New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-17
THE McFARLAND-RICH
CASE.
BepOsltlOn of Vice r re sident COifax.

New YORK. May 12.-Schuyler Colfax's de.
position, offered and excluded in the Nc.
Farland trial, is published. It details many
interesting circumstances connected with
! the affair. especially the Indiana divorce.
Mr.. Coifax says:
II had no agency or connection, directly
J or indirectly, IN her application for or pro-
curing divorce from Mcfarland in Indiana.
She applied to me by letter about a year l
| think, after the separation, for letters of in
PRODUCTION to persons in indianapolis. As
it has been my daily practice for years to
give letters of Introduction to all. personal
friends, and believing her then, as do now,
worthy Of such letter of introduction, | sent
her two-one addressed to q former col
league in Congress, Hon. A. G. Porter, and
another to an old friend, 7. P. Hughes. |
can not recall the contents of these let
ters, except, I think, I spoke of her as q
lady in deep distress, and worthy of es-
TEEN; but, although 1 supposed, from hav
ing heard her separation from her husband
was final, that she went to Indiana to obtain
a divorce. | gave no testimony in these let
ters on the subject, rs l had no knowledge
Of my own about it, and knew it must
be decided by the evidence submitted IN
court when 1t came in for trial. if such suit
was commenced. MIR. Richardson never
asked me tor any letter of introduction in
Indiana that l remember. A day or two
after the first shooting Of Richardson by
Mcfarland was passing through New York.
called at Sinclalr's residence, where Rich
ardson was, to see him. Found Richardson
in bed, and apparently in pain. told him
how it saddened me to find him involved in
such matter and suffering the consequence
He replied by asserting that there had been
nothing criminal in his relations with Mrs.
Mcfarland. During part of our converse
ton, which lasted probably half an hour,
Moo Apl VII md kNA II
part In the conversation, and was weeping
part of the time. In the same conversation
Richardson stated to me that if she Oh
tanned divorce from her husband he
intended to marry her if she would
accept him, as he believed she
would make his life happy one. He did
not ask me to aid in procuring the divorce,
and supposed from the reference he made
to Connecticut and its laws, divorce
would be applied for in that. State By her.
She never at any time stated to me that
she contemplated marrying Richardson af-
ter obtaining divorce; but think she |
was present and silent when he made the |
remark that if she obtained divorce he |
intended to marry her if she would accept |
him. Il was never instrumental in procur- |
ing employment for her with or without |
any person in her behalf. to do 60. l did |
not know she contemplated ging to In |
diana until l received her letter asking for |
letters of introduction at our State capital. |
Neither Richardson nor Abby ever went to |
Indiana in my company at any time, or for
any purpose. had nothing to do with the /
suit for divorce, and was not asked by any !
Dne to interfere in it. / did not know the /
court in which it was to be Commenced. l
was not present, was not witness, and did .
not know what testimony was to be given,
nor do know the name Of the Judge who
tried the case.