The New York herald., 1878-02-09
SHACKLES THAT GALL.


THE MATRIMONIAL ISEEMcITIEs OF CUSTOM
HOUSE OFFICIAL
divorce suit presenting some rather unusual
features has been Instituted IN the Supreme Court,
the plaintiff being Mary Lappine and the defendant
Samuel ]. Lappine. Very little, however OF the ante
cedent history OF ethor Of The parties developed in
the papers as thus TAR submitted TO the Court bat
enough Notwithstanding TO justify it's characterza-
ton as an unusual divorce suit The suit is for an alb
solure divorce on tho ground OF alleged adultery.
The plaintiff states in her complaint that she Was
married 10 Mr.. Lsppine in this cay on November l6
1870 and that they lived together until the 18th Of
February, ls76 The charge OF adultery confines IT.
self to tho allegation that Mr.. Lappue Is now living
with Mrs. Cecilia Lee. AZ his residence, No l54 East
Eighty-seeona street; that ,ney have been
living together since The 18th Of last May.
She says that previous TO taking up thor JOINT
abode In this city tnsy look "Trip together 10
Chicago, where he remained pending negotiations
for obtaining divorce from ner In Utah. Mr.. Lap
pine claims that he obtained divorce the PLAIN
lin the 10Th March In the Probate Court Of
Utah. She says that she has every reason 10 believe
that he never in Utah hts life, but that this
divorce was obtained through lawyers IN Chicago
making specially OF divorce suits While he Gains
that tho divorce properly obtained and perfectly
valid, she states thst notification gwen
notification she had that divorce mad been granted
was while readng an announcement oil the TACT IN
newspaper oi this city.
PRIOR MARRIAGES..
while the statements on both sides are fatty con-
Trajectory In many respects, there IS accord
mept upon the fact OF the iormor prior marriage OF
each. Mrs. Lappine says that sho was married to
John Conkln NJ Elyria, OHIO, some fourteen years
ago. a. which time she was very young and foolish,
wnile her husband much older They failed To-
live together harmonousy, SO she lott him and went
70 live with her parents 10 this state Not hearing
she supposed him dead, but while telling Mr. Lappine
before ner marriage 70 nim OF this ormer marriage
anu tho probable death OF Mr. Conkn she never
made any positive statement to that elect.
Mr. Lappine says that nrst he heard OF this
former marriage was through letter received from
Conkn himself ana that thereupon he Instituted his
proceedings or divorce Utah. In the OF hts
answer he further states that no has living by for
wife three children whom he is obliged sup
port, and makes this TACT OF the grounds OF
,ncapacity TO pay much In the way Of alimony and
counsel lee.
In her complaint Mrs. LaPpine charges Mr.. Lappin0
with treating her at times with great narshness
glass globe at her head, and that on another
he threatened shoot her. Those
ments he denies emphaticaly. He also denies
however, with adultery with divors persons unknown
10 him. and urther tnat she has Kept Two houses Of
prostitution IN this city, These allegations she oenfes
but says one OF them IL rented 10 negroes iene
meut house ana that she occupies the other with a
niece, whore she keeps boaraer She says that both
the houses are morgaged andthat II requires all the
income from the rents aud the keeping OF Doarders to
pay tue interest on the mortgages tue taxes ana as
sessmonts She says no Is quite large real estate
owner, besides bong IN the receipt oil u handsome
salary as Custom House ofhclaL He denies that ne
owns anything except his clothes and furniture and
says that the sum total OF his salary Is "a day as
Custom House inspector.
The case came before Judge Donohue yesterday on
an application 6y Mrs. Lappinc for alimony and coun.
sci fee She asks That the Court direct Mr. Lappne
pay ler $l5 week alimCny and $3.50 fees to her
sci. As already intimatcd Mr. Lappin pleads utter
ability 70 comply with any sucn order ii one should
be made Judge Donohuo reierred the matter to Mr..
T. Farrell to take testimony TO the ability OF Mr..
Lappino to meet these pccunary requirements.