The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-03-28
THE SPRAGUEs.
OATHARINE CALLS FOR A BILL OF
PARTICULARS.
Bill Thinks She 10 Entirely TOO PaFtIcu.
lar, bat He Will Have TO COmpIy-A
DeIuEe OF Scandal 10 be Let
Loose Upon the COunIFy
During Next May.

Providence, March 26,-The counsel il
the sprague divorce case met ut Kings
ton ats O'Clock this afternoon, Mr.. Park
hurst, counsel for Mrs. sprague, presented
the following petition:
"WAsHINGToN, D. o., Supreme Court, Feb
ruray Term, lSsl,-William spragut
against Catharine O. Sprague.
1.-THE respondent in the above entitled
cause respectfully prays that the petitioner
may, by special order Of the Court, be re-
questsd to furnish to the respondent the
names and residences OF the persons with
whom she 10 alleged in said petition Ia
have been on terma OF close and improper
intimacy; and also the names and resi-.
dences OF the persona with whom In said
petition she 10 alleged to have committed
the crime oil adultery, as she cannot safely
proceed to the trial Of said cause without
such information"
The petition was accompanied by an
affidavit In support thereof, which was
sworn 10 before Robert Thompson and was
6led March 25th.
Judge Potter remarked that the last
time he eat In this case the legality Of the
service oi the citation on Mrs. Sprague
was questioned. He said that he desired
10 have that matter settled before taking
up any thing else. He said that he doubt.
ed whether the service was legal.
Another tedious delay seemed immi.
nsnt, but Mr.. Parkhurst interposed, de.
claring that In bis opinion the service was
made 10 accordance with law.
The return Of L. W. Gross, who made
the service, was then read. II states that
Mr.. Gross went to Edgewood on the 28th
Of JAnhary last, and called for Mrs.
Sprague. A card was demanded OF him,
aud then word was sent TO him by the ser.
want girl that he could deliver his mes.
sage through that person. Gross sent the
girl back TO tell Mrs Sprague that bis bust.
ness was of such q nature that Le must see
her. She sent down writing material, re.
Questing him to indite hia message, but he
refused to do 80. Then she pleaded q
prior business engagement, and refused 10
see him. He then sent copy OF the cita.
ton and one oil the divorce petitions to
her, and in return received word that she
would answer by mail Gross alleged that
Mrs. Sprague was In an adjoining room at
one time, and that he heard her talking 10
the servant about him and his business.
Judge Potter finally ruled that the ser.
vice was legal. Mrs. sprague's petition
for the bill ol particulars was then taken
up. Mrs. Sprague's counsel argued that
Mrs. Sprague was entitled to what she
asked for to protect her from being CON-
promised by testimony which she would
then have no opportunity to retute.
The counsel on the other side argued
that it would be an unfair disclosure OF
the Governors defense against his wiie's
petition. II there was any danger OF
what bis counsel feared, the Court could
and would protect her interests at the time
OF trial.
The Court decided against the petition,
and stated that II diverce should be
granted for non.support or desertion, all
the charges Of adultery would be elimi.
mated, 60 as not TO stand as q part Of the
record 10 reflect on the character Of the
one against whom the case should be de.
cided. An order for Commissions to take
In New York State and the
District OF Columbia In support OF Kate
Sprague's petition was then issued to the
Court
The Governors council said they would
take dispositions In Baden. Baden, Paris,
California, New Jersey, New York State,
Illinois, Ohio and Massachusetts,.
The time for the trial OF the cases was
next discussed. 1t was learned that Gem
eral Pryor would be engaged April 18th,
the day that had been selected. Judge
Potter said that In that case the case could
not be tried before the last week In May,
as the full bench Of the Supreme Court
would be busy on the regular dockets oi
Kent, Washington, Newport and Provi-
dence counties until then.
The court then adjourned, but not until
Judge Potter has informed the counsel
that when the case did come to trial
there would be no divergence from the
usual course. There would be no argu-
ments nor speeches made.