The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-27
WILLIE SPRAGUE'S TUTOR.

HIS SUIT IN THE MARINE COURT AGAINST MRS.
spRAauE-THE LArTER's CONFIDENCE IN THE
INSTRUCTOR OF HER BoY-JUDGE sINNorr's
ORDER.
The unhappy controversy which for some time
past has been going on between Senator William
sprague. of Rhode Island. and his wife partially
revived yesterday before Judge Sinnott in Chambers
of the Marine Court. the form of q side issue in
relation to pay of tutor for his services the
family. George Link. German tutor. says he was
employed by Mrs. Sprague in this city. in Juno last.
as tutor to her son. Willie. at salary Of $50 month.
with board and travelling expenses. He went to the
family residence, Canonchet, Narragansett Pier,
and there remained until Mr.. Sprague gave him an
order to leave the promises. He alleges that
the engagement was for three months.
and that since his discharge he has at
all times held himself in readiness fulfil his con-
tract, on account of which he claims $2l0. To re-
cover this he entered suit in the Marine
Court as already stated in the HERALD against Mrs.
Sprague in person. to which she put in answer
that she was . married woman. that the services
rendered . family charge, and that she .
married woman was not liable in law for payment
under the contract. To this the plaintiff made
reply and yesterday motion made by Mr.. L.
H. Arnold, on behalf OF Mrs. Sprague. for an order
directing that Link the plaintif shall serve a reply
to the answer The motion was opposed by Mr.. ID.
Mel. Shaw rs counsel for the plaintiff. he claiming
that Mira. Sprague was not q married woman in the
sense contemplated by the Exemption law, she hav-
Ing voluntarily deserted the home of her husband
lived apart from him. and that in any event she
had contracted this debt on her own personal
count and Voluntarily made her individual property
liable therefore In support of this latter assertion
counsel for the plaintiff read several letters written
to him by Mrs. sprague. In of these. dated
July last, from Edgewood, she says:-"ln view of
what has occurred at Narragansett which has greatly
shocked and distressed me on account of its dis
courtesy to you, rejoice that governed by mature
reflection, concluded to trust you and be quite
frank with you. Your letter just received proves
how right was in giving you my confidence.
thank you sincerely for the good judgment you
hibit both TO the manner in which you treat
Governor Spragucs crratic proceeding and to the
frmness you exhibited with Willie. have written
to Governor Sprague expressing my grave disappro-
baton as to his disturbing Willie. and requested
him return the boy at once to your charge. maxi
ing IT, indeed. condition of my remaining at Nara
gansett
Three days later she writes from the same place
letter in which she says:-"Your last letter dated
the TIN and received last evening causes deeper
chagrin and dispieasurc than you can understand.
regard any violation of the law of hospitality a.
gross and unworthy in the extreme. and any afront
to on in this is of course equally affront to
me- Your forbearance and patience gives evidence
both of goodness of heart and integrity purpose
and most earnestly in such atrying emergency do
vaguely suspected that Governor sprague's pro-
fessed anxiety to have the children summer at Mar
ragansctt was anything but true and genuine hence
to be relied upon, would have exposed you to any
possibility OF annoyance. Every hour regret that
did not have you come at once to Edgewood and
steadily refuse all Governor Spragues overtures for
our going to Narragansett. Under tho circum-
stances aud in the face of this fragrant breach Of
faith with willie would not think OF entering or
taking my little girls to the house. Your Inc
sibilities will. think. understand and appreciate
this. Our plans, however. are all matured for leav-
ing here My household IL disbandcd, and. unless
hear something that looks like doing right from
Governor Sprague, will the children direct to
providence on Tuesday morning next. IL by any
chance Willie is restored to your charge before then.
and there appears to be honest effort to receive
us. please leave q note stating at the stoning-
that any such thing will be DONE In the latter case
please, In addition to the note to be handed TO mo
! by the agents. meet me yourself at Kingston sta
ton prepared to go with TO Providence Tor day.
possibly two. Ii occurs to me that there may Do
advantage In my going to Narragansett under the
| circumstances. but not to Canochct
In third letter. dated two days after the forego-
ino Mrs sprague regrets that the tutor left Narra-
Pier before her arrival there. The treatment
he received she regarded as outrageous beyond any
words she could command to describe II, and en-
treats him 10 consider himself under engagement
her hoping he will continue to assist her In her
troubles for the boys sake.
! JUDGE srNSorr's DECISION.
At the close of the reading of the letters and argu-
mott said he did not desire hear argument in sup
port of the notion. He said IL the plaintiff COM
PEELED to reply, and he did in good faith. admit
ting that Mrs. Sprague q married woman, it
would make very short work of the as her
responsibility concerned An order of the char
acter asked tor discretionary with tho Court.
and he would order that plaintiff reply within
ten days to the new matter set up in defendants axr
swer. An order TO that effect was 81 once signed