Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-21
A ST. LOUIS SCANDAL
remarkable Developments Brought
Forth in a Divorce Suit.


The developments in a suit for divorce
are causing sensation in st. Louis lust
now. The plaintiff is William Wadding-
ham and the defendant his wife, Pauline.
MIR. Waddingham has been a resident of
st. Louis all his life, and is the possessor
OF great wealth, being reputed to be worth
from $500, 900 to 500, 600. he met his wife
for the first time in st. Louis about thirty
years ago. She was then known
as Pauline Hulett. They were mar
ried on the S0th of August, 1853.
The plaintiff alleges that shortly
after marriage he discovered that his
wlie's repute was not satisfactory, and
for this reason he left her, having lived
with her less than year. She went to
reside in Pultney, VT, where, according
10 the allegations, she led a questionable
lie, though he remitted to her for over
twenty years 800 per month. A short
time ago he accidentally discovered that
at the time he married her she had an
other husband, one Charles r. Gavin,
still living, and it was upon this ground
that he brought suit for divorce.
In 1S43 Gavin and Pauline Hulett lived
together as man and wife. Shortly after
this period Gavin wandered eastward.
and, being caught in an act of grand lar
ceny, was sent TO the Auburn penItentiary
Tor three years. While he was in prison
IL
sort OF wanderer, serving shortly thereafter
term In the Columbus penitentiary for
eounterteiting. For the past few years
MS family and acquintances have nearly
lost sight of him, and his mother, who
had not seen him for thirty years, sup
posed him dead. In response to the
damaging charges, Mrs. Wadding-
ham enters a general denial. She
alleges, in her answer, that she was
never married to Charles Il. Gavin, but
that cousin of hers, who greatly resem-
bled her, named Martha Jane Haskins,
was the one who married Gavin. As TO
the testimony concerning her habits of
life in Pultney, she simply saws that the
witness swears falsely. Gavin has been
in st. Louis for several days, though his
presence was kept rather quiet. Monday
was the day set for hearing of further
dispositions in behalf of the plaintiff, and
the defendant has been duly notified to be
on hand at the office of Mr.. Wadding-
hams attorneys. The purpose of
Mr.. Waddingham was to surprise the de-
Tense by the production of Gavin. He and
his attorneys, with Gavin, were on hand
before 10 O'Clock, At that hour the de-
tendant, with her attorney, arrived, and
a scene intensely dramatic in it's details
ensued. Mrs. Waddingham, who is a
Well-preSerYed woman, seemingly about
40 years of age, and of small and shapely
figure, came into the room with a smile on
her face, certainly unconscious of the trap
that had been laid for her. Gavin was
standing against the wall and facing the
door when the woman entered the door,
way. He looked her directly in the
face, but gave no sign OF recogni-
ton. She gazed at him for mo-
been confronted by an apparition.
then threw her hands into the air and,
staggering toward a corner of the room,
called out, in frantic tones, 'SCharlesi
Charles! Charlesp' and then fell on the
carpet in a hysterical fit. After being re.
yiyed, she looked wildly around and said,
in scarcely audible tones, II thought he
was dead" Gavin stood there all the
time, with has hands behind his back.
staring at his Wife, but saying not a word.
His stOlld face betrayed no emotion what
ever, and he looked on with the Indifferent
air of spectator who had no concern in
what was transpiring. When the lady
was led away he coOlly remarked. %fhat's
her." He was then put on the stand and
his deposition proceeded.
The most sensational as we'll as melan
cho1Y episode of this extraordinary do
mesCle tragedy has yet to be recorded. 1t
was the intention of the plaintiffs attOr-
ney TO place the defendant on the stand
and try to obtain her admission untter
oath, but 1t was discovered that she had
returned to Mexico on Monday night, and
this was impraeticaDle, To leave no fur
ther doubt cd the question Of the previous
marriage. Mr.. Nichols left for Detroit
tuesday night "a procure additional testi-
m8l y IL i1it tho rrsstsa@sI s-s<aSsl. ne ttsfgx
Gavln with him, and it was part of their
trap there to have him Identified as the
Charles K. Gavin who lived there I'm lS45.
Gavin's mother has been living in Detroit
for fifty years, her recent home being at
lO1 CatAarine street.
Yesterday morning Gavin and his at
torhey called there TO see Mrs. Marsh, and
telegraph dispatch received yesterday
afternoon gives an account of the success
Of the call. 1t appears that Mrs. Marsh
has been In weakened state OF health for
many years, and on account of her ace
and many family affairs had lost
vitality both OF body and mind. A short
time ago she lost her favOrlte son. a law.
yer in Detroit, and she had believed her
son Charles dead for many years. When
the two callers tapped at the door vester-
day it was opened by girl, who c6bduct-
ed them to room where the old lady Mas
seated. She rose to receive them, but at |
the same moment she recognized her
lost son, and, screaming out his name, fell