Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-22
Gov. Sprague's Version.

From the Brooklyn Globe of Saturday.
Senator Sprague has beeu in consulta-
ton with his LAWYERS and absolutely de-
clines to make statement for publlca-
ton directly, but an intimate friend re,
lates the substance of what occurred
between Mr.. Sprague and Senator Conk-
ling on Friday, August 8, as the story
came from the lips of Mr.. Sprague him
self. Its publication would not be per
mitted even now but for the letter OF
Mrs. Sprague.
Gov. Sprague's version of the affair is
as follows: He had been down IN
Maine on a business trip expecting to
be absent until Saturday night. lie
finished his business before he expect
ed to, and returned late Thursday night,
but did not see Mrs. Sprague, although
he knew she was present in the house.
On Friday morning he learned for the
first time, and down ut the pier, that
Senator Conkling was up at his house
and had been there day or two. The
governor was angry beyond measure,
and the cause of his anger, he said to his
friend, was the intimate relations be-
which had long been highly obnoxious
To him. The existence of these rela-
tons were no secret to him. He had
seen the scandal growing and becoming
more and more public, and he spoke
bitterly of the conduct OF Senator Conk-
ling towards his wife at Washington.
Bitter words had often been spoken be-
tween his wife and himself because OF
that intimacy. She was fully aware how
obnoxious to him was that intimacy and
what were his feelings toward Senator
Conkling. But in spite OF this, said
Mr. Sprague, in spite OF all the scandal
and the violence to his feelings, that she
should invite Senator COnkling to be a
guest at his house during his absence,
and that Conkling should have the
brazen etfrontery to come there at all,
incensed him beyond all measure. As
he expressed it, Senator Conkling was
irving to do for his home in Rhode
Island what hehad done for home in
Washington, and he had determined to
put an end to it once and forever.
With this deliberate intention he
hurried back to Canonchet as soon as
he heard Conkling was there. Near the
house he met Linck, the German pro-
fessor, but he declared pOsitivel v that he
had no row with him and had no idea OF
shooting him. He did not even have
lis gun with him at the time. He did
order Linck to leave the house, and was
opposed to his being there, not, how
ever, because he had anything against
the man himself but because he could
not afford 10 have such an attachment
10 his establishment, and he felt that the
display of such extravaganza at Canon
Chef was injuring him in his efforts to
save the wreck OF his vast property IN
terests, and to get on his feet again
financially. But he hardly gave Linck
a thought. Probably he spoke angrily,
he said, for he was very angry; but his
Indignation was against Conkling, and
not against Linck.
He found Conkling in the house alone,
and ordered him out on the instant.
Conkling refused to go. A few high
words ensued, and then he (Sprague)
went up stairs to get his shotgun. He
found that he had no percussion caps
for his weapon, and went off 10 the vii
lage to get some. As soon as he could
procure them he hurried back, and
Conkling was still there. He again or
dered him to leave, and Conkling refus-
ed 10 20, and tried to molify Sprague
and excuse himself from leaving so sud-
denly on the ground that he had no
carriage for himself or his baggage,
which was not even packed. There
upon Mr.. Sprague drew out his watch,
and told Conkling that he would give
him thirty seconds to get out, and that
il he was not out by that time he MIR.
Sprague) would blow his brains out.
At that moment carriage appeared
in sight, which had evidently been sent
for while Senator Sprague was absent in
his search for the caps. At any rate,
Conkling Immediately got into it and
drove away, leaving his buggy behind
him. What happened afterward in the
house is not related, except that Con-
kings luggage was hustled out OF the