The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-24
THE BLISSFuL State.
Domestic TribulatiOnS of Mr.. McSped-
don and Mr.. Wheelwright.
HISTORY OF A SECRET MARRIAGE
The Invei9ling Potency Of Italian
Eyes and Art.

Eyes ana Art.
suit Of more than ordinary importance,
count OF the prominence OF the parties in social life
and public position, before Judge Larremorc yes
terday. the Special Term OF the Court OF Common
Pleas. The action is brought by Mrs. Hester
Mcspeddon against Thomas Mcspeddon, one OF the
deputy sheris formerly Fire Marshal, Tor limited
divorce, on the ground of cruel and inhuman treat
menI The case was referred TO Thomas II. Langdon,
to hear and report In her testimony upon the exam
lnation Mrs. McSpeddon related in detail the OF
cruelty complained Of covering period Of about
shrty-Hve years She says thoy married in 1889
and six children were born 10 them, four Of whom
are now living Among tho acts Of cruelty she al
eges that night, about eleven O'Clock. upon her
return home from tho grocers, she was met by her
husband at the corner OF Third avenue and Thirty
seventh street, when he assaulted her, pushing her
down upon the Belgian pavement. rendering her IN
yensible, at the same time saying "God damn You,
where have you been this time OF night?" Upon an
slner OCCASION upon their return from the theatre,
where she had been with her daus liter and son-naw
he mot them at the door OF the house, selzng
by the throat called her "double Dank,' and upon
her resenting such language he called her
ssdamned iiar'' and chased her into the house,
down into the Kitchen where he snatched up
from the house to stable 10 tue rear whore OF
her sens who espoused her caass. locked her up in
room all night At time, she says. she was tho
house OF neghbor making friendly CALL and her
husband on his way homo, stopped for her and said
''Come here, damn you," at the Same time seized
hold Of her and pulled her out OF the house and
threatened to "put end to her. she would 60
walking the streets night day eithern Upon an
piher occasion be came homo late at night and
threatened to choke her, and pulling out pistol
ordered her out OF bed and before she could get
he pulled her out, threatening to puI end to her.
That night she slept in another room At another
where she. slept in the garrett chased
her out into the street in her night
clothes ana IN her bare feot on cold winter night
thar she obliged to call upon the police for pro-
iectton. Another act OF cruelty complained OF was
that while she talking Of grandchildren
who went into by stcrics he rushed into the and
said, addressing her, uShe is klng us all and she
has now killed this child"
HI sroLn HER TEETH.
Tho next day he TOOK her false teeth, and then said
when she required their return. slow handsome you
he took her diamonds OF great value out Of bureau
drawer and locked them up IN his safe and refused ~
s eve them 70 her until some Of The family inter
iavorite daughter, twenty-five years OF age, has
been installed as mistress IN the house and has
supplantcd her in the actual management OF
the household affairs. subsequently he attempted to
compromise her character by procuring . woman to
Invite her 10 hor house ana there have man, after
attempting to ply her with liquor, importune her
do acts ofimmoraiity, her husband being adjon-
ing room. The little was unsuccessful, and she,
IN one instance AZ least strongly indicated TO him her
fidelity. aIa3er
WHAT MR.. M'sPEDpoN SAYS
In his answer the de endant denies generally the
allegations In the compliant, but admits that upon
several occasions BIO gave way 70 his unsovernabIe
temper far TO provoke him, and that mis-
toward his vile might not have been exactly tender,
but that IL was on account Of her tantazlng manner
guilty OF actual violence, except In 80 far
AS 1t was accidental. To some extent tho
by number witnesses, including her cnildren, with
the exception OF the daughter who with her children
have been living in tho house aud has assumed the
management of the domestic affairs.
The referee reported in favor OF the defendant dis
Of cruelty were III several INSTANCES true the plaintiff
was equally in the wrong The was before Judge
r pa1 yssterssy on Io,oa ~ General George
the referees report Mr. Benjamin \. RUSSELL on be-
half o! Mrs. Mcspeddon IN opposing the motion, con.
cruelty as would justify the relief asked Tor.
n After hearing the argument. when occupied nearly
promising an early decision IN the matter.
ROMANCE AND REALITY.
In April 1876 Benjamin i. Wheelwright and Igna-
tia, his wife, clandestiney married. They are
now separated and the young wife seeks divorce
from her husband on the ground that he has aban-
doned her. She says ner award husband is tho
OF Benjamin +. wheelwright, late president OF
$sooooo and in which the defendant bas reversionary
interest, and that his present income amounts to
g. 900 or S. 600 year. On the gath Of November in
the year, they had agreement OF separation,
he allowing her 900 year payable quarterly IN
allowance bot since that has failed TO do So aud she
now asks for So paration AMI alimony.
SUCCESSFUL SCHEME
Benjamin 4. Wheewrignt, the defendant IN afii-
davit states that hts wte's name before their
riage was Miss Rcco, an Italian girl, and admits
he was married, but was living with ner mmoraily
year before that, and thai she dccoycd hun into
marriage under the following circumstances
and that her physician had told her that unless
she went to Italy she could not lvr and she begged
got his consent she SAID that her parents woald
let her go unless sho married, II he
would marry her she would keep marriage secret
and consent to divorce In two years. They were
accordingly married under tile assumed name Of
smith aud started the following month on a Euro
pean tour On the voyage she showed Signs oil an
ungovernable temper, and ''did b,tc scratch kick
md throw things. and otherwise iniIct ipJur-
es on the depoDent." and she continued TO EXHIBIT
)hs conduct during the whole time they we're in
Europe. Immediately on their return an agreement
was made whereby was 10 give no. 81, 900 ear
in quarterly Instruments, in advance, and when
the last nstament became due he alb
sent at has country seat on the Hudson
the money demanded until she COM
menced suit In October last he sent his law
yer, Mr.. Augustus i. Bays, with 500 part payment
his not exceed So 900 year, and that his
rcversionary interest not large stated, as
there were several members OF the iamily to share his
iathsrs estate.
Tie tral Will no doubt develop a moro detailed
statement OF The facts, which, under the circum-
stances. cannot iail to DO interesting. a0sa#
Judge Larremorc. before whom the case came In the
Specai Term oil the Court Of Common Pleas, yes;cr-
day ~ motion Tor counsel ices and aiimony, took the
papeR anu reserved his decision.
ATTENTIVE TO THE WRONG MRS.
Mr. Theodore +. Lees, superintendent of tho Board
OF Trac and Transportation, No ITO Pearl street, was
in hcFiity street Court yesterday TO
chage OF Abandonment preferred by his vile, Marcia
Irvngnt No ISL East Twenty first stree. Mr.. Lees is
ased bout thirty five anu his wife is older. she was
tormc.y married 20 Mr. Mosicr. she was married
10 hefpresent husband about eleven years ago There
were hiiaTen by the first marriage but zone by the
sccon. One OF Mrs. Lees sons accom- anicd her TO