Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-03-13
Marriage i'm stauntOn of Ex.GOv. VIM
Sprague, of Rhode Island.
BOTH PARTIES DIVORCED FROM THEIR FORMER
PARTNERS, WHO ARE STILL LIVING. .. Il.


PARTNERS, WHO ARE STILL LIVING. .
On last Thursday night, at the Virginia Hotel,
Ex-Gov. VIM. Sprague, of Providence. Rhode
Island was married to Mrs. Dora 1nez Calvert,
by Rev W. @. Hulllhen. The facts concerning
this strange marriage, SO far as we have been
able to learn are, briefly stated, about as fol-
lows Ex- gov. Sprague, who had been divorced
from his first wife, who is the daughter OF the
late Salmon P. Chase, nf Ohio, Chief Justice OF
the United States, arrived here nom the North
on Wednesday night, and Mrs. Dora Inez CAL
vert. nee Weed, who had been divorced from
her husband, who, we have been informed, is
Cincinnati drummer, arrived here from Rom
ceverte, Greenbrier county, W. Va, between
2 and o'clock p m, on Thursday. The parties
met at the Virginia Hotel, and short time
after, the Ex Governor went to the County
Court clerks Office to obtain license omarry
the divorced widow, but was informed by the
clerk thai licenses to marry in Staunton were
not issued from that Office. He then went to
the clerks office of the Hastings Court. where
for sometime, he did not meet with any better
success, as the clerk refused to issue the license
on the ground that Ms. Calvert was not resi-
dent of Stanton. The Ex. Governor was non
plussed, but the smart and anxious widow, act
ing upon the adage that where there is a will,
there is q way" was equal to the occasion. and
she removed the obstruction by informing the
clerk that she had no home. and that she claim
ed Stanton as her place of residence till she
should be married. Notwithstanding this
claim. however, the clerk declined to grant the
license till assured by the Commemorative
Attorney for the city that "he would stand be-
tween the clerk and danger" Upon this rather
remarkable claim of the widow as resident Of
Stanton, and the assurance of safety given by
the Attorney, the clerk granted the license.
The parties then repaired to the Virginia Hotel,
and the Attorney went for Rev. Mr.. Hullihen
to unite them in the bonds of matrimony. But
their troubles were not yet over for on his way
to the Hotel, the minister was informed that
the Ex- Governor was divorced husband, and
the canons of his church-the Episcopal-in.
hibit its ministers to marry divorced persons
unless in cases where the divorce was granted
on the charge of committing the sin forbidden
by the 7th commandment, and where the par
ties making application to marry are the in
nocent parties in such adivorce. The minister
declined to perform the marriage ceremony till
the Elk Governor had satisfied him that in his
case he would not be violating the canons Of
his church, as In his suit for divorce he charged
his wife wi b a violation of her marriage vows
that she had filed similar charge against
him, but withdrew it; but that he did not
withdrew his charge against her, and In that
statesof the case the divorce was granted. The
minister being satisfied that in marrying MIR.
Sprague he would not be violating the canons
of his church. performed the ceremony in the
Virginia Hotel in the presence of Mr.. and Mrs.
Crowle Edward Echols. (the city Attorney
and Samuel A. Spiggle.
The parties who were married took the next
train for the East at O'Clock M, rejoicing In
the contamination OF their hopes, and their
exemption from troubles.
In their relief from further annoyance, they
were more fortunate then the minister, who,
after the marriage, learned, to his great sur
prise and chaglin, that the tUoman was also a
diuorced party.
We have been able to learn but little of this
divorced widow. She is native of Connects
cut, about "a years of age, (Sprague is 5l,) she
lived recently at Huntington and other places
in West Virginia. and became acquainted with
Spraeue about year since in the North.
Sprague's history, his former exalted official
positions, his former wealth and subsequent
failure, his domestic troubles, and his recent
'cran4zy" conduct are too well known to need
special mention.