, 1881-03-27
Petition OF Kate Chase Sprague
Asking for a Bill OF Par
ticulars.
Its Denial by the Judge on the Ground
that Innocent Persons
Might Suffer.
10 Probability Of q Hearing Of the
Main Question Before Next
June,
1-Gov. sprague Meanwhile to Tako Tes-
timony All Over the Civilized
World,


PROVIDENCE, R. l., March 26.-At the reg
nlar sitting OF the Supreme Court Of Wash
iugton County, Rhode Island, the attorney:
in the suit Of William Sprague vs.. Kate
Chase Sprague, for divorce, were present.
and petition of the latter was filed, with
accompanying a{1idavits. The petition prays
that ex-Gov. Sprague may be required. by
special order of Court, to furnish her witt,
the names and residences of those persons
With whom she is alleged in the petition for
divorce to have been "on terms of close
and improper intimacy" and also Of the per-
sons with whom she is therein alleged to
have committed adultery, as site cannot
safely proceed to trial of said cause without
such information. Counsel for Mrs. Sprague,
who had previously questioned the legal
ity OF
THE SERVICE OF CITATION
On their client, withdrew their objections
thereto, wl,eretofore the Court surprised
both parties by announcing that he should be
obliged to hold that the service on Airs.
Sprague vas insufficient This decision
would have put an end to the suit, for a time
at least, and therefore the following account
Of service of summons was given:
On the 18th OF January last Mr..
Cross, acting for ex-Goy. Sprague, called
at " Edgcwood," Mrs. Sprague's residence
in Washington, and asked to see Mrs.
Sptague. He was requested to tell the nat
ufe OF his business to the servant, but, refu5-
Ing to do this, tie WIS asked to write his mes
that purpose. Recognizing Mrs. Sprague's
voice iii the next room, lie sent to her a copy
Of the petition for divorce.
SHE Still. REFUSED TO SEE HIN,
and be was obliged to leave the house with
out making personal service upon her. This
statement having been made and the facts
admitted by Mrs. Sprague's counsel, Judge
Potter reversed his decision. and held that the
service was sufficient Counsel then made
long arguments respectively for and against
Mrs Sprague's demand for q hill of partictl-
lars. Mrs, Sorague's counsel maintained
that it would be impossible to meet such in
defnft charges If unexpected testimony
should be sprung upon her at the trial. while
exGov. Sprague's attorneys insisted that
such an expose of their testimony would ell
tlrely ruin his case. Judge Potter finally
decided not to grant Mrs. Sprague's request
for bill Of particulars, on the ground that
INNOCENT PERSONS MIGHT THUS BE PUB
LlCLT ACCUSED
OF scnndaf0us conduct without any means to
clear their reputation. Counsel then asked
the Court to fix q day for hearing Of the
Sprague divorce suits, and it was stated that
Gen. Roger A. Pryor, for ex-Gov. Sprague,
and Winchester Britton, for Mrs. Sprague,
had come to an aEreementto try the case on
the 18th OF April, but afterwards Gen. Pryor
discovered that Judge Lowell, Of the United
States Circuit Court, had set an important
equity case in which Gen. Pryor was coun-
sci for the 18th Of April, and it would be iul- |
possible to try the Sprague case on that day.
Judgp Potter then Informed the counsel that |
the Supreme Court of Washington County
would be 50 occupied after the 18th OF April !
that
NO DAT COULD NOW BE SET
for trlal OF these causes, but that he would |
sit in he last week in May to decide upon a /
day for trying them- Orders to take deposi- j
tons for Mrs. Sprague i'll New York City !
and the District of Columbia were then
issued. and the Court adjourned. Ex-Gov.
Sprague's attorneys told your correspond
ent that they Should take dispositions in the
1o1lowlng-named places: Paris. Bade1l-
BADEN, California, New Jersey. New York
3and State, Illinois, District of Columbia,
Missouri, and Ohio. 1t is
lr1nosS{blc that the case should be tried ut
June, and this postponement will
be greatly appreciated by lawyers and jour-
nalists obliged to attend. since June is the
only season when Kingston would be bear
able.