St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-01
HER HUSBAND ON HAND
A Young Woman Visits Mount Pulaski,
ILL.,, and Ensnares the Affections
of Local Banker.
Her Spouse Inopportunely Appears and is
Worsted in Contest Without
Gloves.
A Deserted Wife Badly Beaten by the
Paramour of Her Hus-
band.
Mr.. Gallagher Does the Enoch Arden
Act and Meets a Re-
pulse.
not what SHE Seemed.

Special to the GloDe.
Mt. PULASKI, ILL.,, July 31.-About
four weeks ago lady. young and hand
some, alighted from the morning passenger
train on the Peoria, Decatur IL Evansville
railroad, and applied at once of the leading
hotels here for board. To the people of
the hotel she gave her name as Grace
Latta, representing herself as literary
woman desiring rest and quiet repoSe from
her arduous duties At hrst the select
society of the little town was inclined to
look upOn the fair stranger with some sus-
.pieion. but her refinement and lady-like
behavior upon the street and at the hotel
disarmed this distrust In a measure. and
she was gradually being received into some
of the best families. Among the boarders
at the hotel was young man, member of
Mt. Pulaski's leading bank firm, Mr..
Scroggin, who Immediately conceived a
violent passion for Miss Lata, and it was
THE GENERAL TALK OF THE TOWN
that marriage would soon follow. What
truth there is in this rumOr is not known,
but the fact that the young people were
deeply attached to each other was patent to
everybody. Matters were progressing most
swimmingly when a sensational incident
occurred which has convulSed the town.
l.
companed Mr. Scroggin to his place of
business which obliged them to pass the
Scroggin hotel. In front of the hotel talk
ing to another gentleman was seated tall
dark stranger attred in light clothes and a
rakish SLOUGH hat, and as Miss Latta and
her escort passed. he carelessly raised his
eyes and remarked to his companions:
MY GOD, THAT is MY WIFE"
Tho of fhiS tiOp in tho
meantime proceeded as far as the next cor
ner where she excused herself and returned
Immediately to the Scroggin hotel where
she met here reputed husband. The two
passed into the hotel parlors and remained
in consultation all hour or more after which
the lady returned to her boarding place.
Shortly after this the GLOBE correspondent
met the gentleman who gave his name
as Harry G. Frese of New York city. He
has been engaged in the theatrical and
show business as advance agent. and it was
in this duty that he was called here. The
woman, he says, he has not seen for two
years until the meeting here, which he
added was entirely unexpected. The sub
stance of the conversation Frese repeated
during the day to various people in town,
and it finally reached the ears of young
Scroggin, with elaborate embellishments, of
course. 1t was alleged that ffeSe haa
stated that Scroggin had been
CRI.fINALLY INTIMATE WITH HIS WIFE,
whereupon Scroggin went to the hotel last
night and demanded of Frese his authority
for such statements. The man Frese de-
clined to answer, and Scroggin struck him.
In a moment the two men were rolling on
the ground. Young Scroggin had the ap
parent advantage in the fight that ensued,
and soon had his opponent crying for help.
1t was some minutes before they could be
separated Frese was taken to his room
and at the first cursory examination APP
peared to have suffered no very great in
jury beyond spraned wrist. Later dur
ing the night he was taken with severe fits
which were thought to be the result of in
ternal injuries. This morning prominent
lawyer was summoned from Lincoln by
direction Of Frese for the purpose of bring
ing suit for damages against Scroggin.
The affair has created tremendous sensa-
| ton. The alleged wife still remains quietly
at her boarding place and has nothing to
say in regard to the matter further than
that she does not deny having married
| Frese but that she obtained a separation
| from him over two years ago. These
proofs she claims will be forthcoming at
| the proper time, but she does not propose
to crafty public curiosity by showing them
| now.