Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-16
yPRAGUB SKELETON
The Wife Tells the Story of Her Mari
tai Unhappiness.
THE FAMILY SEPARATION.
But In Contest for the Children Mr..
Sprague Wins.
ACCUSATIONS ALL AROUND.
Old COnkling Scandals Renewed with
Vig0r.
A DISH OF SAyOKY GOSSIP.
A DISH OF sAyOKY GOSSIP.
Which Destroys Two homes and
Wrecks q Public Man.
Especial telegram to the GIobe.1

Especial Telegram to the Globe. -s-~'
PROVIDENCE, h. l., Aug. 15.-Mrs. Senator
Sprague has at last broken silence 50 far as
the principals in the scandal are concerned,
and has put forth the subjoined statement !:
As you must have surmised, Gov. Sprague's
dissolute life and dissipated habits long ago
interrupted our marriage relations, though
have striven hard through untold humilia-
tlons and pain to hide from the world, for
my children's sake, the true conditions of
BLIGHTED, MISERABLE DOMESTIC LIFE.
About year ago, even this poor semblance
abruptly eliminated, after disgraceful orgie
and his arrest at Nantucket beach, with the
circumstances of which many people in
Rhode Island are not unfamiliar. I then
sought, with my little girls, the neighbor-
hood of old friends and the shelter of my
honored fathers former home; there dwell
Ing almost within the
SHADOW OF HIS TOMB
felt secure and less unprotected. Here
kindly sympathy sought me out and though
covert malice pointed some censorous COM
ments relief came and our crcumscribsd
means were adequate to our simple and
quiet mode of life. Gov. Sprague's irregu-
larities having been visited upon him by the
trustee administering his embarrassed es-
tate, contributions towards the maintenance
of myself and children without word Of
explanation to mo was suddenly cut do wn
to palpably inadequate sum. Even this
was remitted but for few months, then
owing to Il complete rupture between Gov.
Sprague and tho trustees all
REMITTANCEs CEASED
aud for six months past no money has been
contributed towards the maintenance of his
family or household by Gov. Sprague in ad
dltlon to greater wrongs. Unpaid trades
people to whom he was indebted, have been
urgent in their demands for payment, but he
gave no heed to the indebtedness, answering,
when pressed by me to find way to meet
those just demands and relieve me of their
opportunities, that must look to my
POWERFUL WASHINGTON FRIENDS
for aid, and to my deep distress and morti-
hcation permitted, after long delay, bill
for carriage hire for his mothers use during
visit to me in Washington, to be paid by a
gentleman who had recommended to us the
stable from which the carriage was hired.
This and other more unmanly exhibitions
have been incidental to the past year, while
the
BRUTALITY OF RECENT EVENTS,
the repetition Of similar scenes of violence
aud outrage enacted in former years, has
finally driven US from his doors, and filed
the public prints of the country with a
scandal too cruel to be endured without re-
dress. Gov. Sprague's causeless and shame
full persecution of the children's tutor is
literally true as he tells the story, the real
animus being as confessed, Gov. Sprague's
unwillingness to be subjected at table and in
tho household to the constant presence of
gentleman. The attempt to
CoMpL1oATE MIR. coNKL1Na
with this matter is simply absurd. Gov.
Sprague's affront to guests in the house was
most gross and without excuse. Mr.. Martin,
whom had met in a very precarious con-
dition of health, en- route for Nsraeansett
Pier, induced to 60 to Canonchet for quiet
and good nursing. He was removed under
Gov. Spragues threats of murder to BIO done,
at the imminent risk of his life. Mr.. Conk-
ling was, of course, unconscious, as I, that
Gov. Sprague sought occasion to enact the
TRAGIC ROLE OF INJURED HUSBAND,
for at their last meeting, not long since,
Gov. Sprague had sought from Mr.. Conk-
ling not only legal counsel, but accepted at
his hands favor such as only tho friendliest
confidence could warrant. In bis determi-
nation to overthrow Mr.. Chaffee as trustee,
and hoping to join forces with the creditor
interest to drive him from his post, Gov.
Sprague had carried away from the counting
house of A. & w. Sprague books of the
Quidnick company, refusing to return them.
MIR. Chaffee refused, until these books we're
returned, to permit Gov. Sprague to hold
any business relations with the concern, and
of course
REFUSED TO PERMIT HIM TO DRAW ANY MONEY
This was the situation of affairs which,
by coming to Rhode Island, I had hoped
through some influence or other to be
brought to bear on Gov. Sprague' to help to
set right and to secure by some means main
tenance for the four children, for whose
wants and education I have and am now
bearing the undivided burden. A conference
with the counsel employed by the firm
achieved no results. Prof. Linck, under
contract with me for three months, was
neither allowed to perform his duties or paid
and dismissed. We had no
osTENs1BLE MEANS FOR LIVING
at Canonchet without mourning additional
Indebtedness. to which I refused to be a
party. In this awkward and painful dilem-
ma requested Mr.. Conkling, who had been
already consulted by Mr.. Sprague, and upon
whose Judgement and advice I have
safely relied in my own matters, to see
Gov. Sprague and try to ascertain
what point there is in this proposed
programme of opposition and what results
were likely to follow that would benefit or
provide for the children. Mr.. Conkling
stopped at Canonchet for this purpose, and
was waiting GOV. Sprague's return to
seek an interview with him when
THE NOW NOTORIOUS OUTBREAK OCCURRED.
If any hostile words were exchanged be-
tween Mr.. Conklng and Gov. Sprague at
Canonchet, they alone knew what they were,
for no one else heard them. What tran.