Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-13

The Romantic Life OF Daughter OF
Commodore Meade


Commodore Meade
The pardon of T. j. McAfee, alias Gerald
Moore, by Gov. Hubbard, of Minnesota
heretofore mentioned in THE STAR, recalls to q
correspondent of the st. Louis Globe Democrat the
remarkably romantic life Of Moore's wife, the
Countess Won Mutzenbach, for marrying whom
Moore was convicted OF bigamy. The Countess
Won Mutzenbach was the daughter of the late
Commodore Meade and niece of Gen. Meade,
who commanded the Federal forces at the bat
tie of Gettysburg. When q young girl and
moving in exclusive society she met Chas. X.
lands, founder of the city OF Vineland, n. ].
of the most prosperous and best-knOwn busi-
ness men in southern New Jersey He became
suitor for the hand OF Miss Meade, but was
insurmountable objection was his age, but did
not say whether Mr.. lands was too old or too
young Mr.. Lands concluded that this subter-
fuge was to cover other reasons, but as Miss
Meade was under age she could not be legally
married under the laws of New Jersey without
Miss Meades older brother was taken into
the secret and he and Mr.. Lands engaged
board and lodging for Commodore Meade m
the Bloomingdale lunatic asylum, where, In
spite of the commodore's terrible rage, he was
confined for several months. Miss Meade was
e,1 without a6 any d legal guardian and in com
goodwill OF the family, she went with Mr..
Lands before a minister and they were pro-
nounced husband and wife. In few months
the commodore was released from the asylum.
Under the statutes the marriage could have
been pronounced null and void, and the minis
ter fined $500. If the old commodore could
prove that the object of his confinement was to
get him ont of the way for the wedding, but
passed by both houses of the legislature entitled
"A bill to legalize the marriage of Charles K.
lands and Elvira Meade
New troubles arose for Mr.. Lands. He was
attacked by country editor named Uriah
Caruth, who had some falling out with him.
Mrs. Lands was seized with hysterical fits
fiypon md 10
ner condition in way that aroused Mr.. Lam
dis anger, and seeking out the editor, he shot
him in the head. In spite of the assertions of
tne doctors that Caruth would die, the editor
began to get we'll and was arranging to settle
with Mr.. Lands for a money consideration
instead of prosecuting him, when Caruth sud
denly had relapse in New York city and died.
MIR. Lands was admitted to $4,000 bail, and
as public opinion was with him he was acquit-
was In Jail enemies attempted TO have him re-
moved from the postmastership Of Vineland,
which ne had held for several years. When the
upon Gen. Grant he asked them to accompany
him to the auditors room of the Post Office de-
partment. Here the general requested the audi
tor 10 look up the accounts OF the postmaster at
slneland, N. j. The auditor did as he was bid
zen. and In few moments announced that his
ticular.
But said the committee, she is in Jail,
charged with murder
81 understand the case" said the general
with merry twinkle in his eye. "The only
| charge against him is that of shooting an
editor, aud do not consider the charge suffi.
| cient to justify me in making any change
Good day, gentlemen" and Lands remained
postmaster for two years longer, when he re.
signed of his own accord.
DisagreementS arose later in life between
Mr.. and Mrs. Lands, and they were divorced,
and she went abroad. In the city of Nice
| she met Count Won Mutzenbach and again
became a bride. Soon Count Won Mutzenbacl
died. His death was beyond doubt due to
| natural causes, and was a matter of sincere
| sorrow and affliction to the bereaved widow
| A very remarkable fact with this count, and
a very rare thing with counts who marry
American women, was that he actually pos
sessed some property, and his widow was
reported to have had a legacy of $4,000 q
| year left her, to be paid as long she should
! remain widow. After her husbands death
| she returned to America, and on the steamer
| she met and became acquainted with McAfee
1t seems to have been u case OF love at first
| their marrying, McAfee already having wife
| whom he had just left in Ireland, and whom he
| had promised to send for in a very short time
This wife was in Ireland and the loving pail
were in America. 1t was decided to ignore the
! Irish wifes existence as we'll as her MARTA
| rights, and the lovers proceeded to make the
| widow OF the count a second Mrs. McAfee.
Scarcely had they married when they acci
dentally met the brother of Mrs. McAfee No.
on the streets of New York, and though they
| fled to st. Paul they could not escape, and con
viction for bigamy followed. McAfee was en-
gagged in business under the name of Gerald
Moore. His countess wife was waiting for him
when he was released.