New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-13
IMPRISONED BY HER SISTER
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST A WOMAN AT
HAsBROUCK HEIGHTS n. J.
1T IS SAID THAT SHE GOT CONTROL OF TRUST
ESTATE LEFT BY HER FATHER AND WHEN
HER SISTER CAME From VERMONT FOR
HELP SHE WAS SHUT UP AND KEPT
A PRISONER FOR A Y

HER SISTER CAME From VERMONT FOR
HELP SHE WAS SHUT UP AND KEPT
PRISONER FOR YEAR.
The attention OF the Grand Jury of Bergen
County ~ j.. on Monday called by the Dis
tric-Attorney to an alleged strange case Of cruelty
and undetermined work. and 1t is expected that an
indictment may follow against Miss Mary Merritt,
Of Hasbrouck Heights. and John Van Orden. a
boarder in her house for cruelty and false mprison-
ment of the womans sister. Mrs Kendall OF Fer
risburg. VT. and for the wrongful use of trust
moneys belonging estate. John Herbert
Winans Of this city, counsel for the plaintiffs. makes
the following statement in this strange case:
About ten years ago George Merritt. a politician
and real-estate dealer died in this city leaving
property valued at about $4,000 TO his wife 10 DE
held in trust by her for their four children. The
mother and the four children all alive. George
is plumber. Charles is a business man with an
Office at No 10 Wall-st. Augusta became the
wife OF one Kendall. of Ferrsburg VI. and Mary
Merritt married. and has been living Tor
some years at Hasbrouck Heights
THE mother. who Is now extremely feeble, being
nineyone years OF age, has always lived with her
single daughter. In home purchased. az the rest
of the children supposed. with money taken from
the trust and In her name. but which Is now iound
to be In Mary Merritts name.
eft seems that for the past few years this Mary
Merritt who is austere, peculiar-ookng spin
ster has exercised complete control over both
the person and the actions Of her mother. To such
an extent has she carried this influence that she
has obtained complete control of ALL or nearly all,
of the estate and has invested II in the house ana
lot at Hasbrouck Heights. and in Government
bonds, which she always carries ABOUT Win her III
a black satchel
ION November G. 1898. her sister, Mrs. Augusta
Kendall Of Ferrisburg. VI, left her home ana
came to this city to her mother. Her husband
had been sick some time and she came mere 10 get
some Of the trust money from her mother. as she
was sadly In need and considered that she was
entitled TO some help from the estate. She went TO
her brother Charles and told by him that
her mother was living at Hasbrouck Heights with
their sister Mary. She went to Hasbrouck heights
and that the last that was heard from her
until a few days Her brothers here IN TINS
city supposed that she had got what she wanted
and returned to Vermont. Ii would appear that
there was some enlargement between the chill
dren. communications were infrequent ana priei'
"A few days after Mrs. Kendall left Vermont
COMMUNICATION reached Ferrsburg that his wife
had away and left him. He was burIed; anu a
they had no children the townspeopIe TOOK IL LOT
granted that the report was true. ,.,
Last Monday morning a poor. eHac s,t,'b
wretched- looking creature, with scarcely sti,cn
OF clothing on her back. crawled out OF cellar
window OF the house In Hasbrouck Heights occu-
nmoiher She could scarcely totter along. and the
first person whom she met was inclined 10 ovIiete
e RSr he but s" xusu SAKE Kendall Who
year before had entered that house 10 seek ana
FOR her dying husband. and had been Kept a close
prisoner subject the most brutal treatment. as
her condition showed She toii her p'''"' story
and her brothers were sent for. ~ 80,
Her brothers sought the legal advice o. Mr.; WI
mans an attorney with Office at No ~ itrohi"aY;
| this city and they visited their sisters home am
demanded az explanation OF the matter They ioun1
their mother perfectly childish and their sister gen
ami and angry She saii that her sister. Mrs MI
dali was crazy and had been so ever since she came
TO see her year ago. and told story OF no."
much trouble she had had in taking care OF her anu
keeping the fact from the public so as not 20 pis
disgrace upon the family. The brothers were duh'
| founded. . , 49,. ~
| Acting on the advice OF their counsel. they 'ook
their sister Mrs Kendall. 10 the chairman OF the
| Medical Hospital iiackensack. After careiu. 'N,
animation he pronounced her perfectly sane. ana on
hearing story OF her sisters cruelty ADVISED ~
10 institute criminal proceedings against hcT lpI
| cruelty and Imprisonment The brothers OF Mrs
Kendall have had her placed In the fackrnshes
UosDltal where she is slowly recovering she say
| that when she applied 10 her mother Tor money
! more than n year her sister Mary sani h'i
| up and fed her crlsts and water. ana nrNri
| le, her leave the house Her condition was - Weak
| tbai the doctor would not let her tax further.
Altogether II Is a strange case
suits VAL also he instituted for the recovery 81
| the trust property