Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-19
BLAINE'S ILLICIT LOVE.
THE ''SENTINEL" DEMANDS THAT
HIS LIPS BE UNSEALED.

/
Answers to the Interrogatories of the
Defense Indispensable to the Continu-
ance of the Suit-His Betrayal of an
Innocent Girl and His SUBSEQUENT
Forced Marriage Again Narrated
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 1S.-In the United
States District Court this afternoon the
attorneys for Mr.. Shoemaker filed a bill
of discovery in the Blaine Sentinel libel
suit:
The bill begins by citing the fact of Blaine
bringing suit against the Se7sti7eL, and reDeat-
ing the original complaint in the suit, the
Senttneps answer and the accompanying in
terrogatories, and the reply of Mr.. Blaine's
attorney. The bill then states that after
filing the interrogatories Mr.. Shoemaker's at
torneys on Sept. moved the court for Il rule
against Mr.. Blaine to answer the same within
a specified time, to be fixed by the court
which motion was argued Sept. l3 and over
ruled; The oill goes on to say that
in order to maintain the defense Of justifica-
tion pleaded by Mr.. Shoemaker, it will be
necessary and material for the orators to show
and prove that Mr.. Blaine had Illicit rela-
ti0ns with and seduced the person whom he
afterwards married, the result of said inter-
course being the birth of a child in about
three months after marriage. The bill goes
on to say that the orators are informed and
believe That the marriage of James g. Blaine
and Harriet Stanwood occurred on or abOut
March 20, 1851 Pittsburg; that the m arriage
was clandestinely arranged, secretly per-
formed, and hastily accomplished: thai no
license was issued by any authority for such
marriage, none being required by the
laws OF penury at that time; that no
public official record was kept or made
for the same reason; that one Bayon, the
minister who othciatcd at said marriage, had
been dead several years, and that if any pri-
vate memorandum on record OF the marriage
was ever made the sans is lost or destroyed.
BLAINE's COURTsHIP.
l,IIk ; Il.
the date of said marriage Blaine was pro-
fessor at an institution of learning at Millers-
burg, KY; that Miss Stanwood was an in
structress IN female school at the same place,
and that they there became acquainted; that
both were unmarried, and that Blaine adj
dressed Miss Stanwood as a suitor: that he
gained her confidence, and that illicit rela-
That short time before said marriage
Jacob Stanwood. a brother or uncle of Har-
riet, or some other person or persons unknown
to the orators, waited on Blaine and charged
him with being the cause of Miss Stanwood's
condition, and threatened him with personal
violence unless he married her; that Blaine
made no denial OF the charges. and in conse-
quence OF being threatened agreed to marry
her, and that one or more persons were pres
ent at the interview between Blaine and the
relative, but who these persons were is un-
known to the orators.
The bill then states that after the marriage
Mrs. Blaine went to Augusta. Me-, where
child was born about June IS, 1851, and that
sdlu CHllu was always recognized and ac-
knowledged by Blaine as his son. The ora
tors further say that they have a good
and valid defense, as stated in their
plea of justification; that the facts stated in
the answer are true, and the same can be
fully established by answers of Blaine to the
interrogotories heretofore propOunded, all the
circumstances being fully known to him, and
that full and complete discovery of said
facts from and by Blaine is necessary to the
orators in their defense, in aid of such other
testimony as may be procurable.
ANSWERS NECESSITY.
Unless this is done the orators cannot so
fully set out and completely show and prove
the facts necessary to their defense The ora
tors, therefore, pray that a full and complete
discovery be made by Blaine in relation to the
facts heretofore stated, and to the end that he
be summoned to answer the same under oath.
The bill closed by asking that a writ of sub
p@na be issued out of chancery for Bl aine
and that he be ordered to answer particularly
the interrogatores; that the proceedings be
stayed until such time as Blame may answer:
that in case he fails to answer said bill, or
fully and truly to answer the iDterroga-
tories. further proceedings can be perpetually
stayed or restrained.
The bill was not filed until 3 O'Clock
this afternoon and the court adjourned
without action.