The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-23

MRS HURST ACQUIRES THE TERRI
BILE OPIUM HABIT.

fall as Told in the Proceedings for
D,vorce She is Betrayed by Her
Companion.
From the Ne,o York Press
BOSTON. Nov. 20.-Lawyers have been
husv in this city for the past few days in
collecting evidence in a divorce case which
promises to create considerable talk in the
social circles of this city and New York.
Several sensational features will appear
during the trial of the case, which are not
usually found in other disputes of mis-
mated couples Evidence viii be presented
which will show how great has been the in
crease in the terrible habit of opium smoking
among people in high society during the
mast few years, and to what depths of
DEGRADATION its fascinating power will
draw its devoteeS. The lbellant in this
case is Mr. Fred Hurst, the manu-
facturer of Ponds Extract, and the
Ihellee is Mrs. Louise Hurst, the young and
handsome daughter of Rev. William Wagg,
who lives in little town near the city of
Lawrence. this state At the time of Mr.
Hurst's marriage in New York in 1887, con-
siderable comment was provoked in the
circle of society in which he moved over
the knowledge that his wife had been a
poverness, and it was thought by some that
time would force him to regret his action
in marrying person who was not his equal
in fortune or family. However, at that
time nothing could be said against the
character Of the bride Hurst's heart
was won by the fine form and great
beauty of the girl, who was then only
about IS years old and gave promise of de-
veoping into remarkably handsome
woman Louise Wagg was reared under
the strict discipline of truly religious
parents, ard was given splendid educa-
ton, which fully fitted her to make good
appearance in the best society. About 1880
.he lived with her parents in a small town
in New York state In order to lessen the
burden of her father, Louise determined to
accept position in a wealthy family in
New York city as governess. There she
first made the acquaintance of Hurst, who
became devoted suItor for her hand. Sue
returned his affection and marriage fol
lowed.
The couple made an extended bridal trip
TO Europe and Hurst fairly covered her with
diamonds, for he was and still is extremely
wealthy Upon their return they settled
-. down in an elegant house in Creamery Park
and everything that money could command
was placed at the pleasure of the young
wife She was a great sufferer, however,
from neuralgia, and was dosed with NOR
phine to relieve her of the excruciating
pain. In this way she became slave
TO the drug and was fast succumbing
to its effects, when her husband sought
to wean her from the habit gradually
through the agency of opium smoking. To
this end he took her one night to Bessenger
Vests palace Shooting Gallery" on Fifth
avenue. This place is finely fitted up as a
shooting gallery but it is stated that from
the place there leads door which admits
one to a rear apartment, which is magnlh-
Gently fitted up as an opium joint. This is
the swell" resort of the high toned pipe
| hitters" of New York, anu is much fire.
quented, it is said, by actors and actresses
and society people who are victims of the
habit.
The result was something unexpected by
her husband The young woman was cured
of the morphine habit, but she contracted
one equally as vicious. She became in
short time "fiend," as inveterate smokers
| Of opium are designated by those who use
| it. HE quiet life of her husband became
distasteful to her. Her only pleasure was
that of frequenting opium joints and dream
ing her life away IN the fascinating fumes
of hop" as the opium is called by the
"hitters.n Her love of opium was
stronger than love of husband, home
and matrimonial happiness. Earnest
ly did Mr.. Hurst plead with his
young and beautiful wife to abandon the
enSlaving drug, and desert the companion
depth, but it was unavalling. Lower and
lower she fell, until at last forgetting her
marriage vows, she found lover in Frank
Webb, one of the alleged proprietors of the
place she most frequented. Webb, in his
infatuation for the beautiful young opium
tiend, neglected his business, mortgaged his
property in order to provide her with the
Injuries to which she had been accus-
toned, and eventually the Joint" was
sold to satisfy his creditors, and he
became penniless. Unaware of this I'M
lawful attachment of his wife, and still
loving her with all the ardor of his nature,
Mr.. Hurst made another attempt to draw
her from her enthrallment by taking her
to Europe once more. But the vice had
too strong a hold upon her, and when she
returned, something like year later, she
again relapsed into her old condition. Then
1t was that her husband gave her up as
hopeless case, and looked forward to a
separation, although he still loved her.
The wife, however, did not want sepa-
ration at that time, as the qualification of
her desires could only be satisfied through
the money that she got from her husband.
She did not love him with the strength that
ne did her. Suspecting that she was un-
faithful to him, although he could not secure
SUFFICIENT evidence of it to warrant a suit
Tor divorce at that time. Mr.. Hurst cut
loose from her but allowed her s., 900 q
however, was frequently opened to her de-
mands, for she and her companions found
II an easy matter to dispose of the generous
sum Of money allowed her long
before the year was up. Mrs. Hurst fire..
quently came to Boston, thence going to
Lawrence to visit her parents, who knew
nothing of the life their daughter was lead
ing, 1t was while in this city March Is
last, moved by her unconquerable desire TO
use opium, that she engaged hack driver
at the Boston and Providence depot imme-
Gelately after getting off the train from
new York to AXE her to some Joint"
ne hackman drove her TO the Chinese
laundrles in Howard street and was
directed by them to take her TO 3Sl6 Harri-
Son avenue, where a Joint" is run
10y Chinaman named All Wing.
ne Chinaman was about to
axe her into a side room when she
heard the voice OF a white man. She said
cue would much rather "smoke" with one
vi her countrymen. So she entered the
apartment from whence the voice came and
S,lgre saw young fellow named Thonas
Dallahan, an inveterate opium "fend " who
was engaged i'll smoking. This Callahan is
no" tue principal witness in the divorce
use The facts which follow are contained
u an affidavit made by wel-known opium
SlnC Keeper of this city, taken by Lawyer
Eugene +, Carver, 2S State street, in this
NY. Mrs Hurst often smoked in the joint
mi aIa laIY Of