Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-03-19
A SENSATION
Shakes the Social and Business
Circles Of SkoThtgan.
Prominent Young Isn LsaYas Town and
Thsn Il Becomes Known


Especial to the KBssEBEo JoURSAL.1
SKowHEGAN, March IS.--Lsst Wednes.
day morning the JoUBNAL anne u1ced the
fact that the law Arm Of Merrill & Cofiir
had dissolved, but did not state any psrtic.
ulsr Re sson for the dissolution of one Of
the leading law Arms in town just before
the beginning Of The present term Of court
This vas in the nature Of 4 surprise to
everybody and the subsequent develop
ments have caused vide spread dsmoral "a
ton in legal and society circles. There are
various stories in circulation, but the main
facts. As near as can be ascertAiued, are
as follows:
Edward Z. Cofiin, E'9 = rising young
lawyer, author Of Coffin's Supplementary
Digest Of Maine Reporls. member Of the
school board, born of good family, honors-
BILE TO all outward in,ents and purposes,
recognized brilliant member of high So
ciety life, educated, talented in his chosen
profession, and who by the recen, death Of
his mother came into the possession Of a
handso fortune and fine homestead, is
victim Of gossip's tongue, and on his own
indiscreet act.
Several years ago Mr.. CT fiji met and be
came infatuated with ons Of Skowhega $
fair cit zens, the daughter Of = wealthy and
highly respected citizen and business man.
After = while an engagement for matfi-
monial purposes was agreed upon, but it is
very generally understood that the parents
vetoed the act and the young couple were
supposed to have broken off the engs2t
ment. Soon after there was report that
the young lady threatened suit for breach
Of promise but thst died out for q good
reason as subsequent events show.
Mr.. Coffin has occupied prominent
position in business aud social circles aud
has been looked upon rs an honorable and
promising young man. lie has been a
nj amber Of the school board for several
years and has evlnced a deep interest IN
school matters and he has won honorable
mention in many waye.
OF late he has appeared to his friends to
be suffering from some great mental strain
but was very recitent about explaining the
cause 90 that it WAS cor jectured that he was
epgrossed in some matter in connection
with bis law business in the ~ol-kuown
firm of which he was q member. He de
parted suddenly Saturday afternoon without
any intimation to any one as TO his desins-
ton.
Tuesday the dissolution Of CO. partnership
was announced but on Wednesday the
great shock to social circles came like thun-
der from 4 clear sky. Mise Belle Lawton, the
young lady refe,rtd to, comes forward snd
claims to have been married to MIR. Ctfiin
several years ago, that she has kept the
matter q secret until now as per agreement
with Mr.. Coffin that the marriage should
not be male known during the life Of his
mother.
This then is the accredited reason for
Mr.. Cofiin's mental suffering for some
months past. The mother is now dead snd
the wife who has kept secret that marriage
Of several years ago nov desires that Mr..
Coffin should acknowledge her before the
world or consent to another public marriage
or both.
Mr. Coffin ia gu. of town, his whereabouts
are unknown. Miss Lswton Is either out
Of town or does not care to be interviewed,
for the attempts Of the Journal and other
reporters to ring anyone up at the Lswton
residence have failed to receive any
response.
From friends of the family il is learned
that the marriage was performed in New
Hampshire and that the couple went on a
wedding trip, bu, the date Of the marriage
can not be asCer.ained at this writing. The
press tuld have had this information
earlier had il not been Tor the reason lhst
another and disapreeable element had been
thrown il - the case
The different representatives of the
press scouts d the scandAious story from The
be ginning and at once be gan the YORK OF
undermining it, getting at the Truth of the
matter sld establishing the innocence Of
the guiltless third party. We are now pre-
pared to say without the fear of contradic-
lion that the party referred to ia the rumor
about town has no connection with the al
fair al 4 that the ssid rumor i.s base in
justice 10 v;rtuous, beloved yourg woman
and cruelty and criminally false from its
incep'i n.
Mr Ctffi is not to be charged with this
last feature Of an already dissgreesble MAJ
ter. it is not even cor jectured what the
outcome ma be, but It is the sweet morsel
that gossipers have been longing for for
some ime, and never before has Skowhe-
gan been so socislly shaken as in the past
few days.
The high social position Of all concerned
makes the subject Of special importance
and interest to those who scan the pspers
for Just such events. In the future devel-
opments that may be shown to the public,
it msy be well to say, let US be just, be
fair.