Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-21

years. This whole miserable affair
into which Senator Conkling has been
wantonly dragged without a particle
of reason or excuse originated in a
business transaction between himself
and my husband of so trivial nature
that you would be astonished that
any sane man could CONSIDER it a
source of jealousy. For years have
known Senator Conkling; just as,
from the position Of my father and OF
my husband, have known scores of
other public men in Washington.
have known him from the time / was
a child, aud my husband has known
him for years. Two years ago they
were on perfectly good terms. | was
visiting at my house, edge wood, .
near Washington, and when my hus
band came on visit to me Senator
Conklng was one of the gentlemen
who called upon US Up to that time
his name had never been mentioned
by my husband otherwise than with
respect. A year ago last July Mr..
Sprague sent on to Washington a lot
of young colts and young horses and
FLIES, which he had picked out for
his own use at the winding up of his
estate. He wished me to use those
wanted for riding aud driving, and
have the rest pastured somewhere
near the city. He came on himself,
and was looking about for place to
pasture liiem when Mr.. Conkiing told
him Of some farmer in the neighbor.
hood who was taking care of his
(Conkling's) horse. Mr.. Sprague &C
cepted the suggestion with pleasure,
and Mr.. Conking introduced him to
the farmer. When October came the
man sent his bill, which l forwarded
to Mr.. Sprague in Rhode Island The
bill was sent again and again, until |
began to feel scandalized Then the
man applied to Senator Conkling, and
then threatened to sue him. Having,
by the introduction of my husband,
become surety for its payment, Mr..
Conkling was finally forced to write
to MIR. Sprague, telling him the posi-
ton in which he was placed, and on
a subsequent visit to Washington
again called on Mr.. Sprague and
asked him to settle it. He told my
husband that he could not be expect
ed to pay any lady's bills, least of all
married lady's, and that it would
be an insult to propose it, but that he
(Mr Conkling) would gladly give my
husband the money to pay it out OF
his own pocket, and let him repay it
whenever he would. When / heard
of this l was naturally indignant, and
chided my husband for allowing the
Senator to make such an offer, and
said l would sell anything l had to
raise the money rather than accept
such assistance. And yet this petty,
contemplate bubble was the COM
mencement of all my husbands ieal-
ousy against Mr.. Conkling.
"Eyen after that he consented to
receive him, and voluntarily went on
to Washington in April last to get
the Senator's legal opinion in regard
to The troubles between himself and
his creditors There was perfect and
entire cordially between them tren,
although these scandals, it is low
charged, had been known ir Wash
ington for years There is not word
of truth in all of these atrocious re-
ports. Mr.. Conkling never paid me
any attention that wife could not
honorably receive from her husband 8
friend, land it is false to say otherwise.
Mr.. Sprague was simply worked up
on by his business troubles, which
had been eliminating for years, and
by his indulgence in strong drink.
He regarded every one, no matter
how honorable, who was friend of
mine, as an interloper and intriguer
against him. His jealousy and hat
red of that poor German shows the
workings of his monomania. Why,
he wrote a letter to Mr.. Chase,
friend of mine, shortly before the af
fair, saying that he did not doubt
Senator Conkling, but that he was
determined to kill both him and Pro.
lessor Lnck.
"Did he write such letter ?"
$50 Mr. Chase tells me; and |
have every reliance upon his word.
Mr.. Sprague is Just as wild on the
subject of Professor Linck as be is in
the case OF Mr.. Conkling. Indeed, he
would be jealous of any one else
whom he fancied my friend"
elbow did Mr.. Conkling venture
to come to Canohchet under tie cir
cumstances ?"
she came simply TO use his inhu-
ence with my husband to consent to
certain policy in his management of
the estate. 1t was precisely the same
subject on which Mr.. Sprague had
voluntarily gone to Washington and
consulted him (Mr. Conkling) in the
April previous. As | stated in my
published letter, / had written tc Mr.
Conkling, asking him to use his in-
f1uence to this end. Mr. Conkl:ng
replied that he would be OF little ser.
vice, but he was willing to try, if /
wished. | wrote to him TINT | did,
and, as MIR. Sprague himself has ad
mitted it was for the best interest for
the estate, | considered that there
would be no improperly IN his visit
ing US here for that purpose. Mr..
Throop Martin, of Auburn, an old
friend of Conkling, and an invalid of
over 20, was staying with us, togeth-
er with his wife and daughter. | 4
could see no possible harm in the
presence of these guests, as my hus-
band was constantly going and COM
ing at intervals OF a few days, and no
effort was made to conceal the fact OF
the Senator's visit from him. met the
Senator after he landed from the boat
at Narragansett, and told HIM tina,
his old friend, Mr. Martin, was stop.
ping with US, and that we should be
pleased to have him stop over at
Canonchet, especially as the Govern. |
or was expected home in day or
two. He came, and occupied room
on the third floor on Wednesday and |
Thursday nights preceding the trou.
BILE. On FRIDAY morning. when | |