The Indianapolis journal., 1886-01-08
COUNTESS Won MUTZENBACH
The Maryelously VsIriegated Career of
a Pardoned Bigamist's Wife.
The Story of New Jersey Belle, Daughter
of Commodore Meade-Three Marriages
and Case of Murder.

lowing special dispatch:
''ST PAUL. Dec. 30-Governor Hubbard has
pardoned T. j. McAfee alias Gerald Moore, from
States prison, where be was serving a three
years sentence for bigamy The case has all
the elements of a genuine romance In 1880
McAfee left his wife in the Emerald Isle to seek
fortune in the new world. While making the
ocean voyage his personal charms were admired
by Countess Won Mutzenbach. charming bru
nette of about thirty years, whom he met fer
the first time on board the steamer. Upon ar
irving at Castle Garden tie twain were welded.
The fates Of old Ireland were against him,
for one day while walking the streets he met
Thomas Lodge, the brother of his first wife.
The unlawful couple Immediately left the
city to escape suspicion, and located in St Paul.
Here McAfee engaged in the book business, un-
der the name of Gerald Moore. Mr.. Lodge,
nevertheless, kept weather-eye out for his
brother-in-aw, and finally traced him with his
newly made bride to this Western country. and
subsequently, upon the arrival of his sister, Mrs.
McAfee No. /. the derelict husband was arrested
for bigamy. To this charge he made no defense
but pleaded guilty. The Mesdames McAfee re-
mained near each other, but never spoke as they
passed by. Wife No. 2, whose love-fame burned
warmest. took up her residence in Saltwater.
and constantly cared for her husband during his
incarceration. Upon his release from Jail he
proceeded at once to wife No. 2. and they are ap-
parently happy. Wife No. l has evidently
abandoned all hopes of keeping her husbands
of the State one year, institute an action for a
divorce"
This Countess Won Mutzenbach or Mrs. Nc
Afee No g. as she stands at present. was
daughter of the late Commodore Meade. of the
United States navy, and a niece of Gen. George
G. Meade, who commanded the federal army at
the battle of Gettysburg While a young girl,
yetin her teens, and quite belle in aristocratic
society," she became acquainted with Charles K.
Ladnis, the founder of the City of Vine]and. N.
j.. and at that time one of the most prosperous
and best-known business men in southern New
Jersey. Mr.. Lands became smitten with her
charms, and. although several years her senior,
proposed marriage. OF course, ne was requested
to ask her pa. He did so. and met stern and
positive refusal The girl being under age, under
the laws of New Jersey could not be legally
married without her parents consent. AS Mr..
Lands was wealthy and OF unblemished char
acter, he demanded of the old Commodore
bill of particulars as to why he refused him his
daughter to which the old gentleman replied
that his great and insurmountable objection was
his age
Now, Lands was bachelor of thirty-four
and claimed that Mr.. Mead had failed to state
whether he thought him too young or too old to
engage in matrimonial enterprise. and that at
the very best such an excuse waa mere subter-
fuge, given for want of more valid reasons and
that he would be justified in resorting to ex-
treme measures in getting his objections out Of
the way. Sc taking the prospective brides
older brother into his plans. they privately en-
gagged board and lodging for the old gentleman
in the Bloomingdale Lunatic Asylum, where, in
spite of the old Commodore's terrible rage at
such proceeding, they had him incarcerated
for several months a charge of being the
possessor of diseased mind. Having now got
''the great objector" safely slowed away. Miss
Mead was left without any responsible guardian,
i ~ u = I. -
sent the good will of the family. she went with
Mr. Lands before minister and they were pro-
nounced husband and wife.
During all this time the old gentleman was
making things very lively at the asylum and in
few mouths succeeded in getting released,
when he proceeded at once to make things very
interesting for Mr.. Lands. The law of New
Jersey reads that
''If any woman not fully of age shall marry
without the permission or consent of her parents
guardians, the person officiating at such mar
riage shall be liable to fine Of $780, and such
marriage shall be null and void
In this case the minister was safe, as Lands
would promptly pay his fine for him: but under
the latter clause of the law-declaring marriages
under certain conditions TO be null and void
was where the irate father proposed to get in
his work. With this end in view he notified all
the parties concerned that his daughter who
was infant in the eyes of the law, having
entered into matrimonv without his parental
commence proceedings in the courts to have said
marriage set aside, and should also make use of
the agency of the law to recover damages for
loss of the services and society of his daughter.
Mr.. Lands looked upon these proceedings with
some alarm and began to cast about him to find
the most effective means of thwarting the old
seadog's proceedings in the courts. After con-
sulting able counsel, he selected his course and
came off victorious The New Jersey Legisla-
ture was in session, and it would have been con-
frarv m W history of Uct
law makers of that State to permit man with
plenty of genuine greenbacks to come to them In
distress and go away without relief. So very
nnocentlooking little bill was hastily rushed
through both houses and became law the title
of which read, "a bill to legalize the marriage
Of Charles K Lands and Elyira Meade The
object and effect of this bill to throw the old
gentleman out of court and debar any further
proceedings on his part looking to the recovery
of his daughter, or other interference with the
marital relations of Mr. Landis Of course, the
Commodore make the welkin ring with com
plants of his mistreatment at the hands Of his
son and son-in law, but he was powerless to get
any other satisfaction.
But Lands did not long enjoy his victories in
peace before new troubles arose of quite another
character. His wife became hvsterical, and at
times gave evidence of mental unsoundness.
Mr.. Lands treated her tenderiy, and sought the
aid of the best medical talent in the country in
her behalf
At this stage of the proceedings another party
became conspicuous in Landis's troubles. One
Uriah Caruth was publishing a newspaper iE
Vineland, where Lands lived, and made it a
speciality to pitch into Lands. While his fire.
quent attacks upon Lands were of character
that would have exasperated most men, they
went unnnoticed by Lands until morning
the paper came out with an article ridlculing and
making sport of Mrs Landis's mental condition.
Lands read the article and at once started out
to find Caruth. Caruth was in his Office. and the
instant Lands got sight of him he fired at him
with large navy pistol. His aim was true, and
he planted an ounce bullet in Caruths brain.
Strange as it may appear, Caruth was not in
stantly killed. and Lands arrested and
placed in the Cumberland county Jail at Bridge
ton, to await the result of Caruths injuries As
Caruth began to improve Lands was released
under $50, 900 bail.
Caruth continued to improve in spite of the
protests Of the doctors, who claimed it was con-
trary to precedent and out of reason for man