Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-02
THE MOEN MYSTERY.
A Millionaire Denies His
Own Child,
JUST TO AVOID A SCANDAL.
The Son Tells the Story of His
Fathers Cruelty-MOen
Makes a Denial.
Special to the Herald bu the Assocfated Pre'

Makes a Denial.
New York, December "A special
dis:atch from Providence, r. l., says:
Doc Wilson declared to-day in relation
to his suit against the millionaire, Moen,
that be was the latter's son, but Moen
had put him in charge of Jonas Wilson,
who never let him know the secret of
his parentage until 1870, when he ex.
perienced religion and confessed the
truth. Since that time Moen had paid
him money, but more OF 1t has gone to
the Wilson's to buy their silence than
he had kept for himself.
Unable to bear the strain any longer,
"Doc" Wilson this morning, broken
down in health, and weeping like achild,
told the great secret which existed be.
tween him and P. l.. Moen, of Worces-
ter, so many years. The story was told
in the presence of four reputable citi.
zens who furnished it to the press. II am
looked upon as a blaekmailer," said he,
"and these who believe that have been
bleeding that old man hold me in as
much contempt as a yellow dog. ! will
stand it no longer. l am more sinned
against than SHINING, and now the truth
shall be known. My name is not Will.
q N, nor am I the son Of Jonas Wilson.
Ny father is the man who is accusing
me of blackmail and my name is Levi
Moen, the lawful son Of P. L. Moen, of
Worcester" Wilson then went on to
t all the story of his birth and the wrong
done him by his father. His story is
that he is the son of Moen's
first wife; that he was born
a few months after marriage. Moen be-
ing deacon and professedly high.
toned Christian did not wish to face the
scandal of such an early birth for his
first born, SO bargain was made with
Jonas Wilson of Danielsonville, Conn,
a stage driver, by which the babe was
transferred to the latter's care and
brought up as Wilson's boy. He lived
and toiled in the humble sphere to
which he says Moen consigned him and
it was not until he become young man
grown that he learned the secret Of his
birth. For that secret he was indebted
to the religious remorse of his supposed
fatherSJonas Wilson, who, being on his
death bed, not caring to passing the
portals with the burden on his soul,
drew the lad toward him and told him
who he was. After Wilson died the young
fellow set off for Worcester to meet his
father face to face. Their first meeting,
Wilson says, was exactly as has been de.
scribed He did meet Moen that morn
ing, and after observing the signs of
wealth and luxury that abounded, de.
manded of Moen some reparation for
the wrong done one who should be heir
to all. Moen at first refused to acknowl-
edge the lad, and would have driven
him forth, but the boy faced his mil
lionsire parent defantly, upbraiding
him for the wrong done his mother and
himself. He said: II will force you to
acknowledge me, and the world shall
know you for what you are" Then
sDoc." Gays Barker Deacon became
alarmed and gave him $l00. By ap.
pointment he met Moen next day, and
consented to shield his father from
shame. The father had in the mean.
time married again after the death of
Docs" mother, and married into a
family which would have scorned Moen
had they known of the scandal. Then
according to "Doc's" STORY, the Wilson's,
who knew the secret of his parentage,
seeing he had money and knowing it came
from Moen began to urge their claims
upon him. These demands increased
and to satisfy them he had applied to
Moen for money and in that way much
of the eum received from Barker was
spent. Wilson says these demands upon
him grew go exorbitant that he became
almost impoverished by them. The Eng.
ley suits were settled, he said, at Moen's
suggestion with Moen's money.
The latter feared his relationship
to Wilson would come out
some way in the trial. Wilson
has letters which he says were written
by Moen, acknowledging the relation.
ship and calling him "dear son." These
letters Wilson produced to-day. be
says he is the injured one, as instead OF
being reared as gentleman and brought
up amid all the luxuriance which his
fathers wealth could purchase he was
cast adrift and reared as peasant boy.
without education and without any OF
the refinements of life which would have
been his had his cruel parents done
right. Wilson says he can no longer en-.
dure the calumnies with which he is
assailed, and that his confession of the
secret is true in every respect
MoEN's STORY.
WORCESTER, Mass, December L.
The announcement from Providence
this evening that Doc Wilson had lifted
the veil from the great Moen mystery
caused tremendous sensation. The
bulletin boards were surrounded far into
the night by crowds of people. The
millionaire manufacturer was at prayer
meeting when the announcement reached
this city. and reporters gathered at the
door of Union church to waylay him
when he came forth. One of them
showed Mr.. Moen copy of Provi.
dence paper containing the story and
proceeded to interview him on the sub
iect, but he would say nothing aside
from the statement that Docs story was
a lie. With difficulty he escaped
the reporters and proceeded to
his residence A reporter called
upon him there at Q o'clock.
His eon Phil anne to the door with him.
He was as cool and collected as though
he had been called to the door on o mat
ter of business of the simplest kind.
When asked about the statement made
by Wilson to-day, that he was his faith
er, Mr.. Moen said: "It is a lie, down,
right lie." He then said "my counsel
has advised me not to. talk with any OF
the newspaper men on the subject, so
you will excuse me il decline to be in.
terviewed, but you can see that he is
nearing the end of his rope. just see
how desperate be is, getting up such a
story as that" Moen declined to state
anything further.