The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-21
Asr. LOUIS SENSATION.
s,.sou Appearance OF Long-Losf
un,band and son-Drnmntsc scene
r,rs-A Mothers Fatal Surprise.


ro,is sneciaI OF the 10th says:
~ Snvclonments in q suit for divorce are
ino sensation here Just now. The
cS,,'.:6 e William Waddingham, and the
P"s'"da,, his wife Pauline. Mr.. Wad-
e.I' '''ac, has bcen a resident OF 81. Louis
W 80 lfe and is the possessor OF great
a'i ~. Lc,nr rcputed TO be worth from
49, 20 "a 7iOO. 600. lie met his wife Tor
erst time in 81. Louis about
We yc,rs AGO. She was then known
Ia" po,,,l;na IIulctt. They were mar
"n August 80. 1858. The plaintiff
I mo y" tbat Shortly after marrying her he
1',i,"'as,,,orod that his wifc's rcpute was not
on,;roly satisfactory, and for this reason he
81, scT. having lived with her less than
IT, She went 10 reside in Poultney, VI,
Lero according 90 the allegations, she
IA Questionable life, though he RENTED
20 her for over twenty years 500 per
month. 4 short time ago he accidentlliy
WscoVercd that at the time he married hcr
che had another hushand-one Charles H.
Gayin-still living, and 1t was upon TINS
ground that he brought suii Tor divorce.
In 1913 Gavin, who was then a young
man OF twenty, and Pauilna Iiuleu, aSeu
80. 80, oIout sixteen, lived together as man
~ vic. Shortly after this period Gavin
".'r dored eastward, and being caught in
", oct 81 grand larceny was sent TO the
suinrn pcnitcntary for three years.
1rl,Vc he vas i'm prison his wife went TO
,hal,od and he became a sort of wanderer.
r,.;,, shortly thereafter q term IN the Co
I,,rNims fOhio) pcnitcntiary for counter
Lain, For the past few years his family
"a sconainf3nces have entirely lost sight
- b;m and his mother, who had not seen
him Tor thirty years, supposed him dead.
n, resnon,c to these damaging charges
,fr. Waddineham enters general denial.
cbe alleges in her answer that she was
,,c,.cr married 10 Charles Il. Gavin, but
tbot , cousin Of hers. who greatly reSem-
fIe6 her. named Martha Jane Haskins, was
fbe one who married Gavin. As to the
tc,t;monv concerning her habits OF life IN
poultney. she simply AYERS that the wit
nosscs have sworn falsely. Mr.. Wadding-
Lom was kent busy for several months
cndeayoring 20 discover the where
ohouts Of Charles II. Gavin, il stu.
I;,in0 lie employed the services OF
IN advertising agency, and advertise
mems were printed extensively through
ont tho country. About two weeks ago he
received a letter dated Shreveport, La,
signcd bv Charles L. Gavin, saying that
he was still alive, and asking TO know what
,,.os wanted OF him. Gavin was at once
sent for. and has been in 81. Louis for seye-
raj DAYS, though his presence was kept
rather Quiet. Monday was the day set Tor
the hearing Of further dispositions IN behalf
Of the plaintiff, and The defendant had
been duly notified to be on hand at the
office OF Waddngham's attorneys. Inc
purpose Of MIR. Waddingham was 10 SUI
prise the defence 10y the production Of
Gavin. The plaintiff ard his attorneys,
with Gavin, were on hand before III
O'Clock.
AT that hour the defendant entered with
her attorney, and here a scene intensely
dramatic i'm it, details ensued. Mrs. W al
bingham. who is a woll-preseryed woman,
seemingly about forty-ive years OF age
thou0h older, and of small and shapely
figure, came into the room win smile on
her face and entirely unconscious OF the
tram that had been land 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 a quarter OF century,
entered the doorway he looked her directly
in the face. but gave no sign Of recognition.
She pazed al him for moment Is il she had
suddenly been confronted by an apparition,
throwing her hands into the air, and stag
geripg toward corner OF the room, called
ont i'm frantic tones, "ChaTleSi Charles
Charles !" and then fell on the carpet in a
historical fit. Water was dashed in her
face. and after being revived she looked
wil1ly around and said, in scarcely audible
tones. 81 thought he was dead" Gavin
stood there all the time with his hands be-
hind his back. staring at his wife, but not
saving a word His stold face betrayed
no emotion whatever, and he looked on
with the indifferent air OF a spectator who
had no concern in what was TRANSPORTING.
When the lady was led away he coolly re-
marked, "That's her" lie WIS then put
on the stand, and his deposition proceeded.
The most sensational as well as melancholy
episode Of this extraordinary domestic
drama is vet TO be told. Ii was the inten-
ton Of plaintiffs attorney to place the de-
PENDANT on the stand ana try to obtain her
admission. under oath, that she was law
fully welded 10 Charles IL. GAVIN and had
never been divorced from him, but it was
discovered that she had lett the city on
Monday night. and there was left no fur
Their doubt on the question OF the previous
marriage.
Mr.. Nichols left for Detroit Tuesday
night 10 procure aUulllohai testimony, IL
not the actual record. lie took Gavin with
him. and IL was part Of their trip there
10 have him identified rs the Charles X.
Gavin who lived there in 1915. Gavin's
mother, Mrs. Mary Marsh--she having
been married 4 second time-an old lady Of
eighty-four. has been living in Detroit for
fifty years, her recent home being at No.
1Ol Catherine street. Yesterday morning
Gavin and his attorney, Mr. Nichols, called
there TO see Mrs. Marsh, and telegraphic
dispatch received yesterday afternoon
gives an account OF the sad result OF the
cali. II appears that MIS-. Marsh has
been in weakened state OF health for
many years, aud on account OF her age and
many family Affections had lost vitality
both OF body and mind. A short time ago
she lost her fayorite son, Knox Gavin, a
lawyer In Detroit, and she had believed
her son Charles dead for many years.
When tie two callers tapped at the door
yesterday il was opened by GIRL who
conducted them TO room where the
old lady was seated. She rose to receive
them, but the same moment she recognized
her lost son, and screaming ont his name,
fell dead.