River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-12
Two Fools Agree to .swap, Wives.

Evansville Special to Cincinnati Enquirer.i
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 investigation,
has unearthed some astonishing facts.e Al
Robard's station, little railroad village,
fourteen miles from Henderson, have re-
sided for generations a 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 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 prominent position.
Browns practice made him soon intimate
with the Arthurs, and as consequences 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.
short time ago ii 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, DIR. Brown did not seem 10 OBJ
| iect, 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
went with Mrs. Brown to visit several weeks
-, 4ayng
kept up with the husbands they left behind.
| Mrs. Arthur, being a poor scribe, persuaded
| Mrs. Brown to write her letters from dlcta-
ton. 1t 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. Finallv Brown told Arthul
he had observed his fondIess for hist Browne
wife and had not objected, because be hat
conceived fondness 70 his arthur 50 wife
This led to maudlin confessions, and final,
to q proposal to swap wives, and before thes
separated the arrangement was made. Mex
day they met and the following agreement
were signed
BROWNS PROFESSION.
. love Mrs. Arthur better than any human
being ON earth, and will never be satisfied with
out | live with her / am in earnest and vii
make the swap, so help me God.
WASH. r.. Brown"
ARTHuR's AGREEMENT.
Il am willing to swap. L love Mrs. Brown
better than anybody else, and am in earnest
Just as sure as am sitting on this barrel, q
God is my Judge; and the one that backs on
first is to forfeit SIS MATTHEW ARTHUR
From this further contract was drawn
up for the women to sign. This is not to b,
obtained. It disposed of Browns four chill
dren, of whom three were to remain witt
their father and one go with Arthur, wht
had none. These preliminaries arranged
they wrote to their wives to return, and Oh
arrival, Mrs. Brown at once agreed to tn
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. Thest
we're conveyed to her by her own husband
She Indignantly destroyed the missives, ant
did not speak of their contents to Arthur
In few days she observed that the photo
graph was removed from her album ane
Mrs Browns inserted III its place. Ther
she spoke to her husband, and he told hel
all. aSklDG Der EDlistt1I ~ bAl5 NASAAhAN5 eAiN
that she would accompany DIR. Brown, who
was well supplied with this worlds goods. tC
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 no
leave she would shoot him and Brown
She then informed her father, stern anc
fearless man, who carue to Robard's station
at once. Brown and his wife had fled, how
ever, and last Friday Arthur disposed of his
drug store and fled in buggy to this city
whence he went North, ostensibly to New
York to attend medical lectures His wife
and father followed and overlook him here
and he promised to return III six weeks, anc
was allowed to proceed.
Thtse facts were given by Mrs. Arthur
herself, a modest young woman, who says
her husband was led astray by drink, anc
will soon return to her. Both men were
deacons in the Campbellite or Christian
| church aud the letters, etc. written in the
strange intrigue were given to the local min
lister, who burned them, but repeated tue
| above agreements from memory.