The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-28
A SAD s T OR Y.
IN, Death Of Thomas Earle in the Worcester
(Mass.) Insane Asylumy
Another Instance OF Domestic Discord
Caused by Spiritualism
and Free Loving.

WORCEs TER, Mass, May ~, 1871.
In this city Tie 81 the hour is cAe death ana
burial Thoyias Earle thus closing the last scene
Of painful domestic drama, protracted In dura-
ZION, highlyssensaticna IN character and most tragic
IN It's ends2g Most readers VIII have forgotten the
salient points OF Ihis remarkable case, which are
partially revived by the death OF Mr.. Earle, man
once prominent In business circles and moving In
<he drst society ~ conservative New England.
Thomas Earle was married IN ls4a to Alice Chase,
Of Sciem Teryears OF happiness We're accorded 70
the couple, Who, all appearances, were most
lowing and literally endowed With all the substan-
t,ai and luxurious appointments Of life following
success in business ana The accumulation OF wealth.
AFTHs THE BIRTH THE LAST CHILD,
Thomas, corn in 1889, Mrs. Earle seems TO have
become subject TO a strange hallucination, showing
itself In marked dislike for the society Of her hus
band, which became intensified through the In
nuence Of
SPIRITUAL DOCTRINES,
which taught her disordered imagination that
way to soulful peace might be found In the society
OF dark-haired affinity. Accordingly we ind
number Of compassionate gentlemen, OF the kind
always waiting round for chances OF usefulness,
visiting here and there, writing notes and prac.
tisng magnetism, while the husband is away at the
war during the year 1851. In the suit ior adultery
that naturally follows as a sequence q social and
select crowd OF heightened and liberal-minded
ladies and gentlemen are seen figuring on the car
MRS. EARLE WAS PROMINENT,
as indicated by the evidence on the trial for adul.
terry instituted by Mr.. Earle in 1862 1t was not re-
ported or published at the unic through the 1nflu
cnce OF Mr.. Earle who desired to spare hts wife the
shame and his children the disgrace which he un-
douotedly had the power OF INJECTING The
MILK AND WATER PROSECUTION
thus conducted gave all the vantage to the woman,
consequences Of her delusion. From subse-
Suent developments no doubt remains that
would have been Influenced to a more impartial de.
clsiOn. Sometime previous to the trial OF 1865 Mrs.
Earle HAD deserted her husband and family and re-
turned to her native place, where she still resides.
Being possessed or about seventytivc thousand dol
lars IN her own right she had no trouble IN procur.
ing friends TO war upon her husband, who clearly
gave her the advantage In accepting divorce on
any ground than that OF adultery, which would
have made all her future attempts to obtain possess
sion Of The children fruitless.
AFTER THE DEsERTIoN or TIE MOTHER
Mr.. Earle procured an es,nable lady 10 live in his
family and for the children. Becoming en-
deared 10 the children and consulting only their
happiness Mr.. Earle eventually married Miss Cole
man, his housckeeper, shortly alter the decree Of
divorce was granted for desertion about two years
ago. Previous to this however, Mr. Earle had spent
. year In Europe Tor his neati during which Mrs.
Earle had taken the children To Salem. On his re-
turn to Worcester the fathers first care was TO
where he provided for his family IN good
style, living happily, the children with him, and
precrrlnx their reconstructed home to that OF the
estranged mother.
Then commenced suits for the possession Of the
SuuuiciI, hniiy 70 duJuuScu III idNof VI EuAlC
~ 10 take from the father the two youngest,
WHO WERE TORN FROM THE HOUSE
BY force, shrieking and struggling Intellectually.
This alected the sensitive and delicate mental
organization OF the father TO tnaJ degree that he be-
came no longer responsible for his acts, and.
while In q state OF delir1um, lie went to Salem
u effect their rescue, being defeated and repused
with so much OF violence that he became a ravDg
maniac dying on the oath INST at the Insane Retreat
al Worcester in the forty-eighth year Of his age.
Tue nEa asIdss OF THE DIVORCED WIFE
OF his children on his deathbed, notwithstanding
She assurances OF the attending physician OF his
condition, supplemented by "A refusal to permit their
attendance at the funeral In response courteous
note from Mr. Earies brothers. one or whom is
Mayor OF the city, Is theme OF indignant comment
IN all circles