The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-11
Two Fools Agree to "Swap"IWives.

Evansville Special to Cincinnati Enquirer.
very singular story has just come to the
knowledge of persons living in the neigh
borhood OF Henderson, one of the most
wealthy and aristocratic sections of Western
Kentucky, and an Enquirer representative,
who devoted ten days to an investigation,
has unearthed some astonishing facts. At
Robard's station, little railroad village,
fourteen miles from Henderson, have re-
sided for generations family named Arthur.
One of the younger representatives, Nathan
Arthur, owned drug store in the village,
and some years ago married his first cousin,
daughter of Emmanuel Arthur. She was
very young then, and is now only twenty
one years of age.
Four years since a DIR. Brown moved to
Robard's Station from Louisville, Ky,
bringing with him remarkably handsome
| wife and several children. They were hos
pitably received by the residents of the VII
lage and neighborhood, and being educated
people at once took a prominent position.
Browns practice made him soon intimate
with the Arthurs, and as a consequence the
families became intimate.
Thus matters ran along three years or more.
Mrs. Brown is about 80, and young Arthur,
who is dashing- looking fellow, is about 81.
A short, time ago it began to be
rumored that Mrs. Brown and Arthur were
very fond of each other, and the woman did
not attempt to conceal it even from her hus-
band. Further, and to the great astonish-
ment of all, DR.. Brown did not seem to OBJ
| ject, but paid Mrs. Arthur the most elaborate
attention. Mrs. Arthur alone seems to have
been ignorant of how matters actually stood,
and, before her friends informed her, she
IT,
in Illinois. While there correspondence was
kept up with the husbands they left behind.
Mrs. Arthur, being poor scribe, persuaded
| Mrs. Brown to write her letters from dicta-
| ton. It transpires now that Mrs. Brown
wrote for herself in her friends letters, and
made love to the husband.
In the mean time the husbands at home
became more intimate in temporary bach
elorhood, and one evening while drinking
together, began to discuss their wives. Both
soon got under the influence of liquor and be-
came emboldened Finally Brown told Arthur
he had observed his fondness for his( Brown's)
wife and had not objected, because he had
conceived fondness for his (Arthur's wife.
This led to maudlin confessions, and finally
to a proposal to swap wives, and before they
separated Encouragement was made. Next
day they met and the following agreements
were signed:
! BROWNS PROFESSION.
II love Mrs. Arthur better than any human
being on earth, and will never be satisfied with
out live with her. lam in earnest and will
make the swap, so help me God.
| WASH. L. BROWN
| ARTHUR's AGREEMENT.
II am willing to swap. love Mrs. Brown
| better than anybody else and am in earnest,
just as as I am sitting on this barrel, as
God is my Judge; and the one that backs out
first is to forfeit SIS. MATTHEW ARTHUR
From this a further contract was drawn
up for the women to sign. This is not to be
obtained. It disposed of Browns four chill
dren, of whom three were to remain with
their father and one go with Arthur, who
had none. These preliminaries arranged,
they wrote to their wives to return, and, on
arrival, Mrs. Brown at once agreed to the
exchange.
Mrs. Arthur was still ignorant Of the ar
rangement, and was to be approached.
Brown at once began to write her love let
tiers of the most ardent description. These
we're conveyed to her by her own husband.
She Indignantly destroyed the missives, and
did not speak of their contents to Arthur.
In few days she observed that the photo :
graph was removed from her album and
Mrs. Browns inserted in its place. Then
she spoke to her husband, and he told her
all, asking her consent, to the exchange, and
that she would accompany DR.. Brown, who
was we'll supplied With this worlds goods, to
another State. She indignantly refused,
and when next day he again insisted,
and produced the contract for her signature,
she went to her desk, took out a re-
volver, and told him if he did not
leave she would shoot him and Brown.
She then informed her father, stern and
fearless man, who came to Robard's station
at once. Brown and his wife had fed, how
| ever, and last Friday Arthur disposed of his
drug store and fed in buggy to this city
whence he went North, ostensibly to New
r York to attend medical lectures. His wife
and father followed and overlook him here
and he promised to return in six weeks, anG
, was allowed to proceed.
These facts were given by Mrs. Arthur
herself, a modest young woman, who says
her husband was led. astray by drink, ane
will soon return to her. Both men wer'
deacons in the Campbe'lite or Christian
church: and the letters, ETC., written in thu
s strange intrigue were given to the local min