The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-05-08
A Remarkable Divorce Case.
Correspondence OF the Journal.
WISCASSET. Nav at

" Moses Can. when III many OF It's features Is
perhaps the most peculiar of any case hereto
lore tried in this state, has been on trial here
nine days, before Judge Cutting and jury.
The libellant is the daughter of Capt. John
Chase of Edgecomb, whose family has ALWAYS
been regarded for their intelligence, culture
and social standing among the first in that
town. The libellee Is physician residing in
the town of New Castle, and has retired from
successful practice of his profession for about
forty wears.
The parties were married on the Goth day of
Jan. 1866, the lbelant who IS his second wife,
then being thirty years of age. and DR.. Cali
sixty. On the same day they proceeded to
Lowell. Mass. and before another day 1t seems
that the harmony of their union was disturbed.
The Dr.. left his wife's bed in the latter part of
the second night after marriage, and wandered
about the streets OF Lowell till morning. On
the next day she went to Boston, and the day
after he followed finding her after considerable
search and many inquiries at the American
House, where she then, unwttingly as she says,
reinquished her right of dover in all of his
real estate in Maine and Mass, which is
variously estimated from fifty to seyenty-tive
thousand dollars. On the next day they re-
turned to New Castle and from time to time no
10 May, 1871, the case disclosed very little con-
seniality &C., usually permitted. During this
fine tie fist and only child was born, and dur
ing the same period an increase of faEly was
prevented, as The doctor says, for good, sutfi.
cient and humane reason. or as she says because
he was unable to realize that the blessings at
tending such an event would outweigh the in
convenience.
Mrs Can i, Il member of the Congregational
church. and from the first they were unable to
be reconciled, each to the others belief, and on
the first Sabbath in May, 1871. the ''last feather
which broke the camel'S back was added by
,eaSon Of Mrs. Call partaking of the sacrament
with a newly admitted member of the same
church, whom the doctor considered to he an
unworthy member. From that time they nightly
occupied separate apartments up to the time of
issuing of the libel on the 18th of April, 1872
Prior to issuing the libel-the parties occupying
the same houSe-Mrs. Call passed to her hus-
band he following
LETTER.
''Whalever you may think of the contents of
tins letter. ask personal favor, that you
VIII believe mat the motive which actuates me
to do this is beyond reproach. Whatever action
YOU may take in regard to the matter. | ask also
as a personal favor. that three things YOU will
never again lay to my charge, viz that mar
rcd you for Your money; that wheE you were
sick | hoped You would die; and that I have
now or ever had the heartleSSneSs to build my
expectations for the future upon any means
which might he left me at your death. | have
always believed you would Outve me. and for
reasons | may not give. ] am now more fully
persuaded That such will be the ease. Now
tor every moment of unhappiness | may have
ocrasioncd you for any unkindness or i!-treat-
ment You may have received at my hands, for
every neglect of duty towards yourself or your
household. sincerely ask your forgiveness.
If You grant this request, and are willing to
try again If we may live peaceably together,
/ never allowing any difficulty which may arise
to pass without Il full understanding between
Us. then promise on my part to consult your
wishes and regard your happiness and comfort
in every respect whore it shall be my dut.. and
pleasure. The only indulgence / ask for my
self Is the privilege of attending church on the
Sabbath when ii is proper so TO do and of at
tending the prayer meeting one evening in the
week. Awaiting your answer, either written
or verbal as may please you, remain.
E. G. c.
In reply TO this. the doctor, nearly month
after, wrote letter Of eleven foolscap pages,
reciting his grievances. and endeavoring to
show wherein it was impossible for them to
live together, hut telling her that as both moral
and :iyil law require him to furnish her suitable
support. that he would in a proper manner, as
long she chose to receive it of him. In al
ludng to their commencement of married life
he says:
prom he first dav of our union, when | was
/ made the blind sublec of wanton and shameless
WAGER that 'for one week | should not know
| Nor ana the butt of your family Jest and ridi-
/ ruo, 80 that for the nights we spent in Lowell
/ or rather parts of nights was unable to say
/ whether you were feminine or doubtful gender.
/ then Was painfully impressed with the coarse
nature and objects OF the woman had taken to
| to my bosom: and had carrie out the resolve
| then formed when LETT you in the dead OF
night. and in my wanderings around the city
and among the t0mbS, | should now he a
| happier man, and your own mother would have
approved OF il. for when on your return you i'm
lnodeStlV Boosted that Won had kept the pledge
She remarked If I were the doctor would
| have left YOu.'
While DIR. Call was visiting son living in
the south, in 1871, other letters of an interest
ing character passed between him and his wife
| From one written by him dated Richmond, Va.
/ March, 1871, for the purpose of giving some
idea OF his religious beef--so far as this NAV
do i'll viii uuota. He Is speaking of home
and OF what can make il home happy in connec-
ton with The reflection that his two sons, though
/ dearly loved, having grown up TO manhood and
one of them having taken to himself wife,
mus, in the very nature OF things leave the
home of their chilihood and he finishes the
subject with the following:
Your thoughts aspire higher or further. and
rest YOUR happiness beyond. | certainly would
not, if | could, disturb YOUR reverie But for
myself, give me enjoyment while | have being
or life to appreciate it. and | will give up the
hallueina'onS of imaginary happiness when the
Seneorial faculties are obterated with the dis
/ solution of all organization"
The counsel engaged in the case are Gould
Moore and Hilton for libelant, and 5. c. Strout
| Of Portland, Judge Converse of New Castle,
and y. F. smith of WiscaSset, for the defence
| The ease was ably contested up to Saturday
noon when it was terminated in manner very
unsatisfactory to the libellant, although she is
granted a divorce as prayed for. At the con.
elusion Of the testimony, Mr.. Strout arose and
| addressed the court as follows
MAY it please your Honor: 1t is apparent
| from the testimony all through this trial that
| there Is an incOmpatibility existing between the
! parties which renders it inconsistent with the
| peace and morality of society for them to live
! together. DIR. Call IN his cross-examination
very frankly stated that in the present temper
and condition Of his wife, as he understood it.
and FROM the feelings engendered by her con.
| duet in his own breast. he felt that it would moi
be conduciN e 10 domestic harmony for them tc
| live together and cohabit as husband and wife
Now we have contested this case to great