Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-10
MARITAL IMPLICITLY.
A Case That is stirring Up the upper-I
dom of the Blue Grass Region.

dom of the Blue Grass Region.
PARIS, KY, July 9.-Joseph DO
ton and his wife have separared, a.
something over three years OF marrr
life. ON account of the woman confess
ing 10 her husband that for perisu
Of twenty years prior 10 her mar
rage she was too intimate with ne7
brother-in-law, Captain James
Kerr. 1t Is sad story, and has throw
the Bluegrass upperdom into Juror On
excitement. Joseph Howerton is
wealthy man, and noted for his stead
fast principles. He is an elder In the
Presbyterian Church at this place, ana
Is orthodox even TO his choker coilar.
His wife was formerly Miss Saiie
Brooks, connected by blood or marriage
to nearly all of the wealthy and reign
ing families Of this and adjoining coun-
ties. She has been noted for her grea1
interest In church work and charitaol
undertakings. She Is forty-twoyear
age. aud one OF the handsomest womYny
in Bourbon county.
The story as given out by the Hover
ton side of the affair is about as follows:
From time TO time since the marriage,
which took place three years and seven
months ago, Mr.. Howerton has heard
intimations that his wife was unchaste
when single. A week ago from
last night he was holding fam
ily prayers, and on raising
from his knees went to his
wife and said: "SallIe, have heard II
more than once that you were too In
innate with James Kerr before our
marriage. / want you to settle the
matter now by denying or admitting
it," She, 80 the story goes, then con-
fessed how for twenty yeers she had
been her brother-in-law's mistress.
How, when a girl of seventeen, when
waiting on her sick sister, MRS.
Kerr, she had been seduced under
promise OF marriage II her sister died.
How from thon until her marriage this
intimacy had continued. Mr.. Howerton
came TO town, and calling on some OF
the officers Of the Presbyterian Church
asked them what they advised. Ot
course they told him TO leave her, and
in order to have the Thus sayeth the
Lord" to it, they told him to dispatch
over to Richmond for DR.. Blanton,
Dean OF Central University, and let him
and Rev. DR.. Rutherford, who has
charge OF the Presbyterian Church here,
take Mrs. Howerton's confession down
in writing. The two ministers repaired
10 Howerton's, took the statement, had
the lady sign it, and they attested u.
She then left for Cincinnati, and Is
there now.
Captain Kerr was seen by your repre-
sentative at his home, just over the
Fayette county line He is one OF the
wealthiest men In Central Kentucky,
and has the appearance OF being q good
liver. He denounced the whole thing
as blackmail, and made the following
statement: Tuesday week ago MIS-.
Howerton came 10 my house ana re-
malned all day. When II came time to
90 to the train / told my daughteTto
take my buggy and drive bsr aunt over
TO the train. Mrs. Howerton remarked:
"No, want you TO go; ! want TO talk
with you" then goS In and drove
over to the station. On the way over
there she told me that Howerton had
gotten her to tell that was too inti-
mate with her before her marriage, and
he said II did not sand him $4,000 he
would send his wife away and publish
il 10 the world. told her that / would
not give him cent, and asked her
what induced her TO tell such a story.
She said that Howerton worried her
into II by telling her be knew she was
unchaste. On yesterday week she
again came to my house, and told my
wife TO talk TO her aud get her story.
She had on that day told my wife in iny
presence that Howerton said he wonld
not hush the thing up for less than S20.-
600. $4,000 was TO give her and
$40, 600 TO him. He would invest his
ten thousand dollars and devote
the proceeds TO charity. / told her
Howerton was an infamous scoundrel,
and | believed she had lost her mind. l
felt outraged, and told her TO go back to
Howerton aud not to come near the
house again.
Mr.. Kerr said that Howerton also
went TO w. G.. Morgan. OF Lexington,
and told him he would hush the thing
up II Kerr would put up the $4,000.
A brother-in-law OF Mrs. Howerton
has gone 10 Cincinnati to try TO induce
the lady 70 return. II he can not sue
ceed. her old mother. now eighty years
OF age, will go down after her heart
broken-daughter.
Mrs. Howerton stated to Capt. Kerr
that her husband did not use any yio-
Ience to induce her to make the state
ment. but told her she had better tell
IL before she was forced TO do so.