New-York tribune., 1900-05-19
WIFE AN ALLEGED PLOTTER
ACCUSED OF MARRYING AN OLD MAN
TO GET HIS RICH ESTATE
LETTERS FROM A STUDENT IN BROOKLYN
SUIT IN THE SUPREME COURT

A case came up in the Supreme Court yester-
day in which it was charged that Alice Wood
twenty-eight years old, had entered into a con-
spiracy by which she had induced Cornelius H
Van Ness. an octogenarian, living at Cornwall
n. Y. to marry her, with the intention of de-
frauding him of the estate left him by his
wife. Emma Louise Van Ness. who died on jan
uary %, 1898. The suit is brought for Harriet
b. Harmon and Marie b. Harmon, eighteen and
fourteen years old respectively. by their father
and guardian, Frank d. Harmon a well known
resident of this city The girls are the nieces of
Mrs. Emma L. Van Ness, and they assert that
by her will, although she left her estate to her
husband, Mrs Van Ness intended that he was
only to use the income of the property during
his lifetime, and that his death the principal
was to so to them and another niece of Mrs
Van Ness, Emma Louise Van Ness Day
Assistant Corporation Counsel Charles Blandy
appeared as counsel for the plaintiffs. and said
that Alice Wood was an adventures who was
married to young man In a college in Brook
lyn She had heard that Mr. Van Ness was in
the habit of making love to every pretty young
woman he met and offering marry her She
accordingly laid her plans and pretending to
sprain her ankle outside his Cornwall home. OBJ
tanned admission, She made love to the old
man. who finally married her
Justice Freedman had granted a temporary
injunction in this action, Mr. BIandy said which
was to have a trust imposed on MT Van Ness's
estate In favor of the two plaintiffs and their
cousin. that he could spend only the income
of the property. to prevent him from disposng
Of the estate. 1t was served on Mr. Van Ness In
the Nassau Bank as he taking valuable
securities out of his safe deposit vault and
handing them to Alice Wood. She was also
made defendant in the action. Mr.. Blandy
had managed to get rid of property valued at
$291 900 He therefore wanted the Injunction
continued pending trial
AT THE DOOR WITH SPRAINED ANKLE
Mr.. Blandy submitted an affidavit from Mary
East who, with her husband Frederick East. had
been in the employ of Mr.. Van Ness since May
1891 in which she said that Alice Wood whom
he subsequently married. rang the front door
bell of his home on November B. 1899 and said
she had sprained her ankle; that she had come
TO Cornwall TO be cured of malaria and was
boarding in the village. Mr.. Van Ness inquired
to the extent of her injury. and had her
driven back to her boarding house. The next
day Alice Wood drove to the house and Mr..
Van Ness asked her If she would like to see the
place, and showed 1t TO her, after which he in
vited her In to hear some music. She accepted
the invitation and shortly afterward remarked
to him that she could live there all her life.
The next day Mr.. Van Ness took her driving
in his phaeton, and the following day drove her
10 the station. where, he Informed Mrs. East,
she had kissed him goodby. Shortly before
Christmas Mr. Van Ness went to New-York.
and visited Port Jervis. On January - last he
returned to Cornwall accompanied by Alice
Wood and her mother. who remained until Sun
dav January 81 During her stay Alice was
constantly hugging and kissing the old man.
and repeatedly asked him TO marry her. From
January o3 TO February 81 Mr.. Van Ness was
Continued on second page.