St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-10
The Suit Was Begun Three
Months Ago in Washing
ton County.
There Being No Contest, Judge
McCluer Granted the Relief
Prayed For.
Mrs. Sabin and Her Adopted
Children Will Be Suitably
Maintained.

In attempting to infuse new life Into
an old suit in chancery and make sens
sation of what has beeu town talk for
two months and more, morning conf
temporary yesterday published an article
to the effect that ex-senator D. NJ. Sabin
had instituted proceedings for divorce
from his wife, Mrs. E. Amelia Sabih
This shot at the ex-senator, when cone
sidered in the light of the facts of the
case, fell so far short of the mark that
it was not only ridiculous, but does
great injustice to the parties to the suit.
To correct the wrong impression created
by this sensational publication, the
GLOBE publishes the facts of the sad
case, which is not pending, but has been
concluded. The fact is that the suit
was begun as long ago as March %, in
the district court of Washington county,
and decree of absolute divorce was
granted to ex-senator Sabin as prayed
for. week or more ago. When the
proceedings for divorce were instituted
by Mr.. Sabin ON March %, the papers
in the case, including depositlons. etc.,
filed with the clerk of court, were imme-
upon all order signed by Judge Nc
Cluer. Summons was at once served
upon Mrs. Sabin, who is an inmate of
retreat at Flushing, L. /. She made no
appearance either in person or by cOull-
sci, purposely allowing the case to go
against her by default. However. about
two months elapsed between the date
of filing the complaint and the granting
of the decree by Judge McCluer. In
his complaint which is now recorded
with the files of the case with the clerk
of the court, Mr.. Sabin alleged habitual
drunkenness through
THE USE OF OPIUM
and other drugs. Mr.. Sabin's affidavit
was very strongly corroborated by the
sworn testimony of witnesses resident
in Saltwater and by dispositions taken
in the East. Mrs. Sabin's excessive use
of opium has ranged through a period
of twenty years, and from a date pre-
vious to her marriage to Mr.. Sabin,
nineteen years ago, the first pronounced
evidence of her vice occurring sixteen
years since, when she was very ill at
the Sawyer house, where she and Mr..
Sabin then lived. This attack of illness
was due to the opium habit, and so far
did Mrs. Sabin 60 beyond the control of
her husband and Saltwater friends and
all medical efforts that her old physi.
clan came on from her former home, at
OdultiSOuNlic, OOuu., ut dlOuc huOW>
ing, from past experience. how best to
relieve her. During all these later
years every possible effort has been
made to break her of the habit. One
drug has been withdrawn and the victim
would substitute another to satisfy the
morbid craving. Gradually the old
prOfuSe hospitality of Mr.. Sabin's home
grew less and less conspicuous until at
length he was wholly unable to make
the house the social center he desired.
Mrs. Sabin would at times appear
bright, but was apt to be totally pros
trated at the most inoppOrtune times.
The dreadful ''sick headaches" were
simply opium drunks, and became
known at last for what they really were.
The poor womanas dissipation at length
thing that attracted her passing fancy,
and paying extravagantly for articles
which she threw aside as soon as Sc
cured, Yet for years Mr.. Sabin
humored her in this. The house
at Saltwater is filed with rich goods
which haye lain forgotten and useless
since they were bought. There are
silks and satins enough to robe royal
court, yet they remain as when cut off
by the merchant from whom they were
purchased. Since the senator's finan-
cial reverses her mania in this way
seems to have increased. and if allowed
full sway would have forced him into
bankruptcy again. None but those
most. intimate with Mr.. Sabin can
realize what great bitterness of soul he
concealed by smiling face. always
anxious to shield his wife from public
scandal. The facts, as stated. have been
in possession of the GLOBE for months.
but on account of the sad features of
the case and to shield Mrs. Sabin. whose
piteOuS fate should command charity,
publication has been withheld. Be-
sides, a consideration for
THE THREE LITTLE ORPHANS
adopted by Mr.. and Mrs. Sabin would
prompt silence. MIR. Sabin desires that
they should know as little as possible of
what the real situation is. lie under
stood that the newspapers would not
make conspicuous matter about which
there was no contest or dispute. and
which he insisted could concern no one
but himself and Mrs. Sabin. The great
est sympathy is felt for the ex-senator
and his unfortunate eX-wife. Mrs. Sabin
was most lovable in disposition, and
Saltwater poor, whom she constantly
befriended and succOred, will shed a
tear at the wrecking of her life. Mrs.
Sabin will be suitably cared for during
life by her former husband. and the
three little children, now in a convent
at Georgetown, ID. c., will remain his
treasured charges.