The Portland daily press., 1891-08-26
The Notable Divorce Suit Soon To Be
Filed In South Dakota.

Louis Gl0be-Dem0crat contains the follow
ing in regard to the divorce proceedings
about to take place In South Dakota: Wilful
desertion Is the charge upon which Mary
Nevins Blaine bases her plea for divorce
from James Gillespie Blaine. Jr. The sum-
mons In the action has been prepared and
will be served by advertisement within q
week. the whereabouts Of the defendant be-
ing unknown to plaintiff. The complaint is
also ready for filing with the clerk OF the
court. The bill merely sets forth In terse le-
gal terms that Mary Neyins Blaine. for more
than ninety days last past resident OF the
city Of Sioux Fall, County OF Minnehaha, In
the State Of South Dakota. was married to
the defendant, james q. Blaine, Jr., at the
City OF New York, on the 9th day OF Septem-
Der. 1886; that the issue Of such marriage
Is one son; that plaintiff has always been
true and lawful wife TO defendant; that de-
fendant williully and without cause did, on
or about the 18th OF September, 1888, at and
In the city Of Augusta, in the county Of
Kennebec. and State OF Maine, desert this
plaintiff. The document concludes with q
prayer for q decree Of absolute divorce, and
asks that the custody Of the child be award
ed TO the plaintiff.
The legal type written story Of the mar
rage of pretty Mary Nevens TO the youngest
son Of the Secretary Of State. and the separ-
alton OF the couple after two years of we'd
ded life, does not fill one page OF lawyers
note paper. but a remarkable story Of short
but feryid courtship. hasty marriage that
was In reality an elopement, a few short
months Of blissful married life. and a cruel
parting Is told between the lines. Scattered
portions have been given In the newspapers
from time TO time, gossip has detailed frag-
ments OF II, and the world has guessed at a
great deal, but the whole has never been told
except by Mrs. Blaine TO her attorney In the
privacy of his office. While the lawyer
guards bis secret well the facts have been
given to the Globe-Democrat correspondent.
Everybody &C all familiar with the affairs
OF young Blaine and his sweet faced wife
knows that Mrs. Blaine's father is one of the
Oldest and best families Of Philadelphia,
while her mother was daughter of s. Me-
dary, a well known and wealthy Ohio poll
Of Minnesota. Both Colonel Richard New
ins and his wife, the parents Of the plain
TIL In the present suit, were popular In
Philadelphia, New YORK and Washington
society circles. Their daughter was given
every advantage In youth, and was girl Of
varied accomplishments. While not nand.
some, she possessed a sweet face and grace
ful form. Such was Mary Nevins when
young Blaine met and In one day was in love
with her.
Miss Nevlns had gone to Augusta, Me-, to
visit her brother, who had temporary Fed
eral position the under the administration Of
President Cleveland. This was In mid-sum-
mer. 1886. 1t CHANGED that young Blaine was
an intimate friend Of Miss Nevins' brother,
and during her visit at Augusta she saw
great deal OF the young man. At that time
young MIR. Blaine declared his love and asked
her hand. but no decided answer was given
him. Then Miss Nevins went to Bar Harbor
and Joined her parents. They str. nuously
He was wild and had no means Of supporting
wife, and furthermore they. evident
ly doubted his constancy. But prob
soy sOaps '9s Blaine greatest Ss objection %5as to
He had been in turn expelled from Young's
Washington school. Phillips Academy and
washington preparatory school. Then he
was placed under a private tutor at Augusta,
and then IL was that Miss Neyins met him.
Mr.. and Mrs. Nevins did all they could to
part the young people. They hastily left Bar
Harbor and proceeded to New York. But
thither the ardent wooer followed. On Mon
day, September q, young Blaine called on
her at the New York Hotel. They had q
long talk, In which the lover strongly urged
the girl TO marry him, and she consented.
The marriage ceremony was performed at
ST. Leo's rectory by Father Ducy, an old
fliend Of the brides family. Young Blaine
had previously secured special dispensa-
tion from Archbishop Corrigan. Not
member Of either family was present, and
the young woman's parents knew nothing Of
the young woman's marriage until she re-
turned to the hotel bride. The elder Mr..
Blaine made his son and his wife an annual
allowance Of $780, They lived In a cozy
Hat on 55th street. Young Blaine was a
model husband for the first Is months. They
were so obviously happy that IL became a
pleasant Joke among their friends. And the
coming OF the baby made their little home
paradise.
The circumstances connected with their
separation all the world knows. In the
tsaaw - III
lapse. He spent less time with his wife and
baby, and finally began to absolutely neglect
them. No open rupture occurred, however.
and they went TO Augusta to spend the sum
mer with the elder Blaines, but In Septem-
Der the young wife was forced to return to
New York with her baby. For two or three
days prior to leaving Augusta, she was una
Bile to see her husband. and neither did she
receive any communication from him. In
October, 1888, she made last effort to see
her husband. She went from New York to
Augusta, accompanied by her mother, and
to the Blaine house. They were met at the
door BY Mrs. Blaine the elder. who positive
ly refused to let either see her son. The
young wife was not daunted, but pushed her
way into the house ana upstairs 70 her hus-
bands room. She was refused admission.
Then she returned to New York and deter
mined to go upon the stage. This plan was
frustrated by her illness.
The suit for divorce has been determined
upon. Mrs. Blaine has been resident Of
South Dakota nearly the ninety days requiI-
ed TO entitle her to legal separation from her
husband. Three weeks more must elapse
before the service, after which the cause
may come to trial. Even then there may be
delays. There are over 100 cases In process
OF development, and many of them are on
the trial docket antecedent TO that OF Blaine
VS.. Blaine; and although, owing to the fact
that the evidence In eacn case IS carefully
prepared in advance, and delays from oppo-
sition are rarely encountered, the S0utn "a
kota divorce mill grinds with exceeding
swiftness, something mas arise to prevent
the return OF a decree for several weeks,
That it will enter, however, there Is no
doubt. Ill,
MRS. Blaine, or Miss Nevins. as she VIII
probably bs Known at,e, an snS Ssy nIsns for the
future. IL is her intention. an Intimate
friend says, TO resume her dramatic studies
and 20 upon the stage as soon as her health
will permit. She has regained nearly all her
old time brightness OF eye and complexion
and sprghtlIness OF movement, and will In q
fatv vaaka have antirPlv raeovarQd from tha