Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-08
A STRANGE STORY.
Senator From Knox County
Tells 1t to the Journal.
Says Husband Incarcerated Wife in
An Insane Asylum.
VIII Now Seek Divorce and $4,000
Damages.

Senator Staples of Knox county, who
| has been in Augusta, this week, to
appear before the Governors Council in
| behalf of Charles Moore told a Journal
reporter the following story which
seems more like a page from fiction
than from real life:
Mrs. John E. Eaton of WaldoborO,
| is handsome woman of so years of
| age, the daughter of John Miller, for
many years prominent in the town. A
woman of culture and refinement and
talented in many ways, she travels in
the best of society and has friends by
the score, but the events of the past
few months have had a visible effect
upon her.
"She married some years ago Mr.
Eaton: her husband is in the insurance
business in Boston, and, so far as
known, is doing a very good business.
Last winter, or, perhaps, more prop
erly, sometime last year, she became i'll
and in the early part of the past win
ter physicians decided that she must
undergo a severe surgical operation.
Arrangements were made for her to go
to the hospital to be operated upon and
on the day appointed she, accompanied
by her husband, left for, as she sup
posed, the Massachusetts General hos
ptal. After the start, her husband
informed her that he had found a pr-
vate institution outside the city, where
she could receive better treatment and
have more comforts than at the general
hospital.
Much pleased at this mark of af-
lection, as she supposed it to be, and
trusting him implicitly, she acpuiesced
to the change in the program.
"It would have been much better for
her had she objected and refused to
do aught else but go to the institution
originally intended. She was taken to,
not a private hospital, but to the in
sane hospital at Battleboro, VT, where
she was committed, her husband pre-
senting a certificate which set forth
that she was insane and had tenden-
cy to take her own life. This certifi-
cate was duly signed. or, at least it
bore the signatures of two physicians of
Battleboro. That was on January 26,
of this year.
THE story of how she got word of her
predicament to friends, and how I was
called into the case, doesn't matter; but
I was called and about two weeks ago
went to Battleboro, for the purpose of
securing her release. 1t was warm
interview which | had at the office of
the Insane hospital. They did not
seem to be very much disposed to re-
lease Mrs. Eaton, but I was determined
that she should come away with me
and she did which is more to the point
OF course, I was armed with evidence,
which was of the greatest consequence
and. after I had shown the officials
what I possessed and told them what
should do, if any determined effort was
made to prevent me accomplishing the
purpose which had called me there
they decided that it was best to allow
the lady to leave.
"And, / rather flatter myself that ]
convinced them of her sanity.
Il took her to my home in Washing
ton, where she remained a short time
and then she went to her home in
Waldoboro, where she is now.
''Since then, I have, as her counsel
begun action for a divorce for her from
her husband, and have asked for
$1,000 damages"