The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-04
BLAINE's LITTLE LETTER.

5 BLAINES LITTLE LETTER.
, Proceedings In the Court at India,adpotis-A
, Letter From Mr.. Blaine to Walter
, Made Public.
In the United States court at Indianapolis
attorneys for Mr. Shoemaker filed a bill Of
discovery in the Blaine-Sentinel suit The
bill begins by citing the fact Of Blaine bring
ing suit against the Sentinel, and repeating
, the original complaint in the suit, the Senti
nes answer and accompanying interroga
tories and the reply of Blaine's attorneys. The
bill then states that after filing the interroga.
tories Shoemaker's attorneys, on the 9th OF
September, moved the court for rule against
Blaine to answer the same within a specified
time to be fixed by the court, which motion
was argued on September IA and overruled
The bill then goes on to say that in order to
sustain the defense of justification pleaded by
Shoemaker it will be necessary and maj erial
for the orators to show and prove that Blaine
had Illicit relations with and seduced the per-
son whom he afterwards married the result
of said intercourse being the birth of a child
in about three months after said marriage.
The bill goes on to say that orators are in
formed and believe the marriage of Blaine and
Harriet Stanwood occurred on or about March
go 1851. in Pittsburg, Pa; that the marriage
was clandestinely arranged. secretly perform
ed and hastily accomplished; that no license
|
rage, none being required by the laws of
Pennsylvania at that time. That no public
official record was kept or made for the same
| reason that one Bryan, the minister who Of
dciated at the same marriage, has been dead
several years, and that If any private record
or memoranda of the marriage was made, the
| same has been lost or destroyed, the particu-
lars of which marriage are fully known to
| Blaine. The bill then states that for some
me ths date Of saa Bas
| Drillersburg, KY, that Miss Stanwood was an
| instructress in a female school at the same
| place. and that they there became acquainted.
| Both were unmarried and Blaine addressed
Miss Stanwood as sutton; that he gained her
confidence and Illicit relations ensued; that q
short time before said marriage Jacob Stan
wood, a brother or uncle of Harriet, or some
other person or persons unknown to the ora
tors, waited on Blaine and charged him with
being the cause of Miss Stanwoods condition,
and threatened him with personal violence
unless he married her; that Blaine made no
denial of the charges, and in consequence of
being threatened agreed to marry her; that
one or more persons were at the interview
between Blaine and her relative, but these
persons were unknown to orators. The bill
then states that after their marriage Mrs.
Blaine went to Augusta, Me-, where a child
was born about June Is, 1851, and that said
child was always recognized and acknowledge
ed by Blaine as bis son. Orators further say
they have good and valid defense as stated
in their plea of justification, and that the facts
stated in their answer are true, and that TIE
same can be fully established by the answers
of Blaine to the interrogatories heretofore
propounded, all the circumstances being fully
known to him, and a full and complete dis
covery of said facts from and by Blaine is
necessary to orators in their defense in aid of
such other testimony as may be procurable.
Unless this is done orators cannot so fully set |
out and completely show and prove the facts |
necessary TO their defense. Orators there |
fore, pray that full and complete discovery be |
made by Blaine in relation to the facts here |
tofore stated, and to that end he he summon
ed to answer the same under oath. The bill
closes by asking that writ of subpoena be is
I'D cub fal, fAt tnfr orad ha
be ordered to answer particularly the inter
rogatories, and that the proceedings be stayed
until such time as Blaine may answer. That
In case Blaine fails to answer said bill, or fully
and truly to answer the Undergraduates,
further proceedings to be perpetually stayed
and restrained The bill was not filed till 7
O'clock and court adjourned without taking
action.
Hon. William Walter Phelps takes the re-
sponsibility of giving to the public the follow
Ing private letter addressed to him nearly two
weeks ago:
AUGUSTA, Me-, September 10, 1SS4.-Mr. dear
Mr.. Phelps: I have your favor of the 4th adj
Vising me that the continuous invention and
vide REGULATION of evil reports render it ad-
7isable lin your judgment) not to wait the
'low process of the law, but to speak directly
o the public in my own vindication. In this
opinion many others, on whose Judgment I
ely, concur. 1 shrink instinctively from the
uggestion, although 1 feel sure l could
trengthen the confidence of all who feel
friendly to me by bringing to view the simple
bread of truth which is concealed in this end
ess tissue of falsehoods. You can imagine
low inexpressibly painful it must be to dis {
uss ones domestic life in the press, although a
think with you that under the circumstances
could count upon the generosity of the pub c
70 to justify a statement which otherwise h
night seem Objectionable. l can, in any =
vent safely commit a |
ersonal communication to those friends who \
ave taken so delicate and so considerate an t
interest in my affairs. The leisure hours of ~
O-day, when this campaign is ended, and we
AIT only for the election, gives me the OPP q
ortnnity for this prompt reply. and for the s
blowing essential details At Georgetown, J
.entucky, in the spring of 1913, when was II
ut eighteen years of age. first met the lady G
'ho for more than thirty-four years has been u
~ wife. An acquaintance resulted. at the II
nd of six months, in an engagement which, r.
ithout the prospect of speedy marriage. we d
aturally sought to keep to ourselves, Two e
ears later, in the spring of 1850, when / was II
aturing plans to leave my profession In q
entucky and establish myself elsewhere 1 d
as suddenly summoned to Pennsylvania by Il
Ie death of nv father. 1t being very doubt Il
II il | could return to Kentucky, l was 81
with an indefinite separation from "a
Pr who possessed my entire devotion My al
nc wish was to secure her to myself by an OF
dissouble tie against every possible con- e
ngency in life, and on the 3Oth day of June, re
30, just prior to my departure from Ken &C
cky we were, in the presence of chosen and er
listed friends, united by what knew was in n.
y native state of Pennsylvania perfectly L
gal form of marriage. On reaching home tn
u"d that my family and especially my be- IN
we'd mother, strongly discountenanced my bt
lslness plans as involving too long separa- ca
IN from home and kindred. compiled with nc
r request that should resume at least for
time my occupation in kentucky, whittier
returned in the latter part of August. Dur
g the ensuing winter was troubled by mis- ~
wings which were increased by legal con- ~
ltations, and became alarmed lest doubt
ght be thrown upon the validity of our
arrfage by reason of noncompliance with sic
g law of the state where it had occurred. 81
# had learned that the laws of Kentucky OF
ide license certified by the clerk of the WI
unity court an indispensable requisite of a III,
raj marriage. After much elaboration and ral
tn anxious desire to guard against any en- ar,
rrassment resulting from our position, for @n
ch was responsible, we decided that the 60
lplest and at the same time the surest way 90
S to repair to Pennsylvania and have an ri ri
Ter marriage service performed. This was nc ~,
ne in the presence of witnesses in the city a ar,
in the month of March. but was a. a.
otherwise made public for obvious rea- o oa,
Is. 1t was solemnized only to secure an co 90
validity the marrinQa "