The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-08-18
THE sPRAGUE SCANDAL.
Mrs Sprague Makes a Statement-Go
Sprague's Insane Jealousy Of Senator
Conklinp

Mrs. Sprague Makes Statement-Gov.
Sprague's Insane Jealousy Of Senator
Conkling.
New York, Aug. 17-NIrs. Kate Sprague
in an interview with Sun reporter at Canou-
chet on Saturday, said:
81 wish to correct some false impressions
which have gone abroad in regard to my con-
duct at Thursdays meeting. L did not charge
my husband. as has been stated, with untruth-
fulness, nor did I make a verbal attack upon
him, as | have been represented as doing. On
the contrary, | bore with meekness the I'M
manly sneerS and reproaches he shoWered
upon me, not responding save when the chill
drens relations to me were touched upon. l
have my story to tell and when the truth OF
this terrible business is known, know L shall
be justified. God knows have no reason to
fear the TRUTH though for 13 years my life
has been constant burden anu uIas upon me.
For years have had this thing weighing up
ON me.aud have striven with my might to
stand between my husbands wrong doing and
the public have done It for the sake OF my
children not for any affection that existed
between us, for there has been none for years.
This whole miserable affair into which Sena-
for Conhling has been so wantonly dragged
without a particle of reason or excuse, orlgi-
mated in business transaction between him
self and my husband OF SO trlylal nature
that YOU will be astonishcd that any sane man
could consider it source OF Jealousy. For
wears have known Senator Conkllng just as
from the position of my father | have known
scores of other public men in Washington. L
have known him from childhood and my hus-
band has known him for years. Two years
ago they were on perfectly good terms. The
commencement of all my husband S Jealousy
was the offer of Mr. Conkllng to loan me
money to pay for the keep OF some OF my hos
es presented to me by Mr.. Sprague, but Jor
which he refused to pay
Even after that he consented to receive him,
and voluntarily went to Washington in April
last to get the Senator's legal opinion in regard
to the trouble between himself and his cred
itors. There was perfect cordiality between
them then, although these scandals, as it is
now charged, had been known in Washington
for years. There is not a word of truth in all
these atrocious reports. Mr.. Conkllng never
paid me any attention wife could not honor
ably receive from her husbands friend, and it
is false to say otherwise.
Mr. Conkling came to Canouchet simply to
use his influence with my husband to consent
to a certain policy in his management, of the
estate. On Mr. Sprague's arrival he! walked
slowly into the room, Mr.. Conkling rising to
meet him. Some words passed between them
which l did not hear, but the tone of which
arrested my attention. l rose to my feet
Mr.. Conkling walked straight across the room
to where 1 stood and said Mrs. Sprague, your
husband is very much excited and | think it
better for all of us if l withdraw If my de-
parture puts you in any danger, so say and l
will stay, whatever the consequences.
1 told men not to mind me but if Mr..
Sprague was in a passion it was useless to
argue with him aud it might only lead to
violence. Then Mr.. Conkling went down
stairs and out on the piazza. My eldest
daughter, Ethel, following. She put her arm
around him and said: Don't go Mr.. Conkling.
Sprague stood about 80 feet off on the edge of
the piazza cycling as in a desperate sort of a
way, but I knew had done nothing wrong
and tried to be as calm as 1 could. When
Ethel wanted Mr.. Conkling to stay L said,
"No Ethel, Mr.. Conkling shall go but no one
shall hurt either him Or u.s. My
husbnd all this time kept perfect silence.
What he said up stairs and what he said at
Bllingtons 1 do not know. Mr.. Sprague took
his gun with him in the buggy when he went
after Mr.. G. L know it was loaded because my
boy, Willie, came to me just after and said,
Mama, papas gun is loaded with three slugs,
and if he shoots any one he'll kim sure"
Then he told me his father had said he had no
caps and asked him (Willie) for some. But he
didn't think best to give them to his father.
I had reason to be grateful that no one was
murdered.
Mrs Sprague EXPLICITLY contradicts all the
stories about her undue intimacy at Washing
ton with Senator Conking as monstrous false
hoods, and says at the proper time and in the
proper place she will show the true character
and origin of the persecution.