Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-23

Dir. George PanOoast HAS an Unpleasant
surprise


Company, OF No. G. Greene and No. =
Wooster street, was not aware until with
in few days that his daughter Minnie a
nest attractive looking girl, but dea
mute, had been married TO his valet
aud nurse, William H. Van Dorm,
for more than three months. This
announcement was made by Van Dorm To
Mr. and Mrs. Pancoast as they sat in the
library OF their handsome house, No. ~
West Thirty-frst Street, on Thursday
morning Of last week. For a moment
10th thought the man Ind lost his senses,
but this idea was quickly diesipated Nv
Van Dorm, VINO PRODUCES the marriage
certificate that proved the marriage 10
have been performed on Nov. ii OF last
wear by the Rev. r. II. Marlih3, OF the
Fourteenth Street Presbyterian church.
MIR. PancoasU had been an Invalid Tor
wears and was com pletely Frustrated by
Van DOru's revelation, OUT ne mustered
ND sufficient strength 20 inform his valet
that his services were dispensed with,
and thar he would next hear from him
through his lawyer, Van Dorm made no
attempt to see his wife, but took his de-
parture quietly. going al once TO his lodg-
Ing house, No. 134 East rhirty-frst street,
only three blocks distant. The PancOast
family were ANXIOUS that the affair
SHOULD not obtain any publicity, and
they felt certain that such result
could be accomplished by purchasing Van
Dorn's silence. They felt certain that
his object in marrying Miss Paneosst
was money. She Is entitled in her own
right to about 100000, and they believed
that Van Dorm was aware of this and
probably thought that she would nave a
much larger sum upon the death OF her
father. The matter was accordingly
placed in the HANDS OF the law trm OF
Davies, Cole 81 Rapallo.
Van Dorm took matters quietly for
few days, but was beginning TO feel anx-
ious, when he received visit from Archer
F.Pancoast, his wle's brother, and Frank
Bliss, her brOther-in-law. They invited
him to visit the office OF Julien L. Dawes.
He did so. but no settlement was affected,
and he placed his case in the hands OF
Howe g. Hummel. Proceedings were in
stituted in the Supreme Court, before
Judge Barrett. yesterday morning to have
the marriage set aside ON the ground that
Minnie pancOast was a lunatic when she
was married to Van Dorm. In the affidavit
on which the proceedings are based
George Pancoast, her father, recites that
Minnie is % years OF age, that she is deaf
and dumb and an imheclle. The plaintiff
desired 70 have a private hearing OF the
case. Howe Il Hummel, who appeared
Tor Van Dorm, wish TO have the matter re-
fore Jury. Judge Barrett said the case
would be treated in the usual way and put
it on the calendar for Thursday morning
at 10 O'Clock. Mr.. Pancoast will also
apply-fOr the appointment Of commits
sion in lunacy, and is determined to do all
in his power TO keep his daughter and Van
Dorm apart.
Van Dorm was introduced to Mr.. Pan
coasts notice last July at Saratoga. The
latter was suffering from paralysis, and
was unable to move about, even with
crutches. Mr.. PancOasts physician
had advised massage treatment. and a
friend of the sick man recommended Van
Dorm. The latter was born at Saratoga,
and had lived there all his life. He was a
ine looking specimen of physical man
hood, and had the AR of 4 professional
athlete. 1t was understood by Mr.. Pan
coast that Van Dorm WAS boxer, though
he said he was by trade house painter.
Van Dorm gave complete satisfaction,
and Mr.. Pancoast concluded that he had
obtained q treasure. He seemingly paid
no attention at all to Miss PancOast, and
the members Of the family concluded that
be was unable TO understand her. But
Van Dorm utilized his spare moments by
learning the deaf and dumb alphabet.
Miss PancOast. who is Of medium height,
with hnely-rOunded figure, light brown
hair, a bright complexion, and bright
brown eyes, was an altogether different
woman from the class Van Dorm had met
in private life. and he was attracted to
her. He had been an inmate of her fathers
house TOR very short time when he had
mastered her sign language, and her at
tentIon Wa, attracted one day when he
asked her question in IL.
The acquaintance between the pair
quickly rIpened, and they were on very
GOOD terms when the family returned to
arb 80 no
other members of the family knew moth
ing. Most OF the communication between
the pair was by letter. Miss Pancoast
writes a small, neat hand. A popularity
Of her writing is that in putting her
thoughts on paper she omits a number Of
parts of speech as unnecessary. One of
her letters looks like an abbreviated dis
patch.
On the night OF Nov. 10 Van Dorm paid
a visit TO Rev. Nj. Marling at his house,
No. pa East Twelfth street. He ex-
planned TO Mr.. Marling that he desired to
he married on the following day. Van
Dorm and Miss PancOast presented them
selves at the minister's house al the time
appointed. Mr. Marling discovered that
Miss PancOast Was deaf-mute, but this
Circumstance did not strike MIN as an IN
surmOpntable objection 70 her union and
he married them in the presence OF his
landlady, MRS. NJ. L. Cone, and his son,
Frank Marling. When he desired TO ask
Miss Pancoast question during the cere-
m0ny he pointed TO the passage in the
marriage service and in answer she
would nod her head.
The certificate, in addition TO the usual
formula, contains the following: u am not
personally acquainted with both the par
ties 80 married, and therefore have taken
their oaths, and thus, on due inquiry, am
satisfied there Is no lawful impeachment /;
that they arc Of sufficient age
TO contract marriage, and that an
the material facts herein contained are
correctly stated" This is signed by r..
Fl. Marling, and Mrs. Cone and Frank
Marling as Witnesses.
After the ceremony Mrs. Van Dorm re-
turned to her fathers house. Later in
The day her husband returned TO his
duties there. lie slept at No. 1874 East
Ihirty-nrst street and received his mail
there. This consisted entirely Of letters
written on fashionable note paper and in
closed IN square envelopes. The letters
were signed "Your true wife, or .sWith
much love. your loving wife, NJ -" and
were addressed, "My dear husband.v or
"My dear husband, Will.v ON the re-
verse OF one sheet Of note paper was a
scene from "pinafore," underneath n.
kind Captain, l have important in.
formation"
Van Dorm has forty or City letters writ
ten by his wife TO him. Many of them