The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-21
That Is The Ground on Which
Nj. Preston viii Seek Divorce
USED CELLAR AS HEN COOP.
Mrs. Preston Says a Feeling Of CcTsfous-
ness Steals Over Her Which Shs Is
Unable 10 Resist

waterbury, Conn, Aug. 21--whether OF
not the socially Prominent and wealthy
Charles ]. Preston. OF Woodbury., can get
divorce from his wife because she en-
ticed the chickens of neighbors into the
cellar OF their home and kept them, is
something the courts Will have to de-
eide.
For weeks the prize poultry OF the
neighborhood had mysteriously disap-
peared. but never once did suspicion rest
on Mrs. Preston, who is one OF the social
lights OF the village. and whose husband
IS wealthy enough TO give her every COM
fort
Neighbors by and by noticed that when
their chickens got through the high
hoard fence surrounding the Preston
home they never returned. Then there
was much craning of necks and search
ing among garbage barrels in the hope
OF fnding familiar feathers or feet but
with no success.
Investigation Saturday revealed the fact
that the cellar % the Preston home was
filled with chicHens. One prize Plymouth
Rock cockerel belonging TO Wilbur Wells
was proudly strutting about and with IL
were dozen more chickens of all ages
and varieties.
HYsTERICAL WHEN FOUND OUT.
Arrangements were made 10 arrest Mrs
Preston on a charge of chicken stealing.
When her husband, Charles +. Prest ton,
was notified he was very angry and de-
clared the charges false. Refusing 10
believe HIS wife guilty, he was taken 10
his home and there shown the chickens
in the cellar.
Mr. Preston went 10 Hotchkss,a a neigh
boring village. where his wife was attend
ing a social function. and ordered her 10
return home Immediately. and since has
instructed his lawyers 20 apply for a di-
vorce. Chicken stealing" will be one
of The principle charges.
When Mrs. Preston returned TO her
homn she was weeping Historically but
did aot deny ta.at she had coaxed the
chi,kens into the cellar.
Those chickens were such a bother 10
me-" she declared They ran about my
place. over the lawns, and among my
flowers, despite my efforts 10 keep them
away Driven 10 desperation. caught
one or two az lesson 10 the others. This
did no good and caught others.
II didn't mean 10 keep them. but before
covered. and the hubbub raised spoiled
my plane do not have TO steal as
have plenty OF money. but there II feel
ing Of covetousness which steals over me,
ard I am powerless TO resist ~"
Neighbors have been missing valuable
potted plants recently. and Mrs. Preston
was asked II she had taken them.
oh do they know OF that too?" she
asked. apparently stunned that the knowl-
edge of her pilfering had been made pub
lc.
STOLEN PLANTS FOUND.
Mrs Bull mother Of DR. Bull, and Mrs.
j. Allen, have recently missed some valu-
ale plants They were dumbfounded when
the potted plants were found on the We
randa OF the Preston home.
Mrs. Preston has disappeared from her
home. Her husband has made no efforts
10 locate her and is planning to leave the
village. In his divorce proceedings he
dren. two boys and two girls, ranging in
age from four TO twelve
Mr.. Prestons father. Bennett Preston.
for years owned the principal grocery
store OF Roxbury, and when he died left
was broker in New York and another
brother. Edward Preston. was town clerk
of Roxbury and a magistrate
Mrs. Preston is 80 years old and a very
beautiful woman. She was before her
marriage Lulu Murphy. village belle.
Her FANNY was not wealthy. but they
were prominent socially Mrs. Preston's
friends say II was kleptomanla.