The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-02-16
The Great Chicago Scandal.
From the Detroit Tribune, Feb. s.

We have thus far avoided reference in orr
columns to most painful affair brought to
light in this city some weeks since, affecting
parties who have occupied foremost posi-
tiou in oar society, with which since that
time runner has been busy, and found full
occupation for her thousand tongues in mag.
nifying and multiplying details and partic1.
lars without number, and quite numerously
without foundation. Through all, however,
has remained the sad fact, as basis of this
scandal, that a prominent banker of this
city had banished his wife and the mother of
his children from his home, on a charge of
infdelity to the marriage VOW, her alleged
partner in guilt being we'll known member
of the Chicago bar.
We took our position of silence in this
matter because we were unwilling to add to
the poignancy of the shame that oppressed
the friends OF these parties, either by giving
currency to the stories aheat, or by pressing
impertinently upon the sources of reliable
information for the real facts. The public
could wait, and we could watt until, as was
foreseen, this sad affair should assume a po-
sition among public records, placed there by
the act OF one of the principals, whence we
now take it, sadly and reluctantly, as lift
ing veil that has shrouded an instance of
domestic life among uss which seemed to
lack no necessary that wealth could pur-
chase to insure the happiness of home. We
transfer it thus recorded. to our columns as
one of the lessons ia our social life, W hich il
they are terrible, are also salutary and full
of warning.
A bill has been filed in the Circuit Court
of this county, on the chancery side thereof,
dated and filled January Is, 1860 in which
the orator Isaac II B9rch, prays for di-
vorce n ON his wife, Mary W. Burch. The
bill sets forth that the orator was married
to the party thus made respondent, at Alba
ny, New York, on the 9th of May; 1S4s,
since which time they have resided together
in this city. That during the marriage,
two children have been the fruit of this
union, Mary W Burch, now aged ten years
and ten months, and Harriet Corning Bureh,
aged one year and eight months.
The orator charges that his wife, Mary w
Burch, has committed adultery with one Da-
vid Stuart, first about the month of October,
1857, and since then, but at what times the
orator is unable to specify. Adultery is also
charged to have been committed within the
period named, with other persons "whose
names are unknown to the orator." The bill
is drawn by the Attorneys of Mr.. Burch,
Messrs. Ii. l.. Lewis and Ii. q. Lewis, whose
signatures with his own are affixed.
1t is proper to state that Mrs. Burch sign
ed in n0tarial presence, statement from
which the above bill is drawn. The revela-
tion falls like .thunderbolt upon the circle
in which she had moved. 1t can scarcely be
said that it affects materially the reputation
of her alleged partner in guilt, whose family
however, are not, nor should be denied the
full need of sympathy, as the innocent suf-
ferers.
1t has become sufficiently well authentica-
ted that Mrs. Burch now retracts her state
ment, which she AYERS was extorted from her,
and that the defence will attempt to drive
the petitioner to furnish evidence outside
that so.called evidence, il any such evidence
exists.
1t is undertood that the respondent, who