Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-19
Murder of n Farmer.

horribly mangled, and IL Is supposed that h,
was murdered. His wife and man named Geo
Smith have been arrested on suspicion, and the
coroner has commenced an investigation.
The Christiancy Scandal.
A STRANGE STORY OF DOMESTIC WOE AND PoIITI-
CAL TRADING.
The story of domestic unhappinesS related b
Mrs. Christiancy is exceptional in some paTticu-
lars. One could hardly imagine an ex-supreme
Court Judge, an ex-senator Of the United States,
and at present member OF the American diplo-
matte corps, in the role OF a wtfe-beater, yet
Ms. Chrlstiancy AYERS that he has, upon seye.
raj occasions. actually knocked her down, and
that upon other interesting occasions Mr.. Chris
iancy varied the programme by choking, pinch
ing and slapping her: This diIhculty between
the part Of the latter of the intrigue by which
Mr.. ChriStiancy resigned his seat In the Senate
to make way for the late Zachariah Chandler.
The particulars, as related by Mrs. Chris
tfancy, are substantially as follows: It
was in the fall of 1878 that Zachariah
Chandler went to Mr.. Christiancys house in
Lansing. and there made the arrangement for
the latters withdrawal from the Senate. Mrs.
Chlstiancy says that this Interview occurred I'm
the month OF october. She was not present at
the interview, but Dr. Victor Chlistiancy, son
of the Senator, now residing in Leavenworth,
Kan, was In the next room and heard the
greater part OF the conversation. Victor re-
peated the conversation to her. On the same
day, he gave her graphic description Of
Messrs. Chandler and Christancy walking up
and down, haggling over the term. Mr.. Chand-
Ter began the conversation by saying that
he had been to Washington and had seen
President Hayes, and that the matter pending
between ~, tnem nv was & az, LII TgntS rms remark
between them upon the same subject. Mr..
Chandler then went on to say that Mr.. Chris
| tiancy could have either the mission to Peru or
| Central America. The administration had
| placed these two places at his Mr.. Chandler'sl
| disposal Mr.. Chandler also thought that the
japanese mission might be had. as Minister
| Peruvian and Central American missions were
| absolutely at his disposal. Mr.. Chandler ad-
vlsed the acceptance Of the Central American
! mssion there Mr.. Christancy would find life
so quiet that he could nearly all Of his sal
ary. Then followed long talk about routes, the
| mode OF travel, &C., when the conversation
| finally closed with talk about sum of money
that was to be paid Mr.. Christiancy by Mr..
Chandler as bonus for his retirement.
The exact amount of this sum was
| that followed 1t was plainly shown that II had
been previously arranged. Finally, Mr.. Chand-
| Ter said: who shall give the money to?n Mr..
Chr1stiancy answered: 'Henry-send 1t to him."
| Henry is Mr.. Christiancy's favorite son. who re-
sides in Detroit. 1t is said that Mr.. Christiancy
has made will In his favor: After this Mr..
| tlement.' Mr.. Chandler laughed as he said with
the satlrical air of a man in good spirits over a
bargain to his advantage: Yes we will call
ttancy, "pledge me that no other human soul
shall know of this" NO." replied Mr.. Chand-
/ Ter, chow can they9" This ended the eonversa-
quainted his step-mother with the particulars
of what he called his fathers degradation.
1t was net until they arrived In Peru that Mr..
Christtancy learned of his wife's knowledge OF
this affair. He found an allusion to it in letter
to Mrs. Christiancy from DR.. Victor. His rage
at this was extreme. He threatened her and
knew Of her share In this secret there was never
any peace between them. Mr.. Christiancy
watched her constantly, and never missed an
opportunity to show his dspleasure. Mrs.
Christiancy says that he is confirmed opium
eater, and that in addition to this he uses iuuid
stimulants to such degree as to be in con-
tnual state OF morbid irritation. Finally, the
quarrel in Peru culminee.ced by the minister
knocking bis wife down in the parlors Of the
legation, In the presence of Mr.. George
Z. Haight, an American resident In Peru.
Mr.. Cbristiancy objected to Mr.. Ha1ghts's pres
ence in the legation, as he had accused hih OF
meddling in some OF his affairs and paying too
much attention to his Wife After this scandal
GUS scene Mrs. Chrstiancy left her husband.
He threatened her with ruin If she should leave
him. He said he had money and position, and
could ruin her character, while she could not
hurt him. She asked for money to return
home; it was refused. She then told her story
to some of her American friends in Lima, and
they lent her money to pay her passage home.
The money has since been repaid out of her
earnings here, as she has not received any SUD-
port from Mr.. Christtancy since that day. She
Is now living with her mother, Mrs. Lugenbeel
sister OF Col. Lugenbeel, of the army. Her
mother keeps small boarding house, and the
daughter gains moderate income by coloring
photographs.
Mr.. Christiancy's alleged iIl-treatment dates
back pretty early in their married life. Two
months after their marriage, while they were
still In Washington, some words passed between
them about the wishes OF some of Senator
Christiancy's grown-up sons, who had great
talent for making themselves disagreeable,
Mrs. Christiancys mother then lived across the
street from the residence OF her daughter. Mrs.
Chr1st1ancy became angry, and said that she
would go over and spend the night with her
mother. The Senator then, as the story goes,
took her by the throat, choked her a little, and
then locked her In the bedroom. The next time
he laid violent hands upon her was when her
mother was visiting Mrs. Christiancy in Lam
sing. This was in quarrel about woman
whom Senator Christtancy kept as housekeeper
Another witness tdanother knocking down is
Miss Meloy. daughter Of William A. Meloy,
lawyer In this city. She bore her troubles even
when of this violent character, because Mr..
Chrlstiancy would afterward protest so vigor-
ously his sorrow and contrition. But finally
separation became inevitable Mrs. Christtancy,
upon consultation with her lawyer, Mr.. Dav-
1dge, finds that she is barred from divorce upon
the ground OF cruelty because Of her cOndoning
the offences charged-WaSh. Cor. Neto York
Times, 18th.