The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-07
THE MARRIAGE MooxERY.

More OF the Richardson Denth-bcd Nup'
tials-The Practical VS.. the Sentimen'
tai visw-A Heavy Onslaught upon
Henry Ward Becchcr.
The Northern papers continue TO DISCUSS
with much warmth the recent extraordinary
death-bed marriage of Richardson and Mrs.
Mcfarland. The current OF opinion among
the leading presses, which, at first, was Alto
gether with Richardson, seems fast veering
round in favor Of the man whom he had SO
deeply wronged, and who was goaded to un-
lswful vengeance. Nearly all the journals
unltein denouncing the conspicuous part taken
BY the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher in the final
marriage mockery. Forney's Washington
Chronicle takes this practical view Of the case:
Is THE MARRIAGE VALID
Mr.. a. D. Richardson was reputea stock
holder In the New York Tribune Association,
and this gives to his recent marriage rather
practical aspect as far as the widow is con-
cerned II we mistake not, distinguished
American poet and writer once came Into a
valuable estate through similar death-Ded
marriage. The operation Of the law In these
cases-the rights OF dover and tenant Dy
courtesy-relieves them largely of the gla,
mour Of sentiment which popularly surround
them. In this case, unless Mr.. Richardson mas
specifically devised his property by. will, the
question of law will very likely be raised
whether there was any marriage at oil. II
Mrs. Mcfarland was not legally divorced, then
the ceremony performed by Henry Ward
Beecher wes void and OF no effect. Latteriy
the courts OF Pennsylvania and New York have
- T,,Jto 6iyDrHAS.
and In several cases have declined to recog-
nise their validity where defects IN notices
were proven.
"a PUBLIC OUTRAGE ON RELIGION AND DE-
CRNCY."
Under this heading the New York Sun thus
edIsorially sums up the points OF this remarka-
bic ease, and gives the notorious preacher OF
Plymouth pulpit foretaste Of universal public
sentiment Is to his course:
( The Astor House, In this city, was the scene
on Tuesday afternoon of q ceremony which
seems to us to set ct defiance all those senti-
ments respecting the relation of marriage
which regard 1t as anything intrlnsically supe-
rior to prostitution. The high priest OF this
occasion was Henry Ward Beecher, assisted
by the Rev. Henry NJ, Field, D. d.. and the
Rev. o. B. rockingham. The parties were
Albert D. Richardson, lying wounded by q pis.
toi shot upon q bed Of Illness, and probably Oh
death, and Mrs. Mcfarland, alias Mrs. Sage.
whom Richardson some time ago seduced
nom allegiance to her lawful welded husband.
This husband had been guilty Of a crime to-
ward his wife-the crime OF poverty. 1t was
eYen said that, harassed by the loss Of his pro-
perty and the conduct Of his wife, he had some
times taken to his cups, to drown care, and
had occasionally been exasperated to speak
harshly to the partner Of his bosom, although,
on the other hand, no charge OF adultery was
ever made against him, and 1t appears to be
uncontradicted that he was generally so de-
voted to her that his exceeding conlugal afiec-
tion attracted attention and elected frequent
remarks from his acquaintances.
Mrs. Mcfarland was q woman Of personal 1T
tractfyeness. She and her husband and chill,
dren, In the year 1867, occupied apartments
adjoining those OF Richardson, who was
young wi6ower, with children. As we are In
formed. Mrs. Mcfarland got into the habit OF
going out to lunch frequently. If not daily,
With Richardson. After this had gone on for
some time, her husband remonstrated with
her against such practice, telling her that 1t
would give rise to scandal She replied that
abe had not before reflected upon that conse-
cuence, and promised immediate amendment.
Coming home earlier than usual the next day,
Mcfarland was met in the hall by bis wife, VINO
came rushing suddenly and as IL surprised
ffom Richardson's apartments, and tnen Dy
way OF atonement she threw her arms
oonvuisiyely around him and buried him In
o shower Of passionate kisses. They
then went to his room, where he gently re-
minded her that sh0 had broken her promise;
she again promised reform; they spent tho
nirht together, and in the morning she con-
sinued to cover him with terms Of endearment,
finally begging him, as he LETT, to return
earlier than usual, assigning rs the reason OF
i1ar request that she had not had enough OF his
society of late; that she was lonely, and wished
70 see more Of him. In compliance with her
inapassioped wish, he did return earlier tnan
usual. and found ON his table q note from his
sos fe, stating that she had left him In fact,
Richardson had taken her and his too children
sdicay from him ard his home, whittier he knew
not. subsequently, finding Richardson escort
Ing her home from theatre late at night, ne
fred revolver at him, but inflicted only o
flesh wonnd. One of his children he aiterward
found In Massachusetts. He succeeded In re-
covering possession OF the child before the
Supreme Court Of that State by aid OF the
sacred writ Of babeas corpus.
On the 18th OF March, 1869, Richardson pub
Nshed card, containing the shameless state
ment nt--respecting o woman who was the
:jHWful wife Of another, man-that after the
Senera.lop between Mrs. Mcfarland and her
husband tsG cGgae 10 be understood oetopeeH her
and nstseLG that ,clseaeger she should 90 legatty
Fse. slss Should become my ,oits." Yet no in
f6lNSent, reasoning human beiEs can doubt,
nom the evidence In the case, at this separa-
don Nas promoted and broug1t about-and
not unlikely originally susges'cd--by Richard
son himself
At last, driven TO frenzy b, the loss o. his
more than life, and by the contemplation OF
hisWife, the mother Of his children, reposing
s. the arms OF her seducer, he shot that seduc-
Ar-Who was armed at the time to receive
htm+through tho body, infllcting upon him O
wound from tho effects of which the seducer
has since been tluttering between lie and
death. We use the word seducer in its exact
sense: we mean the man who led this woman
from herself for he who erawls, like the SER
pent In Eden, into . household and ostranges
from husband the affections Of wife. Is
eonally her seaucer. whether he himself has
marital relations With her before or after
mock religious ceremony. AS the great and
eloquent John Whipple said, "He who enters
the dwelling Of . friend, and. under the shell
ter and protection of friendship and hoSpitau-
ty. corrupts the integrity OF his wife or daught-
or, By the common consent OF mankind ougns
30 bs oonslgned to an Immediate gallows."
i An easily misguided woman, led on BY Rich
ardson, and cheered and encouraged by his
Free-loye allies, this wife and mother resorted
TO Indiana. where, forgetting her early plight
cd Mith, by the loose and easy process there In
vogue, she procured legal divorce,
Stswith bold trreverent brow,
And loose, free step, her pcrvtous way she trod,
Downward aud on till she denied her God,
And broke tlie marriage VOW"
Yor had she not vowed to take Mcfarland