Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-04-20
MRS. RICHARDSON.

The following sketch of Mrs. Richard
son which we find in the New York Star,
will be read with interest. 1t is said that
she will appear as witness in the McFar-
land trial, and tell quite different story
from those related by some who have al
ready testified. Her evidence will give a
full account of her married life, and her
friends are confident she will be able to
show that Mcfarland and not she is re-
sponsible for their difficulties and the crime
attending them:
Abby Maria Sage was the maiden name of
Mrs. Richardson Nc Farland. Her expert
ence has been checkered almost from the be-
ginning and the struggles of life are not I'M
familiar to her. She was born in New Hamp-
shire, and at an early age went to Boston
with her father and family. At the age of
Is or l6 she taught school in New Haven.
When she had attained the age of 10 years.
an inexperienced girl, and scarcely knowing
her own heart, she married Daniel McFax-
land. Her future husband had represented
himself as being man of property, and had
stated that he owned lands in the West. At
ter the marriage she removed with her hus-
band to Madison, Wis.
| After the marriage came the discovery that
Mr.. Netherlands Western lands were value
less. The presence of poverty went out with
the newly married pair to their new home,
and they removed to New York, where the
struggles oflivelihood commenced, and going
from clearinghouse to boarding house, and
living from hand to mouth, Mrs. Mcfarland
struggled with want, Mr.. Mcfarland mean
while being always involved in financial
troubles.
Mrs. McFarland's domestic life was not al
ways of the happiest. How far the lack of
the comforts which tend to make existence
! pleasant had to do with this, those no have
undergone similar penalties will best under
stand. Six months after marriage, necessity
compelling, her watch and jewelry were pawn
ed to meet pressing emergencies. And it was
in such days of adversely that, while on the
eve of confinement, she twice sought her
fathers home; and two children were born
under the paternal roof. The children of this
unhappy marriage were three in number
One, little daugher, died in her second year
The others, now living, are Danny, aged six,
who is still with his mother, and Percy, aged
ten, whose bright face and winsome ways are
familiar to those who attend at the Conrt be-
fore which his father is arraigned for his lite.
The declaration that Mrs. Mcfarland is in
debted to her husband for her mental culture
does not seem to be borne out by the facts of
the case. She wrote well, both in prose and
verse, from her earliest girlhood, and at the
time of her marriage was in no way mentally
inferior TO her husband, if, indeed, she was
not his superior. Her habits of thought her
reading, and the sef-instruction which result
cd from her avocation of teaching left no
void in her mind that Mr.. Mcfarland was ca
pabe of filing. She has been contributor
for years to the Riverside Magazine, the In
dependent, Tribune, Atlantic Monthly, Little
Corporal of Chicago, Round Table, and other
papers 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 OBJ
tanned an engagement at the Winter Garden
Theatre. 1t was while filling this engage
ment, two years ago, that Mr.. Richardson W as
first shot and wounded by Mr.. Mcfarland, he
having accompanied Mrs. Mcfarland home
from the theatre. After that event she
went to her fathers home in Charlestown,
Mass. then spent the summer in New York
with her friends and afterwards resided in
indianapolis, eighteen months, until she OBJ
tanned divorce from Mr.. Mcfarland.
One who knows her well has thus described
her personnel and traits She is about thirty :;
of medium size, round and symmetrical in
hgure; has blue eyes, auburn hair, light
complexion, girlish and English-l looking (call-
ed pretty has a very sweet, rich voice;
talks fiuently and .eloquently; is extremely
modest and retiring, wholly domestic in her
tastes; has little fondness for society, and has
led life almost of recluse.