The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-09-09
THE MYSTERY OF
THOMAS MERITHEW.

tOrisinal.l
In 18- Thomas Merithew, wealthy
gentleman of Buffalo, died. His life
had been exemplary. He had expend-
ed large sums in charity and on his
church. He had never been in bust
ness, nor had it been necessary for
him to earn money, for he had inner
tied a fortune, which grew steadily
while in his possession. Since he left
no children, his wife inherited all his
property A few years after his death
the wife died, and the estate passed
into the possession Of MeritheW Inger-
soil, his nephew.
During Thomas Merithew's life there
were whisperings concerning him. 1t
was said that he did not live happily
with his wife and that he would fire.
quently go away from her; that when
he did so no one knew where he went:
that at such times instead of being a
model of probity he led a wild life.
But there was discrepancy in these
reports, for If no one knew where he
went how could 1t be known that he
lived a wild life2
Ten years after his death his former
friends and acquaintance were aston
ished to read in newspaper that
a young man living in New York city
had put in claim for the Merithew
fortune. This person had been brought
up under the name of Edward Coyle,
but claimed the name Of Edward Meri-
thew, asserting that he was a legiti~
mate son Of Thomas Merithew, that
his mother had been married to Meri-
thew prior to the Iatter's marriage to
his acknowledged wife and that as the
sole surviving heir he was entitled to
all OF his fathers property.
The case proved intensely interesting
to both those who knew the Nerithews
and to the public generally. AS soon
as it was begun the rumors that had
been circulated during Thomas Meri-
thew's life took shape. Leonard Grit
I'm. Buffalonian. testified that he had
had speaking acquaintance with Meri-
thew; that on one occasion while visit
ing New York he had met Merithew Oh
Wall street, had bowed to him, and
Merithew passed on without noticing
him. Wondering If he could be mis-
taken in his man, he followed him and
saw him 60 into an Office. Merithew
soon came out, and Griffin, going in,
asked who the man was. He was told
that he was William Coyle. ostensibly
bond broker, but really q speculative
investor.
Another witness, Putnam Palmer,
testified that in restaurant In New
York he had seen man he supposed
to be Merthew. Merithew was with a
woman and a boy. Palmer looked At
Merithew. who returned his gaze with
out recognition. Upon inquiry at the
desk he was informed that the man
often dined there with the woman and
the boy, who were understood to be hif
wife and son.
Leonard Anderson testified that Meri
man in New York who SO closely re
sembled him that the two men were
often mistaken for each other. Counse
for defendant before the trial came or
had endeavored to find this double. He
traced him up to a date not far FROM
that Of Merithew's death; then the dou
BILE suddenly disappeared. He alst
/, searched for the wife and son. bu
could find no trace of them. The at
torney made strong point Of the fac
that they had made no claim to Meri
, thew's fortune at the time Of his de
cease.
Witnesses were produced who knew
Thomas Coylc of New York, ami the.
one and all testified that he was not :
man Of good character by any means
He was known to have been interested
In the organization of spurious corpo
rations. from which Re invariably re
/ tired with the money Of the credulou
investors.
There would have been no case at al
, for the claimant had it not been 70
: Thomas Merithew's frequent disap
pearances. Counsel for the defens
Z. made every effort to fix the place o
places to which he went during one O
more of his absences from home. bu
. failed. The moment he left Buffalo
. seemed to have passed out Of exist
l ence. 1ngersoll. the defendant. raj
a sacked his aunts letters. hunting 70
j, one from her husband written durin
O one OF these periods, but found non
I to prove that he was moi in New York
I When the trial was concluded an
l the jury returned to the room to al
n Rounce q verdict 1t was found thu
Z there was no agreement. Six juror
I were for the plaintiff and six for tn
q defendant. OF course there Was a ne,
q trial New evidence adduced at thi
h, trial was mention by AIRS. Thomi
4 Menthew in letter to her husband {
former marriage Of her husband, br
q when Merithew had come to Buffal
. many years before he gave out that b
a had married at nineteen and his viii
v had died. An acquaintance Of Mr.
!. Ceyis testified that she was not q
, educated woman and must have hoe