Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1883-02-22
THE WADDINGHAMS.
SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS In
A DEPOSITION C0URT.
The Wife Confronted by GAVIN, Her
Alleged Husband Of Long Ago.
The Mother OF the LOng.Lost Man Re.
cegnizes Him and Suddenly Expires.
From the Globe Democrat. 18th inst

From the Globe Democrat. 10th inst.
Some of the romantic particulars OF
a remarkable divorce suit, wherein
VIM. Waddlngham is plaintiff and
Paulina Waddingham defendant, have
heretofore been published in the
Globe Democrat. Mr.. Waddingham
has been a resident of st. Louis all
his life, and is the possesscr Cf great
wealth, being reputed 10 be worth
from 100000 to S40O, 900. About
a year ago Mr.. Waddingham estab-
lished q legal residence at Mexico,
Mo-, and shortly afteward instituted
the suit for divorce. 1t appears that
he met his wife for the first time in
st. Louis about thirty years ago.
She was then known as Mrs. Paulna
Hulett. They were married on the
30th of August, 1858. The plaintiff
alleges that shortly after marrying her
he discovered that his wife's repute
was not entirely satisfactory, and for
this reason he left her, having lived
with her less than Year. She went
to reside in Poultney, Vermont, where
according to the allegations, she led
a questionable life, though he re-
mitted to her, fer over twenty years,
500 per month. A short time ago
he accidentally discoverd that atsthe
time he married her she had another
husband, one Charles r. Gavin, stiH
living; for all of which reasons he
prays for divorce.
The plaintiff is represented by r.
M. Nichols and Geo. p. Strong, at
Itorneys Of this city, and the defen-
ldant by W. W. Fry, of Mexico.
During the month of January the
Iplaintiff took dispositions in the city
of Detroit to prove her previous mar
riage in that city about the year 1S45
to Chas. r. Gavin, and also deposi-
tions in Poultney, VT, to establish
1.-THE reputation of defendant while she
Presided in that town. The testimony
taken at these two points has been
prepared in pamphlet form, and it
must be said that the notarial reports
contain much that would be crafty
ling to those with strong sense for
the prurient. The testimony, as
as printed, is intended to prove and
establish the following: About the
year 1913, Charles r. Gavin, who
was then about 20, and Paula HUI
lett. aged then about 16. lived to-
gether as man and wife. They were
supposed to have been married, and
the people who knew them then testi.
fy that they recognized each other as
man and wife, as did the respective
families of each. None of the witness
ses, however, were able to bear testi-
mony to the actual marriage, and nc
record was found. 1t appears that
shortly after his period Gavin wan.
, dered eastward, and being caught ir
an act of grand larceny was sent tc
the Auburn penitentiary for 3 years.
While he was in prison his wife wen1
!; to the bad and he became a sort Of
wanderer, serving shortly thereafter
a term in the Columbus, O., peniten
tiary for counterfeiting. For the pas
few years his family and acquaintanc
es have entirely lost sight of him, ant
his mother who had not seen him fol
thirty years, supposed him dead.
The depositions in Poultney, whicl
are quite voluminous, relate to the lif,
of Mrs. Waddingham in that town
and they are intended to establish th'
charge that she was in bad odo
during her long residence there
many of the witnesses testifying tt
scandals and gossip which were cur
: rent in that country community.
In response to all these damaging
p charges Mrs. Waddingham enters
! general denial. She alleges in lie
answer that she was never married II
= Charles r. Gavin, but that cousil
e of hers, who greatly resemble her
n named Martha Jane Haskins, was tin
one who married Gavin. AS to tn
n testimony concerning her habits o
life in Poultney she simply AYERS tina
q the witness have sworn falsely.
d In the meantime Mr.. Waddinghau
e has been busy for several months il
: lendeaqors to discover tile where
+. abouts of Charles r. Gavin, if still
a living. He employed the services o
s an advertising agency, and advertise
Y ments were printed extensively a
over the country. About two week
e ago he received a letter dated a
o Shreveport, La, signed by Charlie
$ R. Gavin, saying that he was stil
s alive. and asking to know what We
4 wanted of him. Gavin was at ono
sent for and has been in st. Loui
d for several days, though his presenc
s was kept rather quiet. Monday wa
e the day set for the hearing of furthe
It depositions in behalf Of plaintiff, an
@ defendant had been duly notified t
be on hand at the Office of r. NJ. Mel
OILS, Fourth and Olive Streets. I'll
purpose of Mr.. Waddingham and h
= attorneys was to surprise the defer:
by the production of Gavin, and, al
: cording to the account given, the
success in this respect was complete
, The plaintiff and his attorneys, wit