The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-11
THE KAsSON DIVORCE CASE.
ADULTERY, EXPOSURE, CONFESSION AND d.
yoRCE.

The institution of suit of divorce by
Mrs. John A. Kasson against her husband,
and their final separation, has excited some
attention during the past three weeks, but
still has not received that attention from the
press which its importance would seem to
demand. The prominence of Mr.. Kasson,
his well-known ability and influence in the
councils of the nation, which all concede,
and the length of time he has been before
the public in high official position, together
with the amiability, beauty and lovely dis
position of his wife, all conspire to make it
casue of more than ordinary moment. The
facts have not yet been published in full, and
now, since the parties have agreed to an am
icable separation, it is doubtful if they ever
see the light, further than are now known.
For this reason, we collect such as have been
made public-and present them in contin-
uous narrative, though of course not able 20
give so full an account as presence in the
town where they reside would afford.
Mr.. and Mrs. Kasson have been married
we are told, about fifteen year3. He is we
believe, a native of Alabama, certainly of
some Southern State, but moved from there
many years ago He has spent good deal
of his time in Washington, where he became
acquainted with and married his wife, Her
maiden name was Caroline Elliott; her
mother still resides in Washington unless
lately removed. Mrs K. has brother in
st. Louis, where he is pastor Of a church.
This marriage has never been blessed with
any children, and it is believed that in this
fact ) ito be found. remotely or directly, no
small part of the cause of the present trouble
Mr.. Kasson, during the first part of Mr.
Lincoln's term, was First Assistant Postmas-
ter to Mr.. Blair, but he resigned the place in
1868, when he was elected to Congress from
the Fifth District of this State. He had
made his home at Desmoines for several wears,
where he has pleasant little homestead
His wife mad usually accompanied him to
Washington, but this winter she did not 90,
for some unexplained reason. 1t would APP
pear, however, that at his departure he had
no suspicion of her, nor, if he was guilty, did
he suspect that she had any knowledge of
it, for he left much the largest part of his
ready money with her.
While he was absent in Washington this
winter, Mrs. Kasson not only heard, but it
would seem obtained evidence that he
was guilty of violating his marital VOWS
Who with, however, when or where, is not
known, and probably will not be made pub
lie. 1t is said, however, that the lady in
question was indiscreet enough to write him
letter that contained good many things
friendly epistle should not contain, and this,
of course, was miscarried, and finally came
. into Mrs. Kasson's possession, and it is pre-
sumed that this contained the evidence of
his sin. Be this as it may, she considered
her wrongs too grievous to be borne, and
with full knowledge of all she and he must
both sacrifice, she determined to institute
proceedings, and petition for divorce was
drawn up, but we cannot learn that it was
ever filed. This was about the middle of
February. OF course it would not long be
kept secret, and when started it travelled
fast. Its first public announcement we think
was contained in our dispatch published on
the morning of February 20. Mr.. Kasson
was at once informed of the state of affairs
and started for home 1t will be recollected
he was charged in some of the papers with
lodging on some of the important votes ia
ken that week in Congress, but it now ap-
pears that he was speeding away for Iowa as
fast as possible in a matter that affected him
much more deeply and nearly than the mat
tiers he was leaving behind, important as
they were.
The result is already announced. He ar
rived at home, had an interview with his
wife, it is said, acknowledged his guilt; she
laid down the terms; he agreed to them
they resolved upon an amicabe separation
legal proceedings, if any had been Instituted
were dropped, and he is now on his return to
Washington. The lovers of scandal, and
those eager for the prurient development of
such divorce cases, are disappointed, and in
a short time the whole thing will have passed
from the public mind.
This is the prevalent view. Mr.. Kasson,
of course has many and warm friends who
do not and cannot believe those things true
of him, and they allege that his enemies in
his own party, who were offended at his
public action, and especially those who are
Jealous of his power and popularity, have
operated upon Mrs. K, and magnified what,
perhaps. were only slight indiscretions into
great wrongs, until they have goaded her on
to do what she has done. How this suppo-
sition will be made to hinge with his action
while on visit to Des Moines does not ap-
pear One account says he appeared in open
court in Warren county, and plead guilty to