Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-05-12
Mrs. Richardson.

he following sketch OF Mrs. Rich-
ardson which we find in the New York
Star, will he read with interest. 1t is
said that she will appear as a witness
in the Mcfarland trial, and tell quite
\ different story from those related by
some who have already testified Her
evidence will give a full account of her
married life, and her friends are conf
dent she will be able to show that Me-
Farland and not she is responsible fo-
their difficulties and the crime attend
ing them:
Abby Maria Sage was the maiden
name Of Mrs. Richardson Mcfarland.
lier experience has been checkered al
most from the beginning. and the
struggles of liie are not unfamiliar u
her. She was born in New Hampshire
and at an early age went 10 Boston
with her father and family. At the are
Of - or l6 she taught school in New
Haven.
When she had attained the age Of 9
years. an Inc experienced girl. ami scarce
f. knowing hef own heart. she married
Daniel Mcfarland. Her future husband
had represented himself as being man
pi property, and had stated that be
owned lands in the West. After the
20 Madison. Wis.
After the marriage came the discoy-
cry that Mr Mcfarland- Western
lands were Na.ucics,. The presence Of
poverty went out with the ncwly-mar-
rel pair 10 their new home. and they
removed To New York. where the strug-
-lcs ot livelihood commenced. ami 20
ing from boarding house TO boarding
house, and living from hand - mouth.
Mrs. McF arland strnggl,d q with want,
Mr.. Mcfarland meanwhil" being al
way involved in financial troubles
Nrs. NcFaIlaud's domestic life was
not always of the happicst. How flr
the lacA uI the comfort, which tend ID
make existence pleasant had To dp with
this, those who have undergone similar
penalties will best understand >iN
months amer marriage. nrccsslty com.
pcDln-. her watch and jcwciry were
pawnci - meet pressing emergencies
And IL was III snch lay~ uf atvrr,ity
THAT while oil The eve of confinement.
She twice sought her father. home ANA
two children were born under the pa-
ternal roof. The children Of th;. un-
happy marriage were three In number
onc. little daughter. died in her >cc
oud wear The others. now living. ara
Danny, arei six. vino i, still with H.
mother. and Percy. aged ten, whose
bright face and wnsnrne WAYS arp
familiar "a those VINO attend at the
Court before which his father i. arraign-
ga for his life.
The declaration that Mrs. McFar-
lanl j. inlch "a % her husband fnr her
mental culture does not sccyl 10 be
borne ont ~ the facts III the case She
wrote we'll. both IN prose and Verse.
from her earliest girhood, and AL the
time of her marriage was III no way
mentally inferior u her husband. ii.
indeed. she was not his superior Her
habits of thought. her reading. and the
selt-lnstructlOn which resulted from her
avocatlon Of teaching. lett no Void iii
her mind that Mr.. Mcfarland was ca
pabie Of filling. She has been a con
rIbutor for Years 10 the Riverside
Magazine, the Independent. Tribune,
Atlantic Monthly. Little Corporal Of
Chicago, Round Table, and other D..
per- and magazines.
In the course Of time her ability
asserted itself in another way than
through the pen. For years she gave
poetic readings to support herself.
husband and family. and at last obtain
ed an engagement at the Winter Gar
den Theatre. Ii was while filling this
engagement. two years ago. that Mr..
Richardson was first shot and wounded
by Mr.. Mcfarland, he having accom-
panied Mrs. Mcfarland home from the
theatre. After that event she went to
her fathers home in Charlcstown.
Mass, then spent the summer in New
York with her friends. and afterwards
resided in Indianapolis, eighteen
months, until she obtained a divorce
from Mr.. Mcfarland
One who knows her we'll has thus
described her personal traits: She is
about thirty; of medium size. round
and symmetrical in figure has blue
eyes. auburn hair, light complexion.
girlish and English-looking (called
pretty has a very sweet. rich voice
talks huently and eloquently; is ex-
tremely modest and retiring. wholly
domestic in her tastes; has little fond
ness for society. and has led life
almost nf raclusp