The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-20
from Husband by a Mother
Who Objected to Her Sons Marriage.
Testimony of Mra James G. Blaine, Jr.. in Her
Suit in South Dakota Court for Divorce,
AlimOny and Custody Of Child.
All Her Troubles Dated from Her Sec
Ond Visit to the Blaines' Maine Home.
Baby Was Thought to Be Dying, She Says. but
the Mother.in-Law Would Not Let Her
Communicate with Her Husband.
HER MOTHER-IN-LAw BLAMED.

Mrs. James G. Blaine. Jr. Tells the Story
of Her Marriage and Separation.
sTecial TO the Indianapolis Journal
DEADwooD, S. D., Feb. 19.-The Blaine
divorce case has been tried, all the deposit
tions have been read. the plaintiff has
gIveu her evidence and the attorney has
rested. Argument will be MADE tomorrow,
only for the plaintiff. however. as the de-
fendant did not put in an appearance.
The weather hac moderated greatly since
yesterday, and, as Mrs. Blaine passed a
good night and had no recurrence of
hemorrhage. she felt much better than at
any time since her arrival in Deadwood,
and was able this afternoon TO take the
witness-stand, and, bearing up bravely
under the stare of five hundred eyes. an
swered the questions of her attorney and
told the sad story of her life since her mar
riage with j. G. Blame. jr.. Sept 9. 1886.
According to her testimony the courtshIp
was q short one. They met at Augusta,
Me-. and few weeks later became en-
gagged. The engagement then was that
they were not to be married for four years.
or until Miss Nevins had fulfilled her
theatrical contract with Madame Modieska
and Daniel Frobman. and Mr.. Blaine had
completed his collegiate course. The young
man changed his mind, however. concluded
he did not want Miss Nevins to appear on
the stage and persuaded her to hasty and
secret marriage. The difficulty that she
was Catholic and he protestant was
overcome by dispensation from Archbishop
Corrigan and the wedding took place in
the vestry Of st. Leo's Church, New York,
Rev. Father Drury officiating. The couple
started the same evening for Boston. ar
riving there next morning.
OBJECTED TO THE MARRIAGE.
Young Blaine left his bride and went to
Augusta, Me-, to inform his parents of his
marriage. Mrs. Blaine returned to New
York. A few days later she received o
letter from her husband. stating that his
parents objected strenuously to the match
and intimatlug he would have to give her
MP. The letter prostrated her. and she was
i'll until the receipt of q second letter apol-
ogizing for the first and stating since his
father had become acquainted with all the
circumstances. their trip to Boston, in
Guided, he advised his return Co his bride
The husband followed the letter in q day
or two and all went merry as q marriage
bell for some weeks. during which the
couple lived at the New York Hotel on
Nineteenth street. and in Pittsburg. where
young Blaine chased items as reporter for
daily paper.
There was O little more than o year of
bliss, then came the crownIng happiness,
the birth of son, fifteen mon this after the
marriage. In August. 1888. Mrs. Blaine ac-
companied her husband on visit to his
parents at Augusta. Me-. and from this
time her troubles dated. Arriving at Au-
gusta she found that the children of Mrs
Copplnger then visiting the Blaines. were
down with wh00pin9 cough. and that it
was necessary for her to send their maid
and baby to a hotel. while herself and hus-
band went to the parental mansion. This
W as the first of q succession of disagreea-
bic incidents. A State campaign was in
progress In Maine. and her husband con-
stantly accompanied his father to various
places, where the senior Blaine was making
speeches. Whenever he was absent her
mother-in-law made it peculiarly hard for
her.
At length she told her husband as he was
about leaving her on Friday that if he did
not return the next day she would be ABB
sent when he did come back. Their baby
was then Ill. and that time came near d. ing
She was anxious to communicate with her
husband, but was unable to do so because
her mother-in-law refused to tell his ad-
dress, and when she learned this later the
telegraph operator refused to send the
message until 1t was paid for and she had
no money.
THE MoTHER-IN-LAw's THREAT.
Her physician advised that for the baby's
health she return for New York imme-
dIately. and she did so notwithstanding her
mother-in-law said:
IF you go l never want to see you again.
will make you rue it the longest day you
live" Mrs. Blaine. ST., concluded by say
ing: "Pll keep my son with me. In one
half hour, If choose, can take that young
The young wife retorted that if he was
told of her illness and fruItless appeals for
assistance. Upon the advice of Gen.
Mcmahon and General Roger A. Pryor. she
went once more to Augusta. This visit
was induced by letter from James 9.
Blaine. ST., to Colonel Ingersoll, in which
Mr.. Blaine conceived the idea the wife had
deserted her husband. Accompanied by
her mother she went to Augusta. and In
driving from the depot to the family home.
she saw her husband standing in front of
the hotel. When she reached the
front door he entered the back door
and was at once pounced upon by his
mother. who led him to an upstairs bedroom
and locked him in, refusing TO let her see,
speak or communicate with him by Eessen-
ger. subsequently young Blaine. at the in
stigation of his mother left the house and
went to the railroad station at Gardner,
where it was proposed he should take
train for Portland and sail for Europe.
Mrs. Blaine learned of this programme, and
loft by the same train. At Gardner, how
ever, Mrs. Coppinger intercepted her broth
er. and destroyed the last chance for recon-
ciliation between husband and wife. After
this she again wrote numerous letters to
her husband, registering one to m AXE sure
of his getting it.
She then told of her financial troubles
and her theatrlc cal engagement with Mr..
Frohman. and an illness, after which she
was a cripple. She said she was now able
to su pport her child by her writing. and
she could early resume her theatrical work.
She said she came to South Dakota to es-
tablsh bona tide residence, in order to
get legal control Of her son. Her evidence
was clear and convincing and won the
sympathy of all.
The dispositions of Mrs. NevIns. DR.. Wyn-
koop. General Mcmahon Mrs. Ogden Dore-
mus and others subetantiated her story.
At 5o'cl ock court adjourned. Tomorrow
the findings of fact and conclusions of law
will be presented. A decree is not expect
ed for several days.