Morning journal and courier., 1883-02-23
A Sensational Divorce.

Sudden Appearance of a Lost Husband and Son-Dramatfc Scene in a St. LOu- Is Court-A Defendant FIies-A Moth er's EataI Surprise.
 Ist. Louis Dispatch to New York Times The developments in a suit for divorce are causing a sensation here just now. The plaintiff is William Waddingham and the de- fendant his wife Pauline. MT. Waddingham has been resident of St. Louis all his life, and is the possessor of great wealth, being reputed to be worth from $500. 900 to $40O,- GOO. He met his wife for the first time in St. Louis about thirty years ago. She was then known as Paulina Hulett. They were married on August 3Oth, 1853. The plaintiff alleges that shortly after marrying her he discovered that his wife's repute was not en- tirely satisfactory, and for this reason he left her, having lived with her less than 8 year. She went to reside in Poultney, Vt., where, according to the allegations, she led questionable life, though he remitted to her for over twenty years $l00 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, who was then young man of 20, and Pau lima Hulett, aged then about 16, lived togeth- CT as man and wife. Shortly after this peri cd Gavin wandered eastward, and, being caught in an act of grand larceny, was sent to the Auburn penitentiary for three years. While he was in prison his wife went to the bad, and he became sort of wanderer, serv- ing shortly thereafter term in the Colum- bus (Ohio) penitentiary for counterfeiting. For the past few years his family and ac- quaintances have entirely lost sight of him, and his mother, who had not seen him for thirty years, supposed him dead.
 In response to these damaging charges Mrs. Waddingham enters a general denial. 1o,,o k1oA zI,,o married to Charles R. Gavin, but that a cousin of hers, who greatly resembled her, named Martha Jane Haskins, was the one who married Gavin. As to the testimony concerning her habits of life in Poultney, she simply ayers that the witnesses have sworn falsely. MT. Waddingham was kept busy for several months endeavorlng to dis cover the whereabouts of Charles R. Gavin, if still living. He employed the services of an advertising agency and advertisements were printed extensively throughout the country. About two weeks ago he received 8 letter dated Shreveport, La., signed by Charles R. Gavin, saying that he was still alive and asking to know what was wanted of him. Gavin was at once sent for and has been in St. Louis for several days, though his presence was kept rather quiet. Monday was the day set for the hearing of further dispositions in behalf of the plaintiff. and the defendant had been duly notified to be
  neys. The purpose of MT. Waddingham was to surprise the defense by the production of Gavin. The plaintiff and his attorneys, with Gavin, were on hand before 10 o'clock.
 At that hour the defendant entered with her attorney, and here 8 scene intensely dra- matic in it's details ensued. Mrs. Wadding ham, who is a well-preserved woman, seem- ngly about forty-fve years of age, though older, and of small and shapely figure, came into the room with a smile on her face and entirely unconscious of the trap that had been laid for her. Gavin was standing against the wall, and facing the door, when the woman who is said to have been his wife thirty years ago, but whom he had not seen for over quarter of a century, entered the doorway he looked her directly in the face, but gave no sign of recognition. She gazed at him for moment as if she had suddenly been confronted by an apparition, throwing her hands into the air and staggering toward corner of the room, called out in frantic tones, f'Charles! Charlesl Charles !'' and then fell on the carpet in a hysterical fit.
 Water was dashed in her face, and after be- ing revived she looked wildly around and said in scarcely audible tones: 'I thought he was dead.'' Gavin stood there all the time with his hands behind his back, staring at his wife, but not saying word. His stolid face betrayed no emotion whatever, and he looked on with the indifferent air of spectator who had no concern in what was
 
 coolly remarked, ''That's her" He was then put on the stand and his deposition proceeded. The most sensational, as well as
 melancholy, episode of this extraordinary domestic drama is yet to be told. It was the intention of plaintiffs attorney to place the defendant on the stand and try to obtain her admission, under oath, that she was lawfully welded to Charles R. Gavin and had never been divorced from him, but it was discov cred that she had left the city on Monday night, and there was left no further doubt 1 on the question of the previous marriage. | MT. Nichols left for Detroit Tuesday night to procure additional testimony, if not the l actual record. He took Gavin with him, and 1 it was part of their trip there to have him 1 identified as the Charles R. Gavin who lived there in 1945. Gavin's mother, Mrs. Mary 1 MaIsh-she having been married second l time-an old lady of eighty-four, has, been | living in Detroit for fifty years, her recent l home being at No. 101 Catherine street. l Yesterday morning Gavin and his attorney, l Mr. Nichols called there to see Mrs. Marsh,
 and telegraphic dispatch received yesterday afternoon gives an account of the sad result of the call It appears that Mrs. Marsh has 1 been in weakened state of health for many years, and on account of her age and many l family aff1ictions had lost vitality both of 1 body and mind short time ago she lost | her favorite son, Knox Gavin, lawyer In Detroit, and she had believed her son Charles 1 dead for many years. When the two callers ! tapped at the door yesterday It was opened by a girl who conducted them to room | where the old lady was seated. She rose to 1 receive them, but the same moment she rec l ognized herlost son. and screaming out his | name fell dead.
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