The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-21
TELEGRA.P1E.HIC. A.P1E
A CAUSE CELEBRE.
Suit of Son Against His Father
for 100000,
which Was Obtained Possession OF
by some Ways That Are Dark
---K8manee OF the
Matter.

BALTIMORE, Md, March 2l.-The famous
suit of Ernault H. Williams against his
father, the Hon. George Hawkins Williams,
was decide in favor of his son, who thus re
ceives possession OF his fortune Of 5000 600,
left him by his grandfather, the late John y.
Gittn2s d millionaire banker of this city.
The skeleton M the closet of this family,
which is one of the elost wealthy in
the state, is a remarkable one. The Will
iaIilse; live in princely style in the Green
sSyriag valley, near Baltimore, and the head
OF the family is noted fancy stock raiser
and politician. He was president of the late
State senate. and the family is of recognized
social prominence. 1t is understood that this
fortune of several millions of dollars would
descend to his son Ernault A. Williams,
who was also heir to 100000 be
queathed hin by his grandfather, John
5 Gttin.S Young Williams moved in the
best society, and was regarded as the quat
parti during the season of 1881 1882, when he
reached his majority. In June, 1882, he
made known his intention to marry Miss
Mamie Hazlitt, a young lady wholly un-
known to society, but whose reputation could
not be questioned. The proud old senator
refused his consent to what he deemed a
mesalliance, and the father and son had a
bitter quarrel Young Williams ap-
pointed his marriage day, the bride
elect secured her trousseau, and the
son left his fathers house. At the
elder mans request young Williams visited
the senator's law office one day, and while
drunk was induced TO sign deed of trust of
all his property to his father who agreed to
give him an annuity of $1,000 The father,
who appears to have wholly subjugated the
son, required him to write a note breaking
off the match with Miss Hazlitt, and then to
leave Immediately for Europe. The father
sent his brother to New York, who placed
Elnault on a steamship bound for Antwerp,
passage having been engaged in advance.
While abroad young Williams, who had
been told by his father that he was about to
die from a nameless disease, visited all the
German watering places, being accompanied
by a courier who was engaged by the father
This courier intercepted all letters sent to
Williams from America, except those OF the
immediate family. Despite this surveillance,
Miss Hazlitt, who had not lost faith iu her
lover, succeeded in writing him that she did
not give up hope. The letters to the you9ig
man from Senator Williams stated that
the Dr0tnerS OF MISS IlaZuIt ndu
sworn to kill her recalcitrant
lover on sight. When Ernault learned this
from his sweetheart's letters, he took the first
| steamer for America. Arriving in Balti-
more, he married Miss Hazlitt in twenty four
lours The first intimation the father had
that lis son was on this side of the Atlantic
| was received when he received notice of a
| suit by Ernault to set aside the deed. The
| trial of this case has been the
| great social topic for the past month,
and all the facts given above were
proven by witnesses for the plaintiff.
F.! Young Williams himself certified that
while weakened from the effects OF debauci
he had been bIllied into carrying out his
fathers wishes The defense undertook to
prove that Ernault had made the deed il
order to escape from the Hazlitts, who had
designs on his money. This was conslusively
disproved by the plaintiffs, and Judge Fisher:
decision setting aside the deed was not un
expected Ernault Williams is a brother o
the Miss Williams who was to have married
a Mr. Herbert, the owners of the lake Of
Killarney This marriage was broken off
few DAYS before the time fixed for tht
| wedding.