The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-19
A WIFE SUES.
Seeks $4,000 From a
Wealthy Widow.
Alleges Alienation OF Her
Husbands Affections.
The Defendant In the Case Nov es in
Fashionable Society.


promises some spicy developments. The
case, tho first of its kind recorded in this
vicinity, is "a suit brought by Mrs. Del
vina Wilkinson against Mrs. Mcllen 4.
Bragg for the alienation of her husbands
affections, for which she asks sl0, 900
damages.
reporter visited the town yesterday
afternoon and found 10 almost the only
theme of conversation. The greatest
secrecy has been maintained for about
three weeks, owing TO the prominence OF
the defendant, who is in leading society,
and is well known not only In southern
Now Hampshire but parts of Massachu-
sctts and Vermont as we'll. IL came out
in some manner yesterday and the news
spread like wildflre.
The plaintiff Is husband, Henry Wilkin-
son, worked rs coachman for the defend
ants husband, Mellen G. Bragg, and ut
the death of the latter in October, he CON
tinucd in the same role for tho widow.
The plaintiff alleges that her husband
was loving, kind and endearing, but as
soon as Mr.. Bragg died he changed and
became Indifferent, not coming home for
weeks at "a time and showed no interest
in his home
She Was a Rutland Girl
The defendant before she was married
was Miss Lottie Miller of Rutland, VT
She married Mellan &. Bragg about II
years ago The latter was u well known
boot and shoe manufactures succeeding
his father, Colonel Ariel Bragg, and was
successful. He carried on business at
Braggville, Mass, which was named after
his family, about mile from Milford.
He was well known figure in many of
the Boston banks and always prided
himself in saying that he could draw on
any of them for any amount.
He was highly connected, all of his
relatives teing very rich among them be-
| ing the late III. Is. Clafin of New York.
A brother, Elexius Bragg, died in
Brooklyn IA few years ago. and was i'm
mensely rich. Mr.. Bragg retired from
| shoe manufacturing about 20 years ago to
live on the wealth he had accumulated,
and moved to New Ipswich. November q,
1883 He died there October 20 of last year.
Henry Wilkinson sued his wife in the
| first place for a divorce, giving as his
cause cruel and abusive treatment. In
| retaliation his wife sues Mrs. Bragg for
alternating him. Mrs. Bragg claims that
| IL is n case of blackmail, and probably the
| next act may belan arrest
Mrs. Bragg, when served with the writ,
| discharged Wilkinson, and he is mt pres
| ent living with his brother In the adjoin-
| ing town OF Mason. The plaintiffs story,
| AS told by her to the reporter, follows:
The Plaintiffs Story.
II was married over 26 years ago, aud
up to six months ago we lived happily
I together. About October L noticed n
GOODNESS i'm his affection. He remained
away day and night for about week at
that time He told me he was to take
care of the Bragg horses. He never would
have done as he has but for her. At the
funeral of MIR. Bragg the defendant
pinned bouquet on the coat lapel of my
husband and also adorned herself with
another.
Never knew anything wrong about my
husband until she camo between us. /
suspected nothing wrong until Mr.. Bragg
had died. / went to Fitchburg and told
my son, who sent for his father He went
there, getting up early one morning and
starting about u o'clock. He went up TO
the hotel. borrowed a two-seated surry
and "A pair of double harnesses, went back
to Mrs. Bragg's, hitcbed her horse along
side of his. and took Mrs Bragg and a
Mrs Russell with him. He did not know
that knew he went, but i kept tabs on
him when he never dreamed of it,
'My sons interview with him had a
little effect for The better, but IL was only
for short time. / accused him of having
no interest in his home III it.were not for
my son, and my nephew, Harry Wilkin-
son, / would have been compelled TO call
on the town for aid. My husband was
sick for n year and / supported him by
washing and other jobs. Up TO the timeMrs.
Bragg came between us he turned over
his earnings to the support of his family.
The Petition of the Son.
ellis son has seen him and begged him
to return to his home, but to no avail He
is living now with his brother in Mason.
The defendant goes there twice week 60
SO. him. She never went there until after
he went. Myself and sister, Mrs. Carrie
Wilkinson of Greenville, went tnere once
and heard music before we got to the
house Sister went i'm and found Mrs.
Russell and Mrs. Bragg there, also the
latters music box. Wien / learned who
were there l did not enter, lest / might
say something to them.
Had conversation aftcrward with
Mrs Bragg at her homo. i told her that I
supposed she knew that my husband had
left me. Mrs Bragg said she knew
nothing about IL. aud that he did not stay
at her place She then told me that IL
people couldn't get along together they
had better separate.
Wilkinson Would Not Go.
"The idea of mis- staying thcro 10 take
care OF the horses, as he himself ad-
mittcd il she did not know of il / was
invited TO have dinner with my sister i'm
Greenville Thanksgiving day, and asked
my husband To accompany me, in the
presence of the proprietor Of Clark's
hotel, who also advised him to 60 Our
peadings were Of no avail. He said he
could not, but still NO drove Mrs. Rragg
there later in the day. / could see him
enter aud leave the Bragg house.
II have coaxod him To como back. but
IL was no use Mrs. Bragg having such
an influence over him. 1 rcprimnpdcd
him for leaving his family. He said he
had no family. When he went away he
left Us destitute with no money, wood
or food. and hc even took the horse from
the harm and sold it. After he left the
landlord called for the rent. lie has sent
me s. once since he left.
Il can prove that she said that II she
ever married my husband 10 would DO for
true love- and she admitted to me that
she liked and loved my husband. "
The defendant was seen and made
General denial of all allegations Opinion
o the matter seems about evenly divided.