National Republican., 1883-01-11
TWO MUCH GROG.
The Unhappy Condition I'm which Chief
Engineer Melville Found His Wifo on
His Return Home.


Engineer Melville Found His Wifc OH
His Return Home.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 10.--The testimony in
the Melville case at Media, Pa, shows that
Mrs Melville has been addicted to strong
drink for some years, and that she was in
toxicated the night that Melville reached his
home from the Jeanette expedition.
"Arc you glad to see me, George" were
her first words, to which Mr.. Melville replied
no, he was not. Her response was: "Well,
then, it Is all over: 90 out and see your
friends" In the dining room was a crowd
eating and drinking He was disguised, and
| leaving the house, jumped over the fence
and went away in the hope that the people
would disperse. Returning in an hour he
closed up the house and went up stairs. Mrs.
Melville said "Don't disgrace me, George"
Disgrace be -" was the reply. "There's
more disgrace here than l have ever seen be-
fore, and the large crowd of people who have
gathered to do me honor have witnessed my
dishonor."
Mr.. Melville then retired to the parlor,
where he was followed by his wife, who was
excited. She threatened to shoot him and
the children and to set fire to the house. Lest
she should put her threat into execution he
went to the magistrate at Darby, informed
him of the condition of affairs, and returned
home accompanied by the latter. By this
time she appeared to be quiet at the house and
he went over to neighbor's where he re-
mained during the rest of the night. DIR.
Longstreth. at his suggestion, and accompanied
by DIR. Bartleson, gave certificate of insanity,
and his wife was committed to the Norris
town asylum for the insane since which
time the husband and wife did not meet until
Tuesday.
DIR. w. Fisher Longstreth testified that he
gave certificate of Mrs. Melville's insanity,
resulting from alcoholism, upon which she
was admitted to the asylum. When visited
by him she was laboring under great excite
ment, though. generally rational in conversa-
tion.
Mary Bennett, domestic, testified that
she thought she had seen her mistress dozen
times under the influence of liquor. Zenia
| Spencer, "a colored servant, called Oh behalf OF
Mr.. Melville, admitted having seen Mrs. Mel
| vile drink beer, but denied ever having seen
her under the influence of liquor. Mrs. Helen
| G. Frink, who lived in neighboring house,
thought that on two or three occasions, when
she had been with Mrs, Melville, the latter's
appearance and conduct indicated fondness
| for stimulants.
The witness went on to express her own
| personal disapprobation of such habit, eX-
| claiming with dramatic emphasis: " l never
could have lived with any man or kiss the
| lips of one whose breath indicated the pres.
ence of liquor" On cross-examination the
indignant woman confessed the enjoyment OF
an occasional social glass of beer, and recon.
ciled to her conscience the whisky that she
had drank with her neighbor, Mrs. Melville
on account of its medicinal effect She said
that she had always kept liquor in her own
house, but regretted that her former friend
Mrs. Melville, had SO easily succumbed to its
influence.
Testimony was also adduced to show that
Melville had left his wife $50 month, which
had been increased to $40 during his alb
sence, and that when he came home he found
her greatly in debt. Mrs. Melville was in
court looking pale, but perfectly rational
The witnesses examined were principally
neighborS at Sharon Hill, and the drift OF
testimony was to show Mrs. Melvills alleged
incorporate habits. Mrs. Melville will pro-
duce a large number ofwitnesses to rebut thi:
testimony.