The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-16
Nrs. SprnRue's Explanation I'm Full.

! Providence Journal, August 14th,l
The following from private letter writ.
ten by the wife OF ex-senator William
SDrague to friend has been presented to
us for publication. It scarcely need be said
here that we deeply regret that amy ext
gcncy should have arisen which seems TO
any person to demand or warrant the pub
licaton OF n statement OF such palnlGl
nature:
As YOU must have surmiscd, Governor
SnrariIe's dissolute life and diSsipatcd hab-
its long ago interrupted our marital reli-
tions. though I have strivcn hard, through
untold humiliation and pain, to hide from
the world, for my childrcn'S sakcs, the true
conditions OF blighted, miserable domes-
tic life. About q year ago even THIS poor
sembIance abruptly eliminated, after dis
oraceful orgie and arrest at Nantasket
Reach. with the circumstances OF which
many people in Rhode Island are not unfa-
miIiar. I then sought, with my little girls,
the neighborhood OF old friends and the
shelter OF my honored fathers former home.
There, dwelling almost within the shadow
of his tomb, l felt more secure, less unpro-
tectcd.
Here kindly sympathy sought me out,
and though covert malice pointed some
censorious comments, relief came, and our
clrcumscribed means were adequate to our
simple and quiet mode OF life. Governor
Sprague's irregularities having been visit
cd upon him By the trustee administering
his embarrassing estate the contribution to-
ward the maintenance Of myself and chill
drcn, without q word Of explanation to
me, was suddenly cut down to palpably
inadequate sum. Even this was RENTED
but for a few months, then, owing to
complete rupture between Governor
Sprague and the trustee, all remittances
ceased, and for six months past no money
has been contributed towards the mainte
nance of bis family or household by Gov
ernor Sprague. In addition to greater
wrongs, unpaid tradcs-peop!e, to whom
be was indebted, have been urgent
in their demands for payment, but he gave
no heed to the Indebtedness, even answer
ing, when pressed by me TO find way 10
meet these Just demands and relieve me OF
importunitics, that Il must look to my
powerful Washington friends forald,' and,
TO my deep distress and modification, per-
mit,ed. after long delay, q bill for car
riarc-hire for his mothers use, during i
visit to me in Washington, TO be paid by the
gentleman who recommended to Us the sta
bic from which the carriage was hired.
This and other more unmanly exhibitions
have been incidental to the past year, while
the brutality OF recent erents-reGetitionS
of similar scenes of violence and outrage
enacted In former years-has finally driven
us from the door and filed the public prints
OF the country with scandal too cruel to
be endured without redress.
Governor Sprague's causcicss anu shame
full persecution OF the children's teacher is
literally true, as be tells the story, Inc real
animus being, as confessed, Governor
Sprague's unwillngness to be subjected 10
the restraint at the table and In the house
hold observances OF the constant presence
OF gentleman. The attempt to compllcate
Mr.. Conklingi with this matter is absurd.
The two men never met-I believe, have
never seen EACH other. Governor Spraeue's
indecent affront to the guests in the house
was most gross and without excuse. Mr..
Martin, whom had met in very precari-
GUS condition OF health en- route for Maria
gansett Pier, induced to 60 to Canonchet
for quiet and good nursing.
He was removed under Governor
Sprague's threats OF " murder to be DONE"
ut the imminent risk Of his life. Mr. Conk-
ling was, OF course, as unconscious as
that Governor Sprague sought occasion to
enact the tragic role OF the injured hus.
band; for at their last meeting, not long
since, Governor Sprague had sought from
Mr.. Conkling not only legal counsel, but
accepted at bis hand favor such as only
the friendliest confidence could warrant.
In his determination TO overthrow Mr..
Chafee as trustee, and hoping to join forces
with the creditor interest TO drive him from
his post, Governor Sprague, had carried
away from the counting-room OF a. u W.
Sprague the books Of the Quidnick Com
pany, refusing to return them. Mr.. Cha
fee, In turn. refused, until these books
were returned, to permit Governor sprague