Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-02-23
ROMANTIC DIVORCE CASE,
In " hich n Vermont Woman PIaj cd .
Prominent Part,

The developments in a divorce case IN ST..
Louis have produced quite n sensation. The
plaintiff is William Wadaingham, and the
defendant his wife Pauline. Mr.. WaddIng-
ham Is rcputcd to be wor h from $500, 600 10
S4O0, COO. lie met his wife Tor the first tine
in St. Louis, about thirty years ago She
was then known as Pauline llulcit. They
were married on August 50, 1853 The
plaintiff alleges that 5 on after marrying her
he discovered that his wfe's ute was not
entirely satisfactory, and for tn S r aSon he
left her. She went to reside in pou.tney,
VT, where, according to the allegations, sh'
led II Questionable life, thougi hc rcmtiel tN
her for over twenty years SlOO per mDltl
y slioi lime ago lie acCidcnlly discovered
| ilat at The time he married her she had an
other husband-Onc Charles r CAIRNS i'll
| LIVING, and it WAS upon this grOuni that he
brought suit for divorce. Mr. Wtlding.
ham den'ed that she was ev,r married t.
Charles L. Gavin, bat that "A cousin OF h rs
WAS his wife Gavin, many years G-O,
went TO the bad, and was sent ton penten
| tiary. For the past few years his lam ly
| nave lost sight of him, and his mother be-
| lev,d lin to be dead. She had not s,cn
| him for thirty years. Mr.. Waddingham has
been quietly at work endeIvnrng to iint
Gavin, If still living. lie succeeded IN h 5
search. ani Gavin was brought to St. Louis
| but tho fact was concealed from the defence.
On NoAday morning Mrs. Waidlnehlm en-
| tere the court room, unconscious of any
trap. Gavin was standing aGtins. the wal,
and facing the door. When the woman who
is said to have been his wife thirty wear,
agn, but whom he had not seen for over II
! quarter OF Il century, entered the doorway,
he looked her directly in the face, but gave
no sign of recognition. She gazcd at him
t.NY ~ glNA hat La. h..,
confronted By an appaltion, and, thr wing
her hands into the ar AMI staggering rwarL a
corner Of the room ca led out in iIantic
tones "Chirles Charl's' Caar,s,' and
then fell on the carpet in hySter-
ca fit. Water was dashed in her
face, and after being reviyei, she looked
wildly around and said in scarcely audible
tones, 81 thought he WAS dead" She left
the city on Monday night of las, week. A
lawyer left for Detroit Tuesday night to pro
cure additional testim ny ii not the actual
record of The marriage. He took Gavin with
him, and il was part of Their trip there to
have lin identified as lie Charles X. Glviu
who lived there ia 1916 Gaviu's mother,
Mrs, Mary Marsh-she having teen married
a second time-an old lady Of cighty-fuur,
has been living in Detroit for fifty years. On
Thursday morning Gavin aud his attorney
called there to see Mrs. Marsh. 1t appears
that Mrs, Marsh has been in weakened
state of health for many years on account OF
her age, A short time ago she lost her fa
vorite son, Knox Gavin, a lawyer in Dttroit
and she had belieyed her son Charles dead
for many years. When the two callers tap
ped at the door, it was opened by II girl whC
conducted them to room where the old lady
was seated. She rose to receive them. bul
the same moment she recognized her lost sol
4 and screaming out his name, fell dead.