
liar matrimonial union to his mother she denounced
the arrangement as constituting no valid marriage
because there had been no witnesses to IL. was
the custom OF the Quakers; Johns mother
drove witness from the house; witness then
sought and found refuge at the house of
. neghbor; some time aftcrward. when wit
ness was likely to become mother, she
was permitted to return to tho Merritt homo
stead, Jotham Merritt, Johns father, coming tor
her with gig; Mrs. Merritt changed her treatment
OF witness assisted her in making preparations
for the birth OF her child. which, IL was arranged.
should take place ut neighbours house, and de-
parturc of witness to await her she was
supplied with $50; after the birth of her child Will
iaf witness again sent for to the Merritt home
stead and told by Mrs. Merritt that she lwitncss)
would be kindly treated on condition that witness
should never claim marriage to John nor charge
witness asscnted to tho proposition. and subse.
qucntly being made to believe that sho was tree to
marry again. ut the suggestion and advice OF Mrs.
Merritt she married man named Atnousc, although
John was opposed TO the step; two children were
the fruit OF tho Althouse union, both of whom. how
over. died while quite young IN tho course OF few
years Mthouse disappeared and was not afterward
heard of; witness was again sent tor to the
Merritt homestead and by the adyice OK Mrs Merritt
she took the name of Wilson, which was her mothers
maiden name; during tho absence of witness from
tho Merritt home her son William had lived with
the Mcrrtts, had all the time been known aud called
william Merritt. but from the time of her own re-
turn called Wilson instead OF Mcrrtt witness
continued 10 live with the Merritt family till both
Jotham and his wife died; she attended them during
their sickness. and she is still an inmate OF the old
homestead John took deep interest in Williams
welfare, also In the welfare of Williams children,
one Of whom named after him John Merritt
Wilson, and John attended that boy closely during
his fatal Illness terminating his death at the age
of eighteen years; John had promised to assist him
in going into some kind of business, and at his
funeral John manifested great deal of emotion.
Tho case will be continued this morning.