Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-03-03
The Sprague Case.

A dispatch from Provindence, X. l.,
of Feb. p, says: The last act in the
Sprague divorce drama was played to-
day, and to all intentS and purposes
Kate Chase Sprague is a free woman.
Little did she dream when she made
her alliance with Gov. Sprague, VII ose
wealth and influence were boundless.
ut the national capital on Nov. II, 1868,
that in little less than nineteen wears
from that time she would gain her re-
lease from the martial relation on the
ground OF nonsupport. On Dec. Is,
1880, she filed a petition for divorce in
the supreme court of Washington
county, in this state, alleging the
grossest infdelity, cruelty, and neglect,
desiring the custody of her four chill
dren, William aged 10, Ethel aged IL,
Katharine aged 9, and Portia aged Z,
the allowance of reasonable alimony,
and the resumption of her maiden
name. Gov. Sprague filed counter
petition month later in the same
court, charging desertion and various
breaches of the marriage contract.
Since that time there have been four
hearings, in which the discussion of the
legality of the citation of Mrs. Sprague
the jurisdiction of the court, applica-
ton for bill of particulars, and various
postponements of the day of trial have
been unprotitably indulged. Commits
sions for the taking OF dispositions IN
Massachusetts, New York, and Wash
ington were issued by the court, but the
counsel for Mrs. Sprague have CON
fined themselves exclusively to Swamp
scott, Nahant, and Boston, where the
governor, it will be remembered, reck-
lessly disported himself in the summer
of 1877.
One singular fact in the progress Of
the case has been that the counsel for
Gov. Sprague have not taken a single
deposition, although it was announced
at the outset that ii would be necessary
to go to Baden Baden, Paris and Cali
fornia, besides several cities in the
country. 1t has been rumored for
several weeks that the opposing coun-
sci were endeavoring to avoid publicity
in the trial of the case, and possible
settlement without recourse to the
courts has been prominent topic of
discussion. The counsel met at the
courthouse at late hour in the after
noon, owing TO the delay of Counsel
Clarke and Gov. Sprague in making
their appearance. The governor had
been drinking freely, and was accom-
panied by his son William. The coun-
sci retired to private room and the
final arrangements for the qniet dis
posal of the case were agreed upon
Gov. Sprague withdrew his counter BILL
and in that of Mrs. Sprague all the al
legations were stricken out save that Of
non-support, which was then formally
tried. A single witness, Mr.. Robert
Thompson, custodian of Canonchet.
deposed that the governor had refused
to extend any means of support to his
wife, and had sworn that he would not
contribute anything. BY arrangement
of counsel, Gov. Sprague privately ad-
mitted to a count officer that he did
not intend to support the complainant:
and by his desire the case WAS entered
on the docket as held for advisement,
as the matter of alimony must be de-
cided ere the decree is issued, and he
was not prepared to enter into any
settlement at present owing TO the liti-
CATION over the property. The three
children, Ethel, Kate, and Portia were
surrendered to the mother, and Willie
remains with his father. The deposi-
tions taken by the counsel for the
plaintiff will never see the light of day,
and the rich, rare, and racy develop
ments which have been aniousIy look
ed for since the publication of the bills
will never meet the public eye. For
the sake of the children, for the par
ents, and the families of the principle
actors in this painful domestic drama,
it seems far better that the separation
should be effected in such quiet and
dignified manner as has resulted from
the conference of cautious members of
the bar.