The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-07
A SAP rRAeEpr REcALLEp.
Divorce ,... sss z marasE 90. q ,he Ne,

Divorce and . Murder IN the New
York Tribune Onlce.
me announcement of the death Of Mrs
Abby Sage Richardson IN Rome recalls a
sad tragedy. Nearly thirty years ago
Mrs Richardson obtained a divorce from
drunken husband named Mcfarland
whose cruel abuse Of her when he was IN.
toxicated was notorious. Mrs Mcfarland
subsequently was sought IN marriage by
Albert ID. Richardson. one Of the most
gifte1 members Of the staff OF the New
York Tribune lie had been a famous
war correspondent and had published a
book describing his adventures as a pris-
oner Of war. for he had been captured
during Grants Vicksburg campaign.
Richardson was an able writer. an upright
man. and he had been attracted to Mrs.
Mcfarland BY her superior literary abil-
ity. Mcfarland. hearing that Richard
son was paying his addresses 10 his a.
vorced wife. sWore that he would KIN
him. His nrst attempt was frustrated by
Richardson, who wrested his pistol from
his grasp. Some months after. McFar-
land. learning that Richardson would
shortly marry Mrs. Mcfarland. sought
out Richardson IN the Tribune 0fice aud
shot him down. Richardson fingered a
few days IN great agony. and before his
death was married 20 Mrs Mcfarland
70 whom he wiiled all his property The
marriage ceremony was performed BY
Henry Ward Beecher. and among those
present was the Rev. o. B. Frothlnghau.
the famous Liberal Unitarian preacher
OF whose religious society Richardson
was a member
Beecher and rockingham both made
THE tragedy a subject OF pulpi. dk.course
Beecher avowing his solenn conviction
that the relations OF Mrs. Mcfarland and
Richardson had always been absolutely
beyond reproach. Richardson never paid
his addresses to Mrs Mcfarland until
she was a divorced woman. and his only
onenae was that he had once advised
Mrs. Mcfarland 70 separate from a man
whose drunken brutality made life with
him degrading companionship. McFar-
land was tried FOR murder and was de.
Tended b. John Graham. a famous jury
iowyer. who had defended Gen Sickle,
IN his trial for the murder OF Key. Nc
Farland was acquitted on the ground Of
insanity. lie survived a few years. but
was Stunned BY everybody. and died a
-ettat ouNHatl ne was malignant
wretch. FOR he confessed to a prominent
lawyer. in whose once he had been
clerk during the war. and who visited
him IN prison. that he "did not shoot
Richardson because he believed he had
seduced Mrs. Mcfarland. but because he
was determined that IL she was divorced
from him no other man should have her"
After her husbands death Mrs. Rich
ardson rose rapidiy into favor as a writer
OF superior ability and versatility She
was a woman Of very winning personal.
lty. and was welcome IN the best literary
circles or New York and Boston. She
bore herself always with dignity. and
carried the bitter cross OF her husbands
murder with resignation. devoting herself
70 the care OF her children by her first
The few thousands Of dollars
willed her BY Richardson enabled her to
live in comfort until her literary reputa-
ton had become hrmly established By hen.
versatile Portland Oregonian.