Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-28
The Sprnguc ram,,r Scandal

GOV. sFRa6i KS PETITION PuR plvpRcE 49, NV
oHAkGks MS WYE WITH IMPROPER INTIMACY
WITH OIuER NkN.
IN the ONCE OF the clerk OF the supreme court
OF Washington county. X. l.. yesterday. William
SlIegue lied petition pray ing for divorce
ne ym DIS Vile, katharine Chase Sprague. The
peution recites the facts or the marriage, aud
sa!s lhat ne has ever since. on his part. Kept OF
ieIioimeu al bis marriage covenants. but that
q, no. sa Ia, haansrfne Chase sprague unmindtul
" htr marriage VOWS and disregar1iing her mar
rlsge covenants, hath violated the same In this
ibst sne wilifully, and without cause deserted
me oed snd board or your petitioner which
deSertion although not Tor a Continued term or
I'VE years, yet Was under such circumstanoes
AS 10 ehtitle him 10 a decree for divorce: thai
she baS committed the crime OF adultery ana
has been guilty or other gross misbehaylor ana
wickedness repugnant 10 and In violation OF
her marriage covenants In this: That she has
lefslstently and against the expressed wishes
and commands or your petitioner. and atUer
great public scandal occasioned thereby, kept
company OF and been on terms OF close aud
improper intimacy with other men, and OF the
sane men whose names had been associated
With bers In the publics andal afore- mentioned;
that She has repeatedly declared without cause
lhat she would never live with your petitioner
again; that she has denied 20 him and his
bousenold the cares ana duties iecumoent on
Der as a wife and mother to fulfll: that She has
without Cause, turned and driven her oldest
chlid aho son out or door; she has persisteuJy
ana against the wish OF your petitioner squan-
d fed MS property and means by engaging in
most lavish, eNtravagant and foolish eNpendl-
lure or money: that since the financial t,mbar-
rhssme1t OF your petitioner. in 1878 and after
rt1 eattu eDtTeai!. request demand aud CON-
maid to the contrary by your petitioner and
after full eA plana alton 10 her by him OF his
. financial situation, and the Inevitable effect OF
such proceedings on her part, yet the said re-
spcndent, Notwithstanding az the same has
sun persisted so FAR as possible In the same
reckless, eNtrayagant. lavish and foolish ex-
pei diture or money and style OF living thus
tnlther (as eNplaiucd and pointed out 20 her In
the MATT arorpsaidl embarrassing and defeat
ng your petitioner I'm his efforts 10 ektTicate
himself and any remnant OF his estate {com
mingled with the estates OF others from such
financial dltftculties and embarrassment; that
she has many time, since her marriage win
Your petitioner, and against his wishes alb
seDted herself from bis home and household
for long periods or time. living abroad aud AZ
hotels, thereby Subj"cting your petitioner 60
iuTtEer great expense, and deprlNing him or
her society and assistance. TO which As her
husband, he was entitled: that she mas Will
fully persisted In a course OF slanderous ana
abusive language. and publications OF aud
concerning your petitioner with a view and
purpose OF haraSstng, veNing and annoylag
him. and such effect thus rendering his life
miserable, and destroying the domestic praca
ana all happiness Incident TO the marriage
relation. Wherefore your petitioner prays
your honors 10 pass decree dtSsolg,nf the
pond OF matrimony subsisting between HIN aud
the sald Katharine Chase Sprague and for
such other and further relief as 10 your honors
may seem meet, and be- as In duty bound will
ever pray. WILLIAM >. SPRAGUK."