New-York tribune., 1877-11-24

THE wRErCuED LIFE THAT A CITY POLITICIAN AND
HIS WIFE HAVE LID.

TBE wRETCHED LIFE THAT A CITY POLITICIAN AND
HIS WIFE HAVE LID.
Hester McSpedOn began a suit for a limited
divorce against her husband. Thomas McSpCdOn in No
yenbcr 1873 Mr.. Mcspcdon has been President OF The
Board of Aldermen and Fire Marshal and is Dep
uty sheriff. The suit was continued actively 10 MAY,
1s7l when by arrangement the proceedings were in
definitely adjourned, husband and wife continued TO
live together until August 1877, when the proceedings
we're revived. Recently Thomas H. Landon, the referee,
reported tat the complaint should be dismissed.
Notwithstanding some acts Of. cruelty had been
proved The plaintiffs counsel excepted TO
this report, and the case came up yesterday before
Judge Larrcmorc, motion 10 confirm the referees
reporr The testimony is volmuinous and relates TO
nearly the whole married Hfe OF Mr. and Mrs Mcsncdon,
They were married in 1889 and have had SIX children;
fur are -in living She charges ann with beating her,
with knocking her down, with choking hcr with call
inc her vile names with Ocn threatening her life, with
Ira wing pistol her, with dragging Der ont Of bed
ard with striking her with cane III the
mouth, causing blood to come. several tunes, she
children ana servants. On one occasion hc gOt
hold Of Der false teeth. and kept tn some nc Say wing
10 her " How handsome you loOk without yOur false
zee zee m i no Sc drcIarcs that She iound oIi IN IsG5
that he had been living with "a woman IN Brooklyn. by
frr nine ycars old She charges tlar he got a man 10
induce her to 20 to house, which really house cf
as,.uatiOu, aud watched there - Tie result. and
sfarwarJ expTcssod himself pleased an the spirited re-
lection Of the mans infamous proposals Lately be has
Installed bis daughter in her place as mistress Of the
house
sets up m cations OF the charges. lie that when
ne married his wife she poor shOpgIi. she from
fine first showed herself vixen and a times almost cIzy
Size uruvOked an the QuaTcls. soon after marriage
tied TO drye away MS parents. Ills relations with
woman in Brooklyn resulted from ms Wfc's making his
home uncomfortable When she discovered lis nhdcity,
he offered allow her % get divorce quietly and 10
provide for but she refused, aYOWlng hcr affection
Tor him. and lie promised, and las kept that
promise TO be thereafter faithful During the thirty
Of their married NE, there nave been
siuf duar.s and chickering's few 81 the alleged spc-
cIAc act, of cruelty, il cuolng the striking with cane,
and auOclng or rather pushing down MS wife IN tIe
street hc sys we're pure accidents others he admits
gcis Of violence but says he provoked beyond
durauce by Most OF the charges OF cruelty lie de
mes. lie says that he his wife, when hc IN
good circumstances the property she now has. He mas
met with mlrOTuues but refuses III way 10 AID
him in business. Thor daughter was married and
was deserted by her husband. lie insisted
giving her and her two children home. His wife
desires put them ont. lis son l@ young man OF
much promise and he is ANXIOUS 10 give him excel
lent oducauon His wife opposes any sucn plan. For
weeks aud months at time she lids refused when
eating at the same table tOsprak 10 HIM. Whenever
been trouble between them she has gone out.
sometimes 70 policeman, sometimes to nClgubOlR. TO
tel her story, creating scandal and trouble, while he Is
dtsrous Of quiet NE His home ne says has been
nell for him for years"
on the testimony taken in support Of the Sc conflicting
stories George ". Palmer moved to confirm the
claiming that the defendant stOry fully sustained,
tha; the plaintiff WAS not entitled 10 divorce, and
should bo Wade TO pay costs
y. +. Russell for the wue, claimed that the wife had
clearly that she cruelty treated, and made
miserable by hcr husband in house. and hit at
her time Of life she shOuld he subjected the annoy
aucts sne complained OF with only the alternative "
abandoning her house The Court reserved ito de
cisiOn.