Year: 1875

DRAWING NEAR THE CLOSE OF THE FIRST


cHAPrER-ARoUMKNT OF MR.. VAN PELT IN


FAVOR or THE CLAIMANT.


The Surrogate Court At White Plains, westchester
county was again crowded yesterday by repre-
sentng nearly every branch OF the learned and un-
learned professions Many Of these had travelled long
distances for the purpose OF hearing the argument Of
counsel FOR the contestant in the Singer will
case. As though she would refute the charge
or social made inierentialy against her by
ex-Judge Porter during his argument Monday, Mrs.
Foster Qhe caimant) accompanied by six or eight
or her lady relatives and friends cotere OF which she
formed the centre, appearing radiant in fashionable
attire.


Mr.. r. W. Van Pelt counsel for the claimant COM
menced his lengthy and exhaustive argument by
graphic description OF the early life OF his
client, the in which Isaac NJ Singer
formed her acquaintance in 1885, and how under false
represen tatons, he her youthful confidence and
love when she but eighteen years Of age. He told
how the testator who then married man, had de-
ceved this trusting young girl and her parents by CIV
ing them understand that he was single and how he
at length succeeded in inducing her to meet
him in New York, when they would be
married. She, not doubling his impassioned
protestations ofove for her. did he directed but
arriving at the city named, after travelling from the
home OF her parents in Baltimore she learned from
Singer that ceremonial marriage at that immediate
time was impossible Without telling her that he
then debarred by law from fulfilling mis- promise TO lead
her TO the altar he informed her that he was
in trouble about another woman and
he could extricate himself thereirom he would
at once have the marriage ceremony performed
between them. His specious pleading prevailed over
her tmid apprehensions of improperly in the step
which he, who was many years her senior proposed,
and she consented TO be wife to him. with all that
term implies. y From 1886 to 1860 they lived
and wife and had ten children born them. The first
fifteen years OF their married life spent in abject
poverty. She shared his troubles and it her
tanning arm that often kept him from aintlng by the
waysde


NONE COVETED HER DowRY


when IT was composed of misery wretchedness and
destituton NO one wanted her rags But when he
became rich, by the suddenness of magic the de-
voted wife, the kind mother and the participation
in his dark misfortunes was 70 be transformed
into into srornh mistress AS AS wife 2 she WAS was
this pauper becomes millionaire he must not only
have mistress, but numerous mstresses, with whom
he wont TO drive out in almost regal style nearly
hour in the day At his home and to the outside
world he appeared to be the faithful husband and the
moral man. while in secret he literally rioted in lust
He at length carried his centious practices be-
yond all bounds OF decency, and when the indignant
and outraged companion Of his obscure days separated
herself from him and instituted suit for divorce
went TO Europe with one of his mstresses and finally
brought q young woman from that country back to
New YORK, where he publicly married her. Previous
to this, however, the claimant had in the divorce
suit been granted counsel fees and the largest
of al1nony ever ordered by any Court in this State
Singer effected compromise by agreeing TO give the
claimant furnished house in Twenty y-eghth street.
New York and life allowance of $50 per week her
promising not further to stir up the scandaous revea
lions threatened by the suit mentioned She, how
ever, to be allowed to prosecute the a
cessful ISSUE or in other words to the securing OF
decree OF divorce il being stipulated that
he would not prevent her from doing
This agreement entered into for the sake OF their
children she had paid her lawyer to obtain tho de-
Indicated and he afterward deceived her by tell
ing her he had procured 1t and that she at liberty
to marry IL she chose On this representation she
of Sponsler Had her lawyer performed his duty and
obtained the decree of divorce she could have
bad


THE PIyGER OF scoRS POINTED


at her as a concubine and a bigamst Immediately
after her marriage with Foster had been discovered by
Singer and his satellites he wrested from her through
and he still retained the deed OF the house which
she with her infant children already domciled he
turned herself and little into the street. allowing
her TO take nothing out Of the house excepting her
clothes Singer, alter remarrying, himself, in 1863
spa upon his country which longer good enough
for the imperial Caesar which he had grown to be- and
went to England, there to found
of Singers, which, he doubtless hoped,
would be able to mingle with the proudest on
Albon's soil Under the law OF New York the fact
of marriage only requires the consent of
qualified parties to live together and wife, this
promise to take each other being followed by cohabita
tion end holding themselves up before the world
ena enae @ a hs e Of % % w her M af wbSo on
with all their ingenuity and with $50 900 at their
command, could not find in tho State OF New York,
in the United States or In the whole world, wit
who could be induced to swear that in his her
opinion Singer and the claimant did appear live
together and wife, to say aught against her
ciaste wife and affcctionate mother


The above is but bare synopsis of the argument
which consumed nearly five hours in it's delivery. Mr.
Van Pe had not concluded the time of adjournment
and will resume this morning.