The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-14
A JEALOUS WIFE.
The Domestic Troubles Of the Master of st.
Johns Guild.

Johns Guild.
Much has been said of late concerning the
management of st. Johns Guild, charit-
able organization formerly connected with
Trinity church, New York, and the exam
ination of the master, Rev. Alvah Wiswall,
upon charges of immortality, cruelty and
dishonesty preferred by his wife, is now in
progress before committee appointed by
the guild. Mr.. Wiswall has an earnest
champion in his counsel, Hon. John d.
Townsend, who yesterday placed him on
the witness stand, and gave him a chance
to tell his story. Mr.. Wiswall may be a
very bad man, but we believe the biggest
mass convention of husbands would pass
him a unanimous vote of sympathy for liv-
ing with such Il termagant as he here de-
scribes:
The examination of Mr.. Wiswall was be-
gun by Mr.. Townsend.
"Did you read" he asked, "the article
concerning yourself and st. Johns Guild
contained in the World of February 27?"
81 did,"
"There were two charges contained in
that article; was the one made by your wife
of your infdelity true or untrue?"
Untrue"
"Was the charge that you deprived her
of her property-unfairly even, certainly
unlawfully-true?"
'No, sir"
Mr.. Wiswall then stated, in answer to
questions, that he was married in August,
1868; that his wifes maiden name was Ber-
rian that there was twelve or fifteen years
difference in their ages, he being the elder,
and that he had lived with her for ten years
with the exception of three months.
"Was your life one of happiness?"
cit was not.
Estate of what the unhappiness consist
ed; of what troubles? 2"
"That would be long story"
swell, give us some instances-two or
three. Was your wife JEALOUSY"
''She was: l can give instances of that
When we were only three weeks married,
Que day at our clearinghouse a little girl,
not over five years of age, came into our
room; took the child on my lap and kiss-
ed her. When the child had gone out my
wife said must never speak to her again.
She said had taken her on my lap from
improper motives"
"Was this jealousy common"
'Instances of it occurred daily"
''Did it refer to one person ?"
"No; to many"
"Were some of those TO whom it referred
of high standing and respectability?"
eyes, sir; there were many who stood
high in the church"
Ibid Mrs. Wiswall have counsel to help
her in regard to her money affairs?"
"Yes, sir"
"Did you ever have anything 10 do with
her money affairs Of which they were not
cognizant or in which they did not take
part?"
"Never."
"What were your respective incomes
when you were married."
"Mine was $1,000; hers was $780,"
"Have you child?"
eyes, daughter of IL years, who lives
with Mrs. Wiswall."
''How was the child taught to treat your"
''She would spit in my face and call me
beast 1t was of frequent occurrence"
SLOW were you compelled to live in your
house?"
"Before was permitted to eat my din
ner after being out all the morning / was
required to give an account of all the ladies
/ had met during the day. If any of these
displeased my wife, had to 60 out fer my
dinner or else got none at all.
81 believe it is said that upon one occa-
sion you called her bag and told her to go
TO her hole. Is that true?"
At this point Mr.. Wiswall broke down.
He put his hand over his face and cried for
several minutes. At length he began:
Mrs Wiswall upon one occasion wrote
81 must ask you to simply say, Mr. Wis
wall, interrupted Mr.. Townsend, 'if it is
true or untrue that you said thatp"
sit is true that she had written TO some
body one day saying that had eloped, and
when came home in the evening she was
ohitaiua that / hatrauaI int
that. 1t was the only word of abuse that
| ever said to her."
Mr.. Townsend took out a written card
from his store and asked Mr.. Wiswall whose
writing it was. He answered it was Mrs.
Wiswall's, and that coming home one day
he found it pasted upon the outside door.
The card read: "Mr. Wiswall will be found
at Mrs. Leggat's "A Lsight street."
"After you severed your connection with
Trinity church, what was your condition
pecuniarily?
81 was very much embarrassed, l was
obliged to go the guild room and was sick
there"
"From whom did you receive the first
kindness at that time? 2"
81 was on the point of going to st. Luke's
hospital when Mr.. Leggat took me to his
own house. / lived there for some time. +"
SIN the year 1878, when you were separ-
ated, were you still connected with Trinity
church,
eyes"
"What was your income for that year ?"
1.-TWO thousand six hundred dollars"
slow much OF this did you send to your
wife ?"
"One thousand nine hundred and thirty
two dollars and fifty cents"
SIN 1874, what was your income 2"
"One thousand and fifty. dollars-$450
from the guild and the balance from my
friends"
For 1875 Mr.. Wiswall stated that his in
come was 81 ,040, $500 being received from
the guild. During the last six months he
said he had received 5000, and sent his wife
5000.
At this point Mr.. Townsend took up a
bundle of postal-cards, the writing on which
Mr.. Wiswall identified as that of his wife.
A number of these were read. One said I;
~ sent you word last week that your
A. - n.