The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-15
,v,at a Correspondent Says.

A long letter from providence 10 tne NC"
York san. evidently written after the most
careful inquiry, gives the most detalied ana
Ineligible account Of the Sprague- Conksng
.rnuhle that has vet appeared. The CORE
spondent says:
an il certain that Ex-Governor Sprague
hos made frequent illusions to his friends
~ tho intimacy between Senator ConklinS
ord Mira. Sprague and that he has upon
more than one occasion made threats against
Wr ConkEnc. referring with great bitter
,,nss ~ the fact that Senator Conkling was
nons,ont r,;es, at his wifc'S residence, near
Irosbinctop. during his own absence: that
Ia ,rss frequently seen with her driving
.ho,lt the country roads near that CITY, ana
was her attendant ut almost every plpnc
.,atbering in or about Washington, "Hlie
ne, the husband. was compelled by lne eNl-
pencics OF his business to remain during
Inc Greater part OF the year in PreYi-
d.nce or in his mills at Cranston. Against
his Mrs. Spraguc'S friends have said that
her friendship with Senator Conk!ing dated
h,cb 10 her "irlhood and the lifetime OF her
father. the late Chiei-Justice Salmon Z.
Chase, in whose family Mr.. Conkllng was
ALWAYS 4 valued and intimate 1rleno. MT.
ConkIin@, they add. was not only Mrs
Sprasue's counsel in the successful effort TO
have The estate OF her father near Washing
ton exempted from taxation, as recoSn'-
ton of Mr.. CbaSc's services 10 the country,
but he bad also been recently retained by
Governor Spraguc himself as counsel in
one phase of the tangled legal contest be-
tween Governor SpraSue, his business Gre
dors, some members OF his own family,
and the trustee Of the estate that six years
sro was valued at twelve millions OF dol
lars. Mrs. Sprague had visited at Senator
Copklings home at U,ica within the past
twelve months. Senator ConklinS had said
to friends at Newport that one object OF bis
visit to Rhode Island was, at Senator
Spracue's request, to consult with him
upon the legal business referred to-"
Governor SpraSue, owing to the failure OF
the great manufacturing firm OF which he is
= member. has been living economically at
his splendid summer residence, which had
originally cost nearly 4 million dollars. 1t
was surrounded by park Of nearly
thousand acres, with lakes, river, and
dense forests within the domain. Across
its front was nearly 4 mile OF seal beach. In
the wreck of 1873 this place was among the
assets, and will be sold with the rest or the
property. Last week Governor Sprague
went away. the understanding being that
he was gong to Portland and would
not return until Saturday. On Tues
dav Senator Conkling arrived, and on the
evening OF Thursday Governor Sprague
Unexpectedly returned and occupied
room remote from his wife and her
guests. His presence in the house seems
10 have been unknown to any OF its inmates
Until the afternoon OF Friday. After leav'
ing his room the next morning he is said to
have gone quietly to the village and return
Ell without the knowledge Of any OF the in
mates. About o'clock In the afternoon,
hy an appointment with Mrs. Sprague,
Linck. the German tutor, who had been
boarding with Il neghboring family since
his last interview with the Governor, was
seen coming up the road leading 10 the
house. Governor Sprague drove him of,
threatening him with & -barreled
shotgun. according to Linck's statement.
The correspondent then goes on to say:
GOVERNOR sPRAGUE's RETURN.
"On Governor Sprag2e's return to the
house it Is said that he nr>t encountered
Senator Conkling. OF the meeting between
the two there were but few witnesses, but
the account OF it has been given by one OF
those present. 1t was when alone with Mrs.
.Sprague MIR. Conkling, and the orerseer
Of the place. Morris, that Governor SDragua
is said 20 have ordered Senator Conkling to
leave, takin" out his watch at the same time,
and saving to the Senator that he would
Give him lust twenty minutes to Quit the
house. Whatever may be the truth OK this,
il is certain that Senator ConHling came
down to the village without bis luggage
that he spent the interval-some three
nours-betwcen his departure from the
house and his leaving by the train
Cor Providence in an obscure little
tQR OF the village; and that his lug
gaec--a heavy trunk and Yallse-"as
sent from the house to the station about an
hour after Senator Conklng came TO the
village. Senator Conkliug had said to friends
in Ncwport on leaving for NarraganSett
Pier Thursday afternoon that he expected
10 remain N Governor SpraSues mouse iol
several days.
"a few minutes after Senator Conkling's
departure from the house Governor Sprague
followed him toward the village. Immedi'
ateIy on her husbands quitting the place
j, is said that he then still had his gun with
him-Mrs. Spraguc took her three little
girls with her. the oldest about twelve and
the youngest tive, and hurried through the
grounds TO the back entrance, whence she
went over 10 The Tower Hill Hotel, 4 mile
from the Spragne House, and remained
there over night. The next day she went
by train to Providence, Governor SnraSue
taking another train for the same city.
"Governor Sprague drove rapidly to the
village. The restaurant in which Senator
C0nkllng was is OH a street at rigbt-angles
with the road which leads from the Sprague
place 10 the village. AS Senator Sprasue
turned the corner he saw Senator CoDkllng
standing in front OF this restaurant, but did
not stop as he reached the building. Here
accounts differ as to whether Senator
Sprague pulled up after passing, or whether
senator Conkling stopped him. Druggist
Isark, whose shop is near the little Gaze,
says he was too far away to hear, but was
ntaF enough to see that something very eX-
[N'ng was being said by the Governor.
G 9shs'or Conkling crossed the street, and the
W. governor, wheeling around, jumped from
. r,s carriage, in his excitement taking the
1sat with him. He gesticulated violently.
I tne druggist expected every instant to see
rnr AT last the Senator returned to the
wye and the Governor drove away"
WAR OF WORDS.
But If the druggist was too far away to
neaf, the conversation was carried on In
.oies loud enough, SO that gentleman says,
70 70 awaken Mr.. Wood, who is employed ut
aae CAFE, aud who was taking a nap In bis
tooI' over the front door. It had also at
uacted boy who is waiter there, and he
s Jaw mat the Governor was greatly excited.
bir. wood says that be was awakened by
. .semaL,ns some onsssay, in very loud tones,
Th. 1--we you not gone yet, --- .---- you y
tbren eapon Mf. Wood gotnp, and looking
'"Vusa Inc window, he saw that the