Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-04-05
PHOENIX MARRIAGE
ORANGE BLOSSOMS OUT OF THE COLD ASHES
OF TWO HEARTHS.
Former Relations Of the Bride and Groom Had
Wrecked Two Happy Families and Driven
Husband to Crime, Confession and
the Psnitsntary-Sad Drama.

tlCe appeared IN StNeTdl NcN lOIh uCNo-
papers within the past few days:
sANFoRD-LAssCELL- Monday. March
%. by Rev. j. G. Mclnerney. assisted by Rev. b.
NJ Grant. Nathan H. Sanford TO Adele T.,
laughter Of W. b. Lasscell.
1t is seemingly an open announcement Of
the marriage OF two people, but 1t is so
carefully worded that few who read 1t will
recall the combination of strange and
tragic circumstances which preceded the
ceremony. Adele T. is the daughter of w.
B. Lasscell, of Mount Vernon. Sheis also
the divorced wife of Henry Martin Jack
son, the x-Cashier of the Sub-Treasury In
this city, who, in October, 1887, absconded
with $4,000: and she was correspondent in
the divorce suit instituted by Elizabeth
Sanford against Nathan H. Sanford in Oc-
tober, 1888.
Mrs. Sanford gained her suit, was grant
ed alimony and the care of her children,
and is now living lonely life in little up
town fiat. Jackson is serving six years
sentence in the Erie County Penitentiary.
Henry NJ. jackson and Nathan II. San
ford are cousins. In their boyhood they
were schoolmates and chums. They sat
on the same bench, bit from the same red
apple and built up friendship which grew
and strengthened with the years. In a
quiet way they helped each other and
watched each others upward course with
interest. In time they both married, and
Mrs. jackson and Mrs. Sanford became as
warmly attached to each other as their hus-
bands were Sanford fiourished like the
biblical bay tree, and in time became one
of the influential men of the town OF
Goshen, n Y. He was the proprietor OF a
large coal and lumber yard, devoted hus-
band and father, and pillar Of the Presby-
terian church. His wife, very attractive
woman. shared his honors and dispensed
the hospitality of their home.
About four years ago the demands of Mr..
Sanford's business became very exactlng,
and his presence in New York seemed TO
be required two-thirds of the time. He
usually put up at the Jackson residence
and, Henry being busy, was entertained by
his Cousins wife. Early in 1887 people
began to talk. The rumors reached Jack
son. He was at first incredulous and indig-
nant, then suspicious, finally miserable.
He could not, it is said, believe that his
friend and his wife would deceive him; but
everybody else believed it, and people be-
gan to look at him pityingly.
He said nothing, however, so the story
goes. until enc night in August, 1887. At
that time he and his wife were visiting the
Sanfords at Goshen, and Jackson became
more and more disturbed On the occasion
mentioned the four people IN the drama
were playing cards, when without the
slightest warning Jackson threw down his
hand and exclaimed
Sanford, they tell me that you and my
wife have been seen together IN places
where neither of you should belooked for"
This bombshell was effectuul, OF course,
and the explosion which followed loosened
the foundations Of the jackson and San
ford homes. The suspected couple denied
everything, however, and the af1air was
temporarily passed over.
But jackson began TO drink heavily, TO
lose interest in his work, and to grow NOR
bid and unsocial. Almost three months
later, in October. 1887, he helped himself
TO $4,000 of the Treasury funds, and fled
the country The surprise ut his action
was only equaled by the surprise at the
comparatively small amount OF money he
had taken He had more than million in
his possession at that time, and treasurer
Canda admitted that he could easily have
taken the whole sum and escaped safely.
His fight was not discovered for two days.
BY that time he was in Canada, where he
STAYED a short time and then sailed for
Europe. He remained in hiding IN Scot
land until February, 1890
night had reused the suspicious OF Mrs.
Sanford, and these were strengthened by
Jackson's action and flight. Mr.. Sanford's
visits to New York became more and more
freouent. Two or three times week he
boarded the train for the metropolis, and
finally the wife decided to investigate. She
could not believe that her friend Mrs. jack
son was involved. She at last asked the
advice of Lawyer S. w. Fullerton, OF
Goshen, and at her request he engaged the
services of detective agency In TINS CITY.
There was interesting reading IN the re-
ports which soon came TO Mrs. SANFORD.
Her husband had been seen to enter very
greauently certain questionable resort,
and simultaneously with his visits yelled
ladv came and went. The wife used to 90
into mysteries over these, but at her law
ver's advice she waited for something
more definite II soon came. The yelled
lady eventually dispensed with her VEIL
and Mrs. Jackson was recognized. Then
occurred the strongest scene OF the second
act. AS the couple came down the steps OF
the house together they were accosted by
the detective.
Good afternoon, Mr.. Sanford, and good
afternoon, Mrs. Jackson, said he. There
was stormy scene, which ended IN tears
and general admission. That very night
dren with her. She took up her residence
in this city and Immediately began her suit
for divorce Referee James t. Swanton
took the testimony in his office in the Van
derbilt Building during the Summer OF
1883. In October of the same year an abso-
lutte divorce was granted her in the Supe-
rior Court by Judge Truax. Mrs. Jackson
disappeared for time, but finally reap
peared at the residence of her father, Will
liam B. Lascell, of Mount Vernon, where
she lived in strict retirement Tor time
Sanford remained in Goshen attending TO
his coal business, and the whole matter was
apparently ended.
But the sparks were only smouldering.
In February 1890, jackson, the emoezzler,
returned TO this country. His friends say
il was at the request of his aged mother,
who lives in Roseville, y. Y, and who
needed sons assistance. However that
NAV be. he came on, was arrested, and con
fessed his crime. He was sentenced by
Judge Benedict to six years in the penl-
tentiary. with hard labor While passing
the sentence the Judge stated that mitl-
eating circumstance in the case was the
fact that the prisoner was suffering from
domestic calamities at the time he com
mitted the crime.
Jackson went TO Buffalo TO serve his sen
tence, and the old mother out at hoseglhe
was further from her boy than ever. what
happened next is told by former friend
of both parties, who is thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT with all the facts. In August OF
$780, said this informant, "Mr. Lasscell,
the father of Mrs. jackson. took steps 70
secure for her a divorce from jackson on
the ground Of desertion. The circum
stances of the case were so well known that
il was impossible for him to get the divorce
here in the East. So he took Adele to
Bismarck, n. D., and they resided there
for several months.
During that time the divorce was
granted them by the Dakota Courts Oh
some technicality and everything went as
they had planned it. Mr. Lasscel had th'
summons served ou Jackson in August and
of course, Henry, being in prison. could do
nothing | don't suppose he wanted 10.
either: he was probably satisfied TO lei
things take their course.
adele came back to the East a free
Imam ond then her father took things