The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-21
MRS. GEN. GRANGER'S SUIT.
SEEKING TO NAVE HER MARRIAGE
WITH CAPT BLAIR LNNULLED
Asking that It he Declared Void from the Re-
ginning because Of the Previous Marriage
Capt. Hair says he will Make no Defence.

Asking that It he Declared Void from the Re-
ginning because Of the Previous Marriage
Capt. blair Says he viii Make no Defence
An action has been begun in the Supreme
Court for the annulment Of the marriage OF
Capt. Thomas Blair to the widow Of Gen. Cor
don Granger. Her complaint by Elliott +.
Shepard. her counsel sets forth her marriage
with the Captain in the State OF Kentucky; his
previous and existing marriage with Annie
Balie. OF which she first learned Mt the time
OF the court-martial proceedings; that she has
not cohabited with him since. and prays
that her marriage with the Captain may be de-
clared void alb initio. Gen. Martin T. Mcmahon
is associated with Mr.. Shepard in tho case.
Mrs. Granger. who was Miss Letcher Of Ken
lucky. Ia still stopping at the Sturtevant House.
Mr.. Shepard says that Capt. Blair has told him
that he will make no opposition to the divorce
proceedings. which he considers just and in
evitable. and that there will be no difficulty or
delay in obtaining a decree OF separation
from the courts Mrs. Blair. Mr. Shepard says.
had only this course to take. When the
first whisperngs Of the scandal came out she
turned to her husband. expressed her perfect
faith in him. and stood by him brnvely and un-
deviatingly until the fact that he had a wife
living in Scotland was settled beyond pcrad-
venture. Capt. Blair the lawyer considers man
than crminally dcceitful. Mr.. Shepard thinks
that he really had doubts Of the legality OF his
marriage to Ann Baile. and In the course OF
years Of separation from her these doubts were
strengthened. the wish becoming father OF the
thought He mad told Mrs Granger OF his rea
tions with the Glasgow woman. and she had
passed the matter over as an indiscretion Of the
past condoned by time.
Mr.. Shepard says that the point regarding
his marriage urged against Capt. Blair was un-
necessary. and that the other point regarding
the forged acceptance OF his resignation was
sufficient for the court martha! TO proceed upon.
Tho question Of the legality Of the mar
riage came rightly within the jurisdiction
other charge had been taken up by
the court martial. thnt would have been SUM-
cient to assure Capt. Bar's dismissal from the
army, and the question OF the marriage could
| have been settled quietly and the scandal have
been avoided. Mr.. Shepard says that he made
| this argument TO the Judge Advocate ~ soon as
| he came into the case. and that the latter met
| with his views. and went on TO Washington TO
try and stop the proceedings on the ilrst charge.
| but II was then too late.
Capt. Blair IS still in Fort Columbus awaiting
| sentence. HIS quarters are IN the north END oi
| the row OF barracks forming the west side Of
| tho quadrangle. up one flight Of stairs. Tho
door opens from the hallway into a square
| room that was occupied by sentry while Capt.
| Blair was awaiting trial. Another doorway
connects this room with the one occupied by
| Capt. Blair. Since the close Of the trial. the
sentry has been tnkcn away, and the prisoner
| is allowed the freedom of the for.
Yesterday a CRATE fire burned in his room.
| Books and papers were scattered on the table.
| Two or three ,photographc hkcnesses were, on
| the mantel. He had not been informed Of Mrs.
| Grangers application for the annulment Of her
marriage with him, though he supposed that
| II II had not already been 1t would soon be
made. Two days previously To his making the
plea OF guilty 10 the specifications contained in
| the charge against him. he says he wrote her a
| letter in which he advised her Tor her sake not
| TO visit him again. and suggested that she
make application for the ,annulment OF the
would make no defence. have hut one object
now--to do all in my power toward ropairing
| the great wrnng | have done 70 the woman |
| love better than life itself. II Guld place
| Mrs. Granger back whore she was the cay her
| husband died IN my arms. would give my ne
Capt. Blair continued. speaking very SLOWLY;
| day a telegram came TO Mrs. Granger lhe did
| not once alude To her rs Mrs. Blair from Mr.
| Vanderbilt. Il said that trouble WIS likely 20
! come upon her, or something 10 that effect. We
| did not know what II meant; thought thHt per
| haps II referred 20 some litigation regarding
| the legacy which Commo lore Vanderbilt had
| lett To her. The next day long despatch came.
| II said that woman in scotland clHimed me AS
| ner nusoah1 nnu hAi I'W"ru.p va. u papets pp
| through an American cohsul 70 SuisunuAts
| her claim. was thunderstruck. II "A volcano
were TO burst up through this island would b9
| less surprised than was at that moment
Immediately forwarded my resignation TO
Gen. Pope. in whose division was.
| Mrs. Granger said that this would seem
like a confession Of guilt and she teegraphed
TO Gen. Pope, asking him not TO accelt the
| resignation. Then applied for leave of alb
| sence from my post for thirty days. and II was
| granted. | intended 10 20 to Washington and
| defend myself. We were six days going from
| Santa F6 to the railroad in consequence OF the
deep snow. In 81. Louis we We're snowbound.
| When we reached Cleveland we were met by
| Mrs. Grangers brother. Mr. Letcher, lwanted
| TO 70 from there 10 Washington with him and
| send her TO New York. but we came TO New
| York. For her sake thought II best that we
| should not stop at the same hotel. You will see
| by my trunk here lgoing around and pointing
to the label that my baggage was 70 be sent 10 a
| Washington almost Immediately but was ar
| rested and brought here. Oi course the sem
| tence will be dismissal"
Capt. Blair was asked If he desired TO make
| any statement regarding the nature OF the GER
| emony Or contract which the Glasgow woman
| AYERS is a valid marriage.
| What would be- the use 2" he said. The
| damage is done. II | could have secured stay
OF proceedings with permission 10 70 to Scot
| land. could have proved the worthlessness Of
| that womans claim. wns Il boy then. 81 years
old. Her brother went INTO another parish and
| caused the bans 10 be published, and-lhere
| Capt. Blnir stopped. gazed steadily into the
| bank OF burning Goals, and then took up the
| story IN another pace.l-I told Mrs. Granger,
the children. But didn't mention the poss-
| bility Of the woman's claiming me as her hus-
band that was my fatal mistake. think the
| woman = motive is revenge. purely. She can
not think that would ever acknowledge her rs
| my wife. | want to 20 10 Scotland and prove
that there IL no valid marriage contract be-
| tween that woman and me. THIS l want 10 do
| for Mrs GTanger's sake then | would be con-
tent"
The suggestion was made that II Mrs Granger
| believed him innocent Of intention TO wrong
her. legal decision 10 the fleet that he was not
| legally married To the Glasgow woman might
open the way for the restoration Of the relations
between him and Mrs. Granger;
Capt Blair slowly shook his head; and then,
uA a hardly 1urnl 1