The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-02
MOEN'S WELL-KEPT SECRET.
Unable to Longer Bear the Scorn and
Contempt of His Acquaintance,
(" Doc" Wilson Breaks Down and Confesses lie
Is the Legitimate Son of Moen-Result
of Trying to Hide Youthful Sin.

PROVIDENCE, r. l., Dec. unable to bear
the strain on his mind any longer, doc" Will
son, this morning, broken down in health and
weeping like child, told the great secret which
has existed between him and P. L. Moen of
story in the presence Of four reputable citizens.
who furnished it to the press:
II am looked upon as a black-mailer" he said,
'and those who believe have been bleeding that
old man held me in as much contempt yell
low dog But will not stand it any longer. l
am more sinned against than SHINING. and now
the truth shall be known. My name is not
Wilson, nor am the son of John Wilson. Ny
father is the man who is accusing me of black
mail, and my name is Levi Moen, the lawful
son of P. l.. Moen, of Worcester"
Mr.. Wilson then went on to tell the story Of
his birth and the wrong done him by his father.
His story is that he is son of Moen's first wife,
and that he was born a few months after the
marriage Moen, being deacon and a pro-
fessedly heightened Christian, did not wish to
face the scandal of such an early birth for his
first-born, so bargain was made with one Jonas
Wilson, of Daniesonville, Conn, a staee-driver,
by which the babe was transferred to the
latters care, and was brought up as a Will
son. The boy lived and toiled in the
humble sphere to which he says Moen
consigned him, and it was not until he was
young man-grown that he learned the secret Of
his birth. For that secret he was indebted to
the religious remorse of his supposed father.
Jonas Wilson, who, being on his death. bed and
not caring to pass the portals with the burthen
4: y A-lS
him who he was. After Wilson died the young
set off for Worcester to meet his father
face to face. Their first meeting. Wilson says,
exactly as has been described. He did meet
Moen on that particular morning, and after
observing the signs of wealth and lux
ury that abounded, he demanded of Moen
some reparation for the wrong done to the one
who should be the heir to all Moen at first re-
fused to acknowledge the lad, and wou.o have
driven him forth, but the boy faced his million
aire parent defantly. and. upbraiding him for
the wrong done his mother and himself, said: ~
will force you to acknowledge me- and the world
shall know you for what you are" Then, "Doc"
says, the banker-deacon became alarmed and
gave him 800 By appointment he met Moen
the next day, and consented to shield his unnat
ural father from shame The father had, In the
meantime, married again after the death of
Docs" mother, and had married into family
Which, WOuIu nave sCoEHou nlOeu Hitu tucy hHOWu
of the scandal Then. according to Mr.. Wilson's
story the persons who knew the secret of his
parentage, seeing Doc" had mouey, and know
ing 1t came from Moen, began to urge claims
upon him. Their demands increased. aud to
satisfy them he had to apply to Moen for money,
and In that way much of the sum received from
the banker spent Mr.. Wilson says that
these demands upon him grew so exorbitant that
he was almost impoverished by them. The En-
elee suits settled. he said at Moen's sue
gestion and with Moens money, because the lat
ter 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 rela-
tionship and calling him ''dear son." These let
ters Mr.. Wilson produced to-day. He says he
is the injured one as. instead of being reared as
gentleman and brought up amid all the luxu-
ries which his fathers wealth could purchase he
was cast adrift. reared peasant boy, without
education and without any of the refinements of
life which would have been his had his cruel
parent done right Mr.. Wilson says he cannot
longer endure the calumnes with which he is
assailed and that his confession of the secret is
true in every respect.