The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-08-22
THE SPRAGUE.CONKLING SCANDAL.


TOR Spragne IN relation 10 the un1ortunate uli-
ficulty at Narragansett Pier, which she has CIV
en- permission 10 be published:
aAs you must have surmised. Gov Sprague's
dissolute life and dissipated habits long ago in
terrupted our marital relations though have
striven hard through untold humiliation and
pain to hide from the world, for my children's
sake, the true condition Of blighted, misera-
BILE domestic life. About a year ago
even this poor semblance abruptly cul-
minated after most disgraceful orgie
and arrest at Nantasket beach, with the cir
cumstances Of which many people in Rhode
Island are not unfamiliar / then sought with
my little girls the neighborhood of old friends
and the shelter Of my honored fathers former
home. There, dwelling almost within the
shadow of his tomb felt more secure and
less unprotected. Here kindly sympathy
sought me out and, though covert malice
pointed some censorious comments, relief
came, and our crcumscribed means were ade-
quate to our simple and quiet mode OF life.
Gov. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES having boen visited
upon him by the trustee administering his en-
barrassed estate, the contribution toward the
maintenance Of myself and children, without
word Of explanation to me, was suddenly cut
down to o palpably inadequate sum. Even
this was RENTED but for few months. Then,
owing to q complete rupture between Gov.
Sprague and the trustee, all remittances
ceased, ana for six months past no money has
been contributed toward the maintenance of
his family or household by Gov. Sprague. In
addition to greater wrongs, unpaid trades
people, to whom he was indebted,
have been urgent in their demands for
payment, but he gave no heed to the
Indebtedness, even answering, when pressed
by me to find q way to meet these just demands
and relieve me of opportunities, that &c must
look to my powerful Washington friends for
aid, and, to my deep distress and mortifica-
ton, permitted, after long delay bill for car
riage hire for his mothers use during visit to
me in Washington to be paid by the gentleman
who had recommended to us the stable from
which the carriage was hired This and other
more unmanly exhibitions have been incidental
TO the past year, while the brutality Of recent
of violence and outrage enacted in
us from the door, and filled the public prints
of the country with a scandal too cruel to be
endured without redress. Gov. Sprague's
causeless and shameful persecution of the
children's teacher is literally true as he tells
the story, the real animus being, as confessed.
Gov Sprague's unwillingness to be subjected
at the table and in hehousehold to the constant
presence OF gentleman. The attempt to COM
plicate Mr.. Conkling with this matter is
absurd. Gov. Sprague's affront to the guests
in the house was most gross and without
excuse. Mr.. Martin, whom / had met in a
very precaricus condition of health en- route for
Narragansett Pier, induced to so to Canouchet
for quiet and good nursing. He was removed
under Gov. Sprague's threats of murder to be
doue, at the imminent risk Of his life. Mr..
Conkling was, Of course, as unconscious rs
that Gov. Sprague sought occasion to enact
the tragic role of the injured husband,
for at their last meeting, not long
since, Gov. Sprague had sought from Mr..
Conklpg not only legal advice, but
had accepted at his hand favor such
as only the friendliest confidence could war
rant In his determination to overthrow Mr..
Chaffee as trustee, and hoping to join forces
with the creditor interest to drive him from his
post, Gov Sprague had carried away from The
counting honse Of A. q w. Sprague the books
of the Quidnick Company, refusing to return
them. Mr. Chaffee, in turn, refused, until
these books were returned, TO permit Gov.
Sprague to hold any business relations with tho
concern, and, of course, refused to permit him
to draw any money.
sThis was the situation or affairs which, by
coming to Rhode Island, l had hoped, through
some influence or other brought to bear on Gov
Sprague, to help to set right and to secure by
some means maintenance for the four chill
dren for whose wants and education / have
been and am now bearing the undivided bur
den. A conference with counsel employed by
the firm achieved no results. Prof. Linck,
under contract with me for three
months, was neither permitted to per-
form his duties nor paid and dismissed
We had no ostensible mears for
living at Canonchet without mourning
additional indebtedness, to which refused to
lemma, requested Mr.. Conkling, who had
been already consulted by Mr.. Sprague, and
upon whose judgment and advice have safely
relied my own matters, to see Gov. Sprague,
and try to ascertain what point there is in this
proposed programme of opposition and what
lie lu fnIl haf hano
or provide for the children. Mr. Conkling
stopped at Canonchet for this purpose, and was
awaiting Gov. Sprsgue's return to seek an in
terview with him when tie now-notorious out
break occurred. If any hostile words were ex-
changed between Mr.. Conkling and Gov
they were, for no one else heard them. What
transpired in the village do not know beyond
what is reported in the sensational accounts
given in the newspapsrs.'
Mr.. and Mrs. Sprague-A Stormy Interview.
dispatch from Narragansett Pier to the
Chicago Tribune says Much excitement was
created here this afternoon by meeting be-
tween Gov. SpraSue and his wife. After leav-
ing the house, on the occasion of the first
trouble, it is asserted that Mrs Sprague said,
Il will never sleep under the same roof with
Mr.. Sprague again" To-day, Mrs Sprague
came TO Narragansett Pier, accompanied
by friend, Miss Emma Fosdick, Of
Stamford, CT, and Mr.. Thompson, a lawyer,
partner of Rowland Hassard. Mr.. Thompson
drove down to Canonchet to get some clothing
for Mrs. Sprague and her children, Mrs.
Sprague remaining meanwhile In the house Of
Conductor Hale, near the station. Mr. Thomp
son was met at Canonchet by Gov. Sprague,
who, after come conversation, decided to re-
turn with the lawyer to Conductor Hale's
house There the husband and wife met in
room, with Mr.. Thompson, Miss Fosdick, and
Mrs. Hale present.
A very stormy interview of an hour followed
between Sprague and his wife. Gov. Sprague
began DO den anding the return of the three
little girls. The Governor was laboring under
strong, but suppressed, excitement during the
entire interview He accused Mrs. SpraRe
of poisoning the minds of his children against
HIM, and alternating the affections Of
the hoy, Willie, through the influence of the
German tutor, Linck Mrs. Sprague,
i'm turn, accused the husband OF general brutal
ity when under the influence of liquor, and Of
circulating base and unfounded stories against
her character She said that on more than one
occasion she had been in peril Of her life from
him, referring distinctly to one occasion when
he pointed loaded pistol at her, threatening
to shoot her. Gov. Sprague referred TO Sena-
tor Conkling's intimacy with Mrs. Sprague,
and she repealed any insinuaiion of
wrong doing On her part with great indig-
nation. AT last Gov. Sprague said:
ado you intend to return to Canonchet?"