, 1869-06-18
LfrOm the Chicago Tribune. Nay lS.1
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
SAD STORY OF INFIDELlTY, ELoPEMENT,
MISERY AND SHAME.

SAD STORY OF INFIDELlTY, ELOPEMENT,
MISERY AND SHAME.
One Of the strangest and most touching
of family histories that has ever come to our
notice was developed in this city yesterday.
The parties interested have, and one yet
moves, in a high circle of society, The
husband and wife arc yet young, but have
already experienced such vicissitudes as few
old people have ever undergone. Their his.
tory includes happy home and lite of opu
lenee /; enlargement and seduction a fraudu.
lent divorce and elopement life of shame,
misery aud want; a pursuit of years, final
discovery, aid a touching reconciliation
The opening chapters of this drama are laid
in the State Of New York other States and
cities have witnessed various chapters of the
strange story, but it was left to Chicago to
witness the reconciliation and happy denoue-
ment. But we will give the story as it has
come to our knowledge.
About ten years ago William c. Bradley,
a young, talented, and wealthy resident of
the village of Herkimer, New York, wooed
and won the hand Of Sarah ID. Carver, daugh.
ter of a member of the present General As
sembly of that State. For a term of about
four years they lived in a state of compare,
tive happiness, and then suddenly GOODNESS
was apparent on the part Of the wife. 1t
soon became evident that she had lost her
love for her lawful husband, and conferred
it on an, individual named Brinkerhool
Tharott, who paid assiduous court at her
shrine. Early in the spring of 1868 she
left her home for Lafayette, Ind, aud on the
9TH of May tie same year procured fraudu
lent divorce in that State, famous for divor
ces. The decree was procured for her, she
alleges, by we'll known lawyer of Lafayette,
named Alexander Bowditch.
Returning to Herkimer, she kept the mat
ter cf her divorce from her husband, but con.
tinued to court the acquaintance of Tharott,
and one fine day she departed with him for
parts unknown, taking with her their little
daughter, beautiful child, about years of
age.
When the news of the divorce and the
subsequent elOpemen. were conveyed to the
husband, he went nearly distracted, and while
he might have forgotten the loss of his faith,
less wife, the loss of his child was blow too
terribfe'to bear. Scarcely aware Of what he
was about-knowing only that his child had
been taken from him, he started in pursuit
aud during his travels he has traversed thou
sands If miles, passed back and forth through
nearly every State in the Union, and, after
six terrible years of agony and suspense,
finally found the woman and his little daugh.
ter in an assignatlon house in this city
The story of her trials aud hardships is
pitiful one. Her first destination was Lafay-
cite, and from there she went to CINCINNATI
After u short residence at the POrkOpois she
moved to Memphis, and remained there for
year or more. At the expiration of this
time she was deserted by her paramOur and
thrown upon the world to fight her way as
best she could.
Finding it a difficult task to make re>
spectacle living in Memphis, she moved to
Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee,
and remained there until about two years ago.
She then adjourned to Indianapolis, and
stopped at the Bates House. But, unable
to meet her Indebtedness, she was elected
from that establishment, and, about year
and half ago, was enabled to make her way
to Chicago. When she arrived in this city
she was determined to make an honest living.
Being woman of very engaging manners
and highly preposSessing appearance, endow.
ed with liberal education, she sought for
place, as a governess, up and down our aris-
tocratic avenues, but the fact that she was
entailed with an incumbrance in good and
sufficient references, debarred her from occu.
pying even place as a menial in a society
in which she had once moved an equal. To
physical labor she had never been accustom-
ed, and was entirely unified. Refused and
rebuied by those from whom she believed
assistance was due, she was goaded to mad>
ness, and the next step was to lead life of
shame To this end she entered house Of
assgnation, owned by woman, and located
on Twenty-second street, near Wabash aven-
ue Here she lived with her daughter, and
supported herself in accordance with her
calling.
A few days since Mr.. Bradley, who was
still roaming over the country in search of
his wife and child, received an intimation
that she had taken up her abode in this city.
He arrived here as quickly as an express
train could carry him, and seeking out Frank
II. Guion, Esq, well known lawyer of this
city, and former classmate of bis, he con-
6ded to him his troubles, and requested his
assistance in ferreling out the whereabouts
of those he sought. 1t was readily granted.
The various and many "houses" located on
Fourth avenue, State, Clark, and many other
well-known resorts for the fallen, were one
after another visited, but no clue to the lost
could be ascertained. Finally they appealed
to the police, and an expert detective was
detailed for their benefit. A photograph
taken six years ago, was shown to him, and
be thought be could give the whereabouts of
the original.
Accordingly, after dark on Monday evens
ing, the party engaged carriage and started
for the house of Mrs. -. The door was
opened in response to their knock, and they
entered an elegantly furnished parlor. On
the sofa sat the only occupant of the room, a
beautiful little girl, in light golden eurls,
about nine years of age. She was hand
sOmely dressed, and presented very picture
Of innocence and lOveIiness. The moment
T. D. IL l. 10