New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-02
A THRIFTY PENIIENT.

Ann Eliza Webb is at present engaged in
prosecuting the most extraordinary divorce
suit ever seen on this continent with perhaps
a single exception. The exception is worth
mentioning, as it throws an illustrative light
upon the present case. Several years ago an
American pugihst went abroad to pummel the
English champion out of his belt. This
chivarous purpose naturally endeared him to
his countrymen. An actress of more imagina-
ton than conscience thought it would be an
excellent plan to assume his name during his
absence, and in pursuance of this scheme
placarded herself extensively as "the wife
"of the bravest man in the world" The
public Of course fOcked to see Mrs. Benicia,
and such is the power of the dramatic imagi-
nation that she doubtless came to believe her
self the lawful spouse of the absent bruiser.
But when he returned, and characterized her
flattering assumption of his name as cheek"
the lady saw her prestige seriously endangered.
She saved herself by q stroke of genius. She
went West, and got a divorce from this un-
apprecative hero She returned in triumph
to New York, proudly shook from the play
bills the title she had only worn by self
conferred brevet, and gained great credit by
the pluck and spirit with which she met and
subdued the embarrassing circumstance. Ann
Eliza Webb is attempting a precisely
similar ruse. She formed several years
ago an adulterous connection with Brigham
Young, a man already married to one
wife, and surrounded by fifteen mistresses,
calling themselves wives. Mrs. Webb had that
large liberty of choice which is the happy lot
Of maidens and widows in the West, where
men are in majority. She preferred to be
tie sixteenth concubine of this aged reprobate,
to enjoy what small portion of his fortune and
his honors might fall to her, rather than to
be the wife of some decent young fellow,
such as are always to be found in that
region. She made her bed and now chooses
not to lie in it. She therefore brings suit for
divorce and aimony against Brigham Young.
Her complaint is as preposterous in detail
as in general meaning. For one year the
much-married bridegroom seemed to be sufii-
GENTLY attentive. Since then she has been
rarely favored by sight of him. He sent
her to live on farm at the dreary distance
of four miles from Salt Lake, where she had
no companion except q mere mother. The
patriarch came seldom and did not stay long
enough when he came; treated her with scorn
and eXacted an account OF the business of the
farm. She probably made such clamor that
lie allowed her to come to The city, where she
paid him for his weakness by worrying him for
money. Some impression of her demands may be
gained by considering what she asks pending
the suit--a provision of $1,000 month, and
100000 alimony. This, from woman who
has not shadow of claim for one cent, may
he considered as exhibiting o remarkable
financial genius. 1t is possibly proyidential
that this aequisitive spirit was assigned to the
natriarchal Brigham, and that some bachelor
of Utah was thus saved from hen-pecked
life. ~"
Any sympathy wasted upon this woman, or
upon the other poygamous wives who are said
to be preparing to follow her example, is SUI
perauous and unwhOesomc. These women
formed these impure connections with married
men, knowing they were married and know
ing that the act they were committing was IN
violation of the laws of the land The law
can properly take no account OF any presumed
or asserted religious enthusiasm under which