The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-24
TWORONES, TWOFAMILIES
AN OLD MAN WHO ENJOYED A
DUAL EXISTENCE,
Mr.. jeremiah Counsellor in Newark,
N. j., and Mr.. bennington in
Brooklyn, n. Y.

sellor, the Newark man who died OF
apoplexy on the Brooklyn bridge on
Monday morning, seem to have been
greatly surprised to hear that the de-
ceased spent Sunday with the family
of Mrs. bennington, at No. l04 Gin
ton avenue, Brooklyn. When Mr..
Couu eller's body was lying in the
Sands street police station, Miss Ur-
sula bennington, a tall, handsome
young woman, who had been notified
CT the death by DR.. Knight, BURT
Se death OF her 1S Uncle" She said said that
she was Mr.. Coun ellor's adopted
dsueh' er; that she and her mother
and sisters had.known him for years,
and that they we're old friends OF the
family.
When George A. Meeker, of Newark,
son.in-law OF the deceased, reached
the station and heard of this young
lady, he pre- mp 'ly denied that she was
Mr.. CounseloI's adopted daughter,
and said that he and his wife had
never head of any of the Downing
tons. Yesterday Mrs. Meeker and her
husband discussed the claims OF the
bennington family with great deal
of warmth.
81 know nothing of Miss Downing
ton," said Mrs. Meeker, land / never
heard of her until my husband came
home and told me of the way she had
acted in the police station. My father
never made any reference to her, and
if he had adopted her | certainly think
that he would have told me and my
sister, who were so much interested.
She certainly has no claims on my
father, and if she should put in any
against his properly, wa will certainly
fight it. Ga Saturday, when my
father left here, he told US that
he was going to spend Sun
day at Oc5 an Grow. We did not
know that he was visiting Brooklyn
until we heard that he wss dead. /
have given orders that this woman
shall not he. admitted to the house or
be allowed to attend the funeral on
Friday. Ny father was once quite
wealthy, but he lost nearly all his for.
tune in Wall street on Black Fiidsy.'
l have no idea what my fathers rela-
tions with this girl were. My hus-
band saw her plainly at the station
house and he Gays that we do not
know her. There is some mystery
about the whole affair which will have
to be brought to light"
MIR. Meeker indored his wife's
statements, and added ST think tbs
whole scheme on this woman's part is
to set up claim to Mr.. Cousellor's es'
tate. He has probably led her to be-
lieve that he was quite wealthy.
About two years ego l heard rumor
of visits to Miss bennington, who
was then in Newark, and asked him
about it. He pooh-poohed the whoe
thing, and said that he had no idea of
adopting her. l told him that /
hoped not, IS / thought he had
enough children of his own"
These statements OF the rela ives OF
the deceased man add greatly to the
mystery that seems to have enveloped
his life. Sitting composed y in the
parlor of No. 104 C.iutln avenue yes
teIday, Mrs. bennington, very small
and gentle faced old lady, listened with
surprise while she was told what. had
been said of her daughter by Mr.. and
Mrs. Meeker.
q don't know what they mean by
saying that they don't know US. That
is false, for they have known my
daughter for years. Why, have
note today from Nellie Counsellor adj
dressed to Mrs. bennington and
daughters in which she expresses her
sorrow that our name should have
been dragged into pablo print as it
has. Mr.. Counsellor took Ursula to
see Nellie frequently, and he also took
her to see Mrs. Meeker. don't know
what their object is, unless they are
afraid that we want some of his prop
erty."
"Does Miss bennington intend to
make any claim against the estate"
"She will"
"Upon what ground ?"
81 do not care to discuss it."
"Mis5 bennington at the police
station said that Mr.. Counsellor loved
her 80 that he had injured his life in
her favor for 100000. Is that correct"
II judge 50"
When asked to explain why Mr..
Counsellor made so many visits to
their house, Mrs. bennington replied:
"Well, he was a great friend of my
husband, and when my husband died
Mr.. Counsellor took a great deal of
interest in us. He knew Prof. Layton
of the High School in Brooklyn, aud
after talking with him we decided
that it would be best for Ursula to 90
to Brooklyn school. So we moved |
here lat January, and Ursula entered
the grammar school, where she
graduated in June. Mr.. Cour sellor
was good friend to us; his visits here |
were of social character, and all the |
children called him uncle | am
sure that he never deceived the New
ark family, aud l can't understand
how they can stand over his CORPSE |
and make such an assertion"
"Did Mr.. Counsellor ever tell you |
that he was going to make his will in
your favor and for your daughters |
benefitP"
"No; he told me that he had made
his will, but he would not talk to any
one about it, am sure"
"Was Mr.. Counsellor known at the |
corner grocery as Mr.. bennington ?"
81 really don't know. He was not
ashamed of his name-you know it is
very old and proud one-but he fire.
quently went to the Corp,r to buy us
things, and the man may have sup
posed his name was Mr.. bennington"
The house in which the Downing
tons live is in fashionable neighbor-
hood and stands back from the street,
with a yard in front of it. The furni.
ture is elegant. Last night the three
daughters, dressed in white, sat around
the psrlors discussing Mr.. Counsellor.
Miss Ursula is very handsome girl,
unusually tall and stately, with a
gracefully rounded figure. In referring
to Mr.. Counsellor she spoke with evl-
dent emotion.
81 have been advised not to talk to
reporters" She said, "and l must
therefore decline to say more than
that Mr.. Councillor was dear friend,
and that he feemed like a second
father to me. He told me that l was
HIS adoDted danghter. and that he had