National Republican., 1884-10-11
THE VINCENT CASE.
A Family Scandal Revived by the APP
peal OF n Divorce suit.


peal OF Divorce salt.
The court in general term, Justices Mac
Arthur, Hagner, and Cox, sitting yester-
day, entered upon the hearing of the APP
peal in the divorce suit Of Rosa Il. Steele
Vincent against Charles Vincent, Messrs.
JEFF Chandler, Ii. w. Garnett, and Charles
Thompson, ir.. appearing for the com
painaut, and Mr.. William Il. Earle for
the defendant. In the court below Justice
James heard the cause and passed decree
granting divorce to the wifo and giving
her the custody of tho children, with the
privilege to the father of seeing them ana
having them with him at certain periods.
1t was from this decree that the appear
was taken. The parties TO the suit nave
been quite prominent in society circles,
aud the case has attracted copslderahIo
attention. The bill of the wife states
that they were married in Baltimore In
June, 1877. At that timo Vincent was
man of mature years. had been previously
married, and his wife has obtained d.
vorce from him, while the bride
was scarcely of age, and was IN.
duced by him to olope and
marry him without tho knowledge
or consent of her parents. She is pos
OF DNOptiNg Wy
tance, and says that no is without prop
erty or means, and has been engaged in
| no business since 1870. They had been
married nearly five years when this
action was commenced, and three childrcn
has been the fruit of the union. She
complains that shortly after marriage
her husband commenced and has con-
tinued ever since TO treat her with such
cruelty as to threaten hor life and health;
that he had become habtually intoxi.
Gated, and in January, 1881, on account
| of his disorderly and threatening conduct,
the proprietor of Willard's hotel, whore
they were stopping, required them to
leave the house. She then, out Of her
own means, fitted up house in DeSalcs
street, and they occupied 1t. Here he
treated her in coarse aud outrageous
manner, insulting her and forcing hei
through threats to eat at tho table will
one of the servants. In consequence o
his treatment she abandoned the resi-
dence and went to tho Ebbitt house
whero he followed her. To avoit
scandal, and on account of hei
children, she permitted him to talk,
up his abode with her, but his conduc
became so scanduous and disorderly tina
she was compelled to leave, and sough
refuge at Willard's, where she was stop
ping in July, 1882, when she filed he
petition for divorce. She charges tina
for tho past three years her husband ha
been an habitual drunkard, and previou
to that time he was addicted to the exces
sive use of Intoxicating liquors. She fui
ther states that he is wholly withou
meaus of support and incapable, hnan
cially and also on account OF his habit
of caring for the children, while she
amply able to supply all their wants, cor
for, and educate them. Under these Gil
cumstances she asked to be given thei
control and custody.
In making answer, Mr.. Vincent denit
cruelty aud unkind treatment, and q
leges that Mrs. Vincent was addicted
the use of morphine and laudanunl. an
all of their differences were ascribable
the unhappy state of mind produced b
this habit. He denies being habituall
intoxicated, and says that he left Wi
, lard's because the proprietor was rud
, to him, and also denies tl
0 charges made in connection with Il
8 other places. He admits that while b
has no considerable means and had M
when he married his wife, still ho say
/ that he gave the best advice and after
0 ton to the management of his wife's c
B tate and with considerable success, IN
!, can take care of his children. He praye
, that the bill be dismissed, trustee al
o pointed to take charge of the estate, h
. wife sent to some proper asylum, and b
t given tho custody of the children.
G Later on Mr.. Vincent, by permissio
+ filed cross bill. in which he charged tn
O his wife had on divers occasions con
}, mitted adultery with William p. Kir
}. of Minnesota. in this city. Philadelph
r. and other places. Mrs. Vincent deni
;. these charges. Justice James on Oct.
Q 1853, granted the divorce to Mrs. Vincer
i and from this decree an appeal W
, | taken