The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-18

prefaced. when man says anything
uerogatory about woman, no matter
who she Is. most people naturally feel
inclined to stick up for the woman. But
this business has reached a stage where
feel thas my side of it ought to be
given to the public-the people in Den
YER VINO Know me and who used to re-
spect me.
BRAND THE STORY.
while shrink from lifting the curtain
from my early domestic troub es, my
self-respect compels me to brand the
statements which appeared in last Sun
days edition of Denver paper, and said
to be quoted from letter my former
wife sent here, as a tissue of infamous
and malicious falsehoods. They are every
one of them untrue, except the statement
that have been contributing to the
support OF my former wife and our two
children.
81 was married to my divorced wife,
who was Miss Selma f. Adams, in
NewoIt, N. H., whore we b 9th lived, on
Feb. 10, 1868. l was not quite 10 years
old atthe time. and she was only II years
and months old. Some time before
that l had enlisted for the war, and WAS
then home on recruiting service. A boy
and girl attachment had existed between
US before / joined the army. Everybody
at home believed that most of the boys
wbo went to tho front would new er CON. g
back alive. My family and the family
OF my former wife talked the thing
over. and they decided it would be bet
ter for us to get married before l went
away again.
10 ell you the truth, the state of
New Hampshire had passed law pro-
viding for the payment of 81, 600 to the
widow of every soldier killed in the war.
wanted the girl to.get that money if
happened to be killed, aud wanted to
give her chance as thought in my
boyish way, OF mourning deoently for
me in widows weeds. l did not marry
her until just before / took a train or
South Carolina, to rejoin my regiment
That was all the married life we lived
until met her again when / was mus
tered out at the close of the war.
IN MAINE.
"In the summer of 1866 my former
wife and myself moved from Newport to
Portland, Me-, and in the following
January was appointed under jailer OF
cumberland county. In the fall of '66
onr daughter. Maud, twas born.
Gin January Of $50 was appointed
under sheriff. and coroner of the county,
and United States deputy marshal of the
state. then bought house in the most
respectable portion of cortland, and
| there gave kevery possible comfort !
could afford to my family. Our son,
Paul, was born in 1878, Jan. "a. Ali
| this time did everything l could to
make my home shappy. .but my former
wife's expensive habits and extravaganza
| kept me running over my income the
wholeStime. She wanted carriages, SER
| wants and other Injuries that could not
furnish her. In 1878 determined to bst-
ter my condition by coming out to this
state, where I had many friends and
raighbors. On account of a change in
| the official administrati Twas then out
| of office.
"With my wife's full and free consent
| / started for Colorado in March of 1879.
We decided that we could Ut live AMIGA.
bly, together. and told her that as soon
as l got settled out here would send her
moneyEtossupport herself and the child
rem and to pay for the children's educa-
ton. Up in Custer county, where l
! located atFfirst, did not make much
| money, but sent my family every cent l
had to spare. While in Leadville after
ward, acting as under sheriff of Lake
| county, sent home every month one
half to two-thi rds of what l earned.
DRAFTS THROUGH THE BANKS.
Col. Adams then ran over his after
life in Colorado, up to year ago.
"From the time left home until year
ago." said he, "there has not been
month that did not send remittance
to this woman for the use of herself and
our two children. During at least the
last seven years. of this period my drafts
| through the First National bank and the
National Bank of CONNIE cree have ranged
monthly from 500 to $500, and some
times as.high AZ 5000, If Twas free man
| could produce all the checks and stubs
| and show them to you.
"But what about your divorosP" WAS
asked.
81 am not certain of the date when Il
was granted, and hate to talk abut it, 3"
he expl ined. "When l get ready to
come to Colorado my former wife's
father and sisters and brothers were not
on speaking term with her. She lived
extensively The divorce was granted In
Sullivan county, N. H., right where our
people lived.
ri told her she could bring the suit
and that would not make any defense,
provided she did notNalege any thing
that would put stain on my manhood.
She alleged incompatiDility of temper
and desertion. think, and got her
divorce.
"She was allowed no a1imony but
agreed to pay her $50 month during
the minority of our son. the money,
which amounted to 81 900. to be paid i n
lump sum. Her attorney sent me O ut
a note for the full am cunt after / was
settled in Colorado, ana the money was
remitted to him by me as soon as | could
get that much together. The divorce was
ranted in 10, if / remember rightly.
MORE REMITTANCES.
"But the 81, 600 was not all the money
paid her. Right along l have allowed
her S65 month for household expenses,
SO month pocket money for our son,
Paul. and 81 to pay his car fare to and
from Cambridge, where he was being
educated. AS his health was not good
enough to admit his attending school