The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-05-20
MRS. RICHARDSON'S STORY.

The story of Mrs. Abbie Mcfarland
Richardson, told in an artless but cohe-
rent manner, discloses, it is true, many
indiscreticns on the part of Richardson,
and cannot, as indeed it makes no at
tempt TO do, exonerate herself from
entire blame. Yet it clearly proves that
Daniel Mcfarland, deceiving her ut
marriage with regard to the extent OF
his means, demonstrated himself entire
ly incapable of gaining a livelihood, so
that it became necessary for her to sup
port herself and him too, which she did
that he was habituated to intoxicating
liquor, frequently becoming so bcastly
drunk as to be but little better than a
raving maniac; that he was in short a
shiftless, abusive and brutal husband.
Ifher story be true, and it has the
merit of being credible-that is the mar
rative gives the facts as it seems they
would so naturally have occurred that in
nine cases out of ten the reader will
feel like giving Il credence-if then her
story be true, no woman could have
greater cause for deserving her husband
than did Mrs. Richardson. And as to
Richardson, nothing more than the usu-
al civilties of mere acquaintance took
place between her and him until after
she had finally and irrevoeably taken
leave of Mcfarland. Richardson being
ledger for short time previous to the
separation in the same house in which
Mcfarland and his wife were staying,
noticed his brutal conduct and her great
misery. Sympathizing with her in her
afiiiction, he showed her many acts of
kindness, just as any gentleman under
like circumstances would have done.
After the separation, the interest he had
taken in this woman, knowing how he
roically she had borne up under her mis-
cry, ripencd ere long into love. He in
n short time made declaration to her
of his love, telling her that ii at any
time in the future, however distant, she
should be free to marry, he desired her
to know the feeling he entertained for
her. Time rolled on, and in about three
years from the separation, Mrs. Rich
ardson obtained a divorce. Shortly
thereafter Mr.. Richardson's life was ia
ken by the cOwardly and semi-insane
villain whose trial for murder has just
ended and the verdict rendered mot
Guilty" This is brief and of course
a very imperfect summary of her story
We hope the public will give it a care
full perusal. Our own conviction upon
reading it is that it is q true and faith.
full account of pure, noble and deeply
injured woman, who, having allied her
self to coarse, drunken and bruta
husband, suffered at his hands agonies
the torture of which was worse thar
death itself; that in separating hersel
from this man she was justified, if there
is anything that justifies the dissolution
of the marriage tie that Richardson
by reason of a conjunction of circum
stances which he had no hand in order
ing, became her friend, her protector
her lover, and that he acted rashly anC
imprudently, but not criminally, no
cowardly, nor meanly.
The jury have given their verdict ant
it is Infamous; the people have theirs t.
give, and with the light which Mrs
Richardson's statement sheds upon tn
matter we believe it will be the oppo
site of the jury's and just to her VIII
has suffered most.