Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-18
The Sprngue Troubles.
ANOTHER STATEMENT FROM MRS sPRAGrt

ANolhhh SlA1hnEHT fhOM MkS. SPRAGUE.
The New York Sun publishes what purports
10 be another statement from Mrs. Sprague
furnished by her to one OF its correspondents,
Ia 1egafd 70 the troubles In the Sprague house.
lol0. According to this publication Mrs.
Sprague says she has borne with meekness the
uDn anly sneers and reproaches that her hus-
band showered on her last Thursday week, not
responding save when her children's relations
to her were touched upon. She saws She has no
reason to fear the publication of the truth,
though for thirteen long years her life has been
a constant drag and burden upon her. She has
'.striven to stand between her husbands wrong
doing aid the public for the sake of her chill
dren, not for any affection that existed be-
tween her and her husband. for there has
miserable affair." into which Senator Conkling
has been wantonly dragged, originated in a
business transaction between he and Mrs
Sprague, and was OF so trivial nature that
any sane man would be aStonished that It
should be considered a source Of jealousy.
SOME HORSES AND COLTS.
Mrs. Sprague, continuing her story, said:
"A year ago last July MIR. Sprague sent on to
me ~ Washington lot OF young colts and
for hts own use at the winding up OF his estate
He wished me to use those wanted for riding
and driving, and have the rest pastured some
where near the city He came On himself. and
was looking about for place to pasture them,
the netghborhood who was taking care of his
{Mr Conkltng's) horse. Mr.. Sprague accepted
the suggestion with pleasure, and Mr.. Conk-
october came the man sent me his bill, which
forwarded to Mr.. Sprague, in Rhode Island
The Dill was sent again and again, and always
returned unpaid, until / began to feel scan
daii7ed. Then the man applied to Senator
Conkl1ng, and even threatened to sue him,
having; by his Introduction OF my hus-
pan 6and; become surety surety for its payment Mr..
Sprague, telling him the position In which
ne was placed, and on a subsequent
visit to Washington again called on Mr.. sprague
in1 n 10 Ia fnl6 INV I;i,,
band that he could not be expected to pay any
ladys bills. least Of all married lady's, and
that IT would be an insult to me to propose 1t.
but that he (Mr ConkIing would gladly give
my husband the money to pay it, outof his own
pocket, and let him repay 1t whenever the
would. When heard OF this / was naturally
the Senator to make such an offer, aud said
that would sell anything ! had to raise the
m0rey rather than accept such assistance; aud
yet this petty, contemplate squabble was lhe
commencement OF all my husbands jealousy
against Mr.. Corblirg. Even after that he con-
sented to receive him. and voluntarily went on
legal opinion In regard to the troubles between.
himself and his creditors. There was perfect
and entire cordiality between them then, al
tnongn nao Inese e scandals it is now charged, had
"There Is not word Of truth Ia all OF these
atTocfous reports. Mr.. COnkling never paid me
any attention that wife could not honorably
receive from her husbands friend, and it Is
false to say otherwise. Mr.. Sprague was SIM
ply worked upon by his business troubles,
which had been eliminating for years, and by
every one, no matter how honorable who was
friend OF mine, as an interl0per and intrfguer
against him. His jealousy and hatred OF that
Wh2 snow he e workings Of his
friend OF mine, shortly before the affair, saying
he did not care about Senator Conkling, but
that that he IVA was determined to Kill both him and
"Did he write such letter."
SO MI. Chase tells me, and have every re-
a1. Lance e. upon POI his word MI; sprague is just as
case OF Mr.. Conkling--as indeed, he would be
Jealous OF any one else whom he fancied my
frieLd."
Row DID IT HAPPEN?
" How did Mi. Conkling venture to come to
Canonchet under the circumstances"
"Ee came simply to use his influence with
his management OF the estate. 1t was pre-
clsely The same subject on which Mr. Sprague
had voluntarily gone to Washington and con-
suited him Mr. CorkliDg) in the April pre-
vlous-as stated in my published letter. 1 had
written to Mfr. Copkltng, asking him to use his
influence to this end, and Mr.. Conkling replied
willing to uyj l wished it. / wrote to him
that did, and as Mr.. Sprague himself admit
TED 1t was for the best interests of the estate.
GonsiaeIsd SIC that there would be no improprety
ThroOp Martin, OF Auburn. an Old friend OF Mr.
Conkl1ng and an Invalid OF over 20, was staying
Win ,1 us, 81 together With his wife and daughter:
these guests, as my husband was constantly
going and coming at intervals of a few days,
ana an mt no enoit was made to conceal the fact Of
tne senator's visit from him. l met the Senator
When he landed from the boat at Narragansett,
and told him that bis Old friend, Mr.
Should MaT be SRpRs pRspas Th To nv u.s. s ana sha,
over at Canonchet, especially as the gov
eInor was expected home IL day or two He
came and occupied room on the third floor on
GAaxy mic
the trouble. On Friday morning, when came
down to breakfast, 1 was told to my surprise
that Mr; sprague had come home suddenly at 8
paid no attention to this, however, as his move.
ments are very erratlc. He comes In on you like
ghost In the middle OF the night and at the
the same disQuieting manner. had learned to
be used to these freaks but Mr. Conkling, when
told OF the governors visit, seemed surprised at
bs,e Sucn c0n1aGt. at MI @Inought no more OF 1t and
Senator Conkjng took seat on the lounge in
the room and Was looking over the newspapers
Ai,er Mae,g giving @ my orders | turned to poor Mr.
at his request, sat down to read little to him.
Just then Mr.. Sprague came up the staircase.
l.it he walked slowly into the room, Mr.. Conkling
rising 10 meet him. Some words passed between
them, which did not hear, but the tone of
Which arrested my attention. / rose to my
ieet Mr: Conkling walked straight across the
room TO where stood and said:
-. mrs. Sprague, your husband Is very much
excited, and think 1t better for all of US n /
should withdraw. II my departure puts you In
any danger. so say. and Will stay, whatever
the consequence
He spoke in very calm voice, although |
Know nc must have been excited / told him
not to mind me. but that II Mr.. Sprague was In
passion IL would be useless to argue with hiu.
aid might lead to violence
meanwhile Miss Martin had passed Mr.
Sprague coming to the house. and was fright.
ened almost out OF her wits by his stopping her
and telling her that there was going to be a
tragedy up at the house. She hurried down to
the pier and ordered up q barOuche to take
away her invalid father from such dangerous
place. The barouche and small carryalI came
back. Poor old MIR. Martin struggled to his feet
ard tottered to the head OF the Stairs. called
10 MI. Conkl1Dg to stop and help the poor old
gentleman back TO his room, which he did
kindly and tenderly; 80 that It was perfectly
true that he did help an invalid gentlemen to
avoid the consequences OF Mr.. Spragues un-
called-for outburst."
MRS. sPRAGUEs VERSION OF OTHER MATTERS
In continuation she said: "Mr Sprague took his
gun With him In the buggy when he went after
MI. Cohkling. l know It was loaded, for Willie.
my boy, came to me just afterward and said:
Mamma, papa gun Is loaded with three sIugs
and II ne shoots any one he'll kill them sure
Iheh ne told me that his father had told him
tnat ne had no caps, and asked him (Willte) for
some; put ne didn't think 1t best to give them
10 his father. have reason to be grateful that
no OHe was murdered ~