The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-07-01
AWFUL ANDALUSIA.
1T MUST BE NOTORIOUS.
Another sensation From that Quarter
...school Principal Smith Charged
with Adultery.

Another sensation From that Quarter
...schooI Principal Smith Charged
with Adultery.
Wild, ugly rumors of an impending
scandal duplicating the principal OF the
public school at Andalusia and his subor-
dinste teacher, caused something of a
sensation in the lower end of the county
about two weeks ago, and an ARGUS re-
porter investigated the case, and while
there are several who belived the scanda>
lous reports, there did not appear to be
sufficient ground for them to give the
case newspaper ventilation. Last evening
however, proceedings were commenced in
the circuit court through the filing of a
petition for divorce. which makes the
case and attendant circumstances. one of
public record.
The petitioner is Mrs Susan Smith who
asks for legal separation from her husband
N. w . Cuitu w tuO SiOuuuJ VI ouuitciJ :
She charges the adulteress to be Miss
Flora Repine and swears that the crime
was committed in her house since April
last, or more specifically, on or about
May Is. last. She praYs for the Gus
tody of the children and her righ1ul
proportion of the property not already in
her name. Smith, the defendant, is a
harness>maker by trade, and has lived in
Andausia since 1866, conducting his
shop in the summer time and teaching
school in the winter. He is principal of
the Andalusia school, and it is with his
assistant, Miss Flora Repine, whose home
is in this city, that his name is associated
in this scandal. He is tftY-fve years old
today, and was married to Miss Susan
Crackuer at Milton, Pa, in 1861, They
have two children. the oldest "a boy four
teen years of age. He is superintendent
of the United Brethren Sunday school at
Andalusla and justice of the peace of the
township He has been school teacher
thee twenty years.
There have been stories of undue in-
timacy between Smith and his. subordinate
for some time. II was said they were
out riding together and were at the
school house often before and after
school hours and this attracted suspicion.
Yesterday the school year closed, and
SsOwas coming to Smith foE two months
salary. The petitioner therefore eujoined
the board of directors of Andaiusia from
paying bin this, but he got $40
of it. He had recently sold his
harness shop and buggy. and his life be-
lieved he intended leaving the country at
the end of the school year. He was III
home last night, but this morning his
wife told him TO leave the premises as she
wanted nothing more to do with him
She owns the property upon which they
live, and he came to Rock Island, bring
ing his son with him, but the boy went
back this afternoon.
When asked this morning by an ARGUS
reporter concerning his position in the
case, Smith said there was not particle
of foundation for any of the rumors or
charges; that bis association with Miss
Repine had never been anything other
than respectable, and that their relations
were never otherwise than their official
duties in the school work required He
denied that he had been buggy riding
with her at all. and said that when she
had been at his house it had been simply
as a friend. Smith claims that as far rs he
knows his alleged acconplce in the
crime, is AS pure a girl as ever lived
and she has always conducted herself as
a lady with him.
Smith, during his twenty years resi-
dence in Rock Island county, has borne
an untainted character until the present
proceedings. and Miss Repne is from
family whose name has always demanded
the highest respect. The case will shock
many, and it is to be hoped it will be so
adjusted as to completely vindcate all
concerned Mr.. J. r. KanWorthy is
counsel for the plaintiff, and Major J. NJ.
Beardsley for the defendant The case
will be tried at the September term of
COurt