The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
TON p1Ao1DE,s oLD HOME SOLD.
Mary Alice Almont Livingston FlominE's
Husband In tho Purchaser.

Mary Alice Alnont Livingston FlominE's
Husband IL tho Purchaser.
TONS RIVER. N. j.. June 3-Yesterday Henry
r. Frey. husband OF Mrs. Mary Alice Amont
Livingston Fleming purchased the old Tom
Placide property" near this place. from the Cou-
dert brothers OF Now York. who took the prop
erty some years ago under mortgage that
had been given them by the late Mrs. Bliss.
The house stands just across the river from
the Island Heights camp Meeting ground.
1t 10 large. square old structure with
peaked roof. and is surrounded by
twenty acres OF lawn and woodland.
The lawn slopes down TO the river. The
house has long been known to baymen and
boatmen Of BarneRat Bay as 1.-The haunted
house" Tales are told by the superstitious
among the watermen OF strange lights that
pass from one to another OF the windows OF the
house on winter nights when IL is known to be
unoccuped. the lights showing first upstairs.
then down In one room. then in another.
And many a waterman whose daily occupation
causes him to rick his life times without num-
Der would hesitate long before approaching
this house when the liehts are seen after night.
There may be reasons for the avoidance with
which the baymen regard the house. Here IL
was that Tom Placde. the actor. died. 1t was
here that his stepdaughter. Mrs. Bliss. lived
many years. and here that her daughter. Mary
Alice Almont Livingston better known as Mrs.
Fleming. who Q short time ago was acquitted
in New York city OF poisoning her mother
came to live as young girl from a Catholic
convent. 1t was here that Mr. and Mrs Bliss
continued to live together after divorce had
been granted them. 1t was also here that the
daughter lived when she began her suit for
breach Of promise against Stockbroker Flem-
ing Of New York. in which she secured a YER
dict for S75.0O0-the largest damages ever
given In such a suit.
Tom Placide came to Toms River about
thirty years ago. and 1t is now twenty-one
years since he committed suicide by putting a
bullet through his head from his favorite duel
ling pistol Placde was born In Charleston.
s. G. When a lad Of 20 years he met Mary
Ann Mcknight. She was twelve years his
mired the talented young actor, but thought
herself too cid for him. and doubted the last
hs SO des
herself. ,Pacide. with his elder, brother Harry.
advanced nsd,d rapidly to fams He was known
Bat he remained "a bachelor In isss when
IL, he met her again. This time she was 's
widow. Placide resumed his suit of forty years
before With fl the vS0. Of the youth Of those
that the years had added. This time he was
and after they were married he
TTitndrpsW from the stage and settled down at
Her he seems to have led happy life until
the one that had d Red his P brothee
s ns3a e fYsy fa dsuss last
Bliss to York to attend s Ts aeq bus
1877. He then wrote a letter and save it 70
Mrs. Bliss. asking her to drive to the vii |
fRd s o The to ocean, ssR R Ren Just coU
Mrs. Bliss drove of. an old friend Of the he
aGtor, rounded our up his yacht at Pacide,'s
excused * for moment: promising to return.
he ground, lay down with kis head upon It. i.
himself through the right temple Ali this the
put he did not suspect Placide's Intention until
wh Ha1 G cGok GPe S 1 RssS de letter
him to come down with the Coroner at once.
Mrs Placide lived nearly year longer. dying
Msp1 in ar ses aS yfoms River
he vi. and an drolery Of Tom Pacide. He was
IS e anS fs saes his
4 Judge Blank. a gentleman OF the old school
vas one Of Tom neighbors. He was a pillar
n the little Methodist church. and enjoyed the
onfdence and esteem OF the whole county
much addicted to swearing. Indeed. he had
attained distinction in this regard even among
people OF whom nearly every man had FOL;
wear intelliRently and in the proper dialect at
my breed OF sailorman that walked the for'ar
lecI be he Swede or Dago. F inn or Lascar.
TOMS profanity was matter Of much concern
md friend had been even more profuse In this
INDULGENCE than was his won't the Judge re-
q onstrated.
Friend Placide." said he. 1T seems to me
hat gentleman OF your years. who can live
nut little longer at most. should be more caro-
vi q hs language aud endeavor to break or
Tom took the sermon good naturedy He
early loved his friend, the Judge. but he loved
etter to chaff him. With very sober face he
Judge: you're pretty good kind of a man
The Judge admitted that he tried to be-
You go to church regularly"
Another acIuiescence on the Judges part.
You pray good deal. too. don't You 81
Yes. the Judge had to wrestle daily in prayer
keen zen down S the I 2Id Adam that Is II us all
,as no longer able to repress smlle.:"You
ray a good deal and I swear a good deal.
a. neither OF us means anything by It,"
Tom also tried his hand at writing epitaphs.
me OF the village maRnates had accum ulated
large fortune through being not evergreen
us with what he had earned. Tom convulsed
iark at which the shaft was aimed. with the
blowing:
Here lies the body of Old Sixty Per Cent,
The moro he made the less he spent
The less he spent the more he slavedy
My God. can such q soul be savedf
Poor Tom has rested for moro than twenty
ears In the family burying ground OF his old
lend. William jeffrey.
uUsurrs op rgu xo,