davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-11-14

and made her debut with the Boston
Symphony orchestra. Among other
numbers she sang the suicide aria
from the opera "Gioconda" Boston
critics caused Mrs. Sprague to quit
her proposed tour and return to
France. Defeat lay in ambush wher-
ever a Sprague ventured forth. That
same year Mrs. Kate Chase died in
poverty in Washington.
There was, for instance, the case of
Orestes Alvord Weed, brother of Mrs.
Inez Sprague and her sister Mrs. Gerrit
s. Wheaton, who, in 1903 eloped with
Miss Katherine ID. de Roulhac, of New
York. Last year young Weed was
found dead at the Grand Union hotel
in New York from morphine poison
ing. His young widow and two hand
some children are all that remain of
his little Households household
founded after many affairs of the
heart in which young Weed was the
debonairthero.
Five years ago Gerrit S. Wheaton
died and left his large interest in
Standard Oil to his young widow, sis
ter of Mrs. Inez Sprague, one time
wife of Willie Sprague, and mother
OF Inez Sprague the second. The lat
ter was beautiful girl And she has
just blasted the great hopes of the
little war governor" ahd his wife, by
clipping with Harry Williams Stiness,
son of Chief Justice John Fl. Stiness,
Spragues implacable enemy in tho
Rhode Island supreme court, between
whose family and the clan Sprague
a feud has existed since 1874,
Marriage Promised Much.
Many had courted the girl. Finally
last year, when she was 81, she be-
came engaged TO young Winpenny
member of a prominent Pennsylvania
family. BY this marriage, the
Wheaton fortune, coupled with Canon
chet and its acres, might yet make the
score even between the Spragues and
| their enemies.
But fate was against II.
| One day last spring Miss Inez an
nounced the breaking of her engage
ment to Mr.. Winpenny. On day in
June she left Canonchet to go shop
ping in Providence. There on June
81, at St Stephens church, she mar
ried Harry Williams Stiness without
previous announcement. Rev. Her
bert Barker performed the ceremony
w. c. Rhoades and Wurst White were
witnesses. The spirited young lady
was not to be bothered with the forms
and frills of a conventional marriage
1t is merely matter of theory tina
the acquisition of husband on he
shopping tour was the item OF chic
concern to Miss Inez. There was
new hat, for instance.
And because of it Canonchet goe
under the hammer at once. Thu
Spragues are TO quit Rhode Island ant
America forever.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-11-14
Separated BY Divorce.

Separated BY Divorce.
Meantime, Kate Chase brought her
sensational suit for divorce. Gov.
Sprague filed counter charges. So
ciety glutted itself with gossip of the
case, A compromise was finally effect
ed by which both these charges were
withdrawn and a charge of cruelty in
terposed. On May 81, 1882, Kate
Chase-Sprague got the decree divorc-
ing her and giving her the right to re-
sumo her maiden name and the GUS
tody of the three daughters, Ethel,
Portia and Kitty.
On March s, 1883, the governor mar
ried his present wife. She was Dora
Inez Weed. of Virginia. She was then
| rs and Gov. Sprague 81. They imme-
| diately went to Canonchet, where Mrs.
| Sprague has since reigned as its chat
elaine.
| For while this romance seemed to
work revival of the governors olden
power The Independent state con-
vention nominated him for governor
on March IA, 1883, few days after he
had come north with his bride. On
March 81, the Democrats also nomi-
mated him, and 1t looked as II the little
war governor would retrieve his for
mer place.
Soon after the governor married his
present wife, his son, Willie, married
her sister, Avice Weed, of Whining
ton, Del. The governor then became
his sons brother-in-law, and Willie's
wife was at the same time his sister.
in-law and his daughter-in-law, and the
governors wife was Willies sister-in.
law and stepmother Meantime, Kate
Chase had retired to Washington with
her three daughters
There was hot campaign. But the
old-time war governor was not reflect
ed 1t almost broke his heart-he
governor of Rhode Island in the civil
war leader OF her troops, United
States senator for two terms, defeated
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04

a cent? Surely any one not entirely
Insane should have saved the price Of
the fare for her children. "Unwritten
law" indeed. There is weak and
foolish fop In New York who has
kept the press busy for half year
guessing whether ne will plead in de.
Tense of cowardly murder when he
slipped up and shot brilliant man of
brains and achievement in the back,
this same "unwritten law" or simply
emotional insanity.
Now, have we not had about enough
of this "unwritten law" nonsense?
Who win be the next man or woman
to shoot someone in the back or belly.
and plead the "unwritten law? /
say and you know that had 1t not
been for the noisy and foolish fop
In the Tombs with his plea about the
"uawrltten Jaw" this poor woman out
of the far west would be at home to.
day with her children and her victim
on his feet about his business.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04

fortunate as to have brothers. but
n case In which there was no male
relative, and that he believed that
were such n case to arise OF gross
abuse. there WAS always to be found
In the community a man who would
protect the woman and her rights.
Two Noted Tragedies.
Who that reads the recent trial OF
Gillette for the murder OF his victim
can forget the GOODNESS with which he
claimed he said: Tell your father:
II you don't. | will" There comes a
mental picture of that father and
what swift vengeance he would have
meted out to the destroyer of his
child. Was Gillette such a degen.
crate that to him the unwrItten law
had no meaning. or was he merely
talking for effect?
Tho unwritten law which says YEN.
geance is mine" is no excuse for tho
disgraccful broils of the degenerate
man and woman who find their only
pleasure In dissipation. Tho man who
despolls innocence himself-who gives
his name and his protection to WON
an whose life has been like unto his
own, IL not In any sense the defender
Of what the home stands for. His
sense OF moral obligation for himself
Is too blunted TO fit him, TO judge
Of the transgres8iCns of another Hn
is himself an outlaw when Judged by
the standards of common morality
His propensity to shoot Is the re.
suit OF heated brain. or the lack OF
brains.
No woman, no man, is safe with
such a creature at large.
Let us add to the unwrittea law an.
other section: Let there be nc inu.
endos against the chastity of woman.
but only straightforward statements
with page and verse" and the viola.
lor OF this law shall be plac=rded:
This person took away the good
name OF another without cause" ana
walk the streets In shame.
In the heart of every man. thero
dwells first, absolute faith in his moth.
er, That is his birthright, and in pro,
portion to his faith In and affection
for his mother will be his faith in
and affection FOR his wife. On that
foundation is built his attitude to his
offspring. The true son. the true
husband, the real father. in all these
relations. owes to the home clean
standard of living. He should never
Invite into that home man who does
not himself respect virtue The man
who Is a despoiler Of virtue In one
instance is an unsafe guest and friend.
How much more so. when licenEe !s
hts rule of conduct.
Protect my innocence or fat! into
the trap that Is laid for me-
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04

son Of a prominent politician of the
time and our minister to Mexico
This for the wronged member OF
congress:
Blood on his hands,
A stain ON his bed
Pity them all
Living and dead.
And this Is for the handsome and
dashing betrayer:
Ellows ot sod
Swell DER his breast
Pleading with God
There let him rest
Sentiment is Noble and inspiring.
have no use for either man or WON.
an without deep and sincere sentiment
and sympathy In all things. But Won
search the Bible In vain for anything
like this ''unwritten law disease.
There arc those who tell you that you
can find anything you want to find a
the Bible. And. true, you can find
many strange things. You can find
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04
FOR UNWRITTEN LAW
Dean Of the Washington College Of
Law Defines II as the Right to De.
fend the Integrity Of Family Life.
BY ELLEN SPENCER MussEY.

BY ELLEN SPENCER MUssEY.
Dean of the Washington College of Law.
The unwritten law might be dc.
fined TO be right TO defend the intog.
rity of family life against all invasion
and invaders. While the family has
no distinct legal entity apart from the
persons who compose 1t, yet In the
interest of society. the law holds the
more intimate family relations as
sacred and not to be inquired into BY
court of justice. II is on this ground
that communications between husband
and wife are privileged, and they can.
not testify as to confidential communi.
cations made by one to the other
during the marriage.
Marriage Is civil institution as
well as contract, and II should be n
religious sacrament. Law cannot
E:ake or unmake the true marriage
rel-tion, but so far as tho relation
concerns society and the state, it must
control II.
The Family as a Unit.
The law regards carefully all prop.
erty rights. 1t deals promptly with
the trcspasSer and the thief, and en-.
forces contracts. The murderer, the
embezzler. the periurer, have justice
meted out to them as enemies of the
commonwealth.
But the law does not deal with the
family as a unit. Every student Of
sociology knows that the homes of the
commonwealth are Its real corner.
stones. but the law does not so recog.
nlze 1t. II is the one inctitution still
left to the defense of the head of the
family In the very nature of things
there is always a woman In the case
If the crime is against her personally,
II she be over the age Of l6. what
remedy does the law give hor?
A young woman went into a city TO
support herself. unwarned, inexperi-
enced her faith and her affections
found an unworthy object. Too late
she found the man was airead; mar.
ried. and In q wild moment sl.e shot
him fatally. u the man had boldly
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04

OF Notre Dame and the Louvre; of st
Paul's and Windsor. The unaccount
able influence OF this slight creature
beside him, brought to his memory
scenes of beauty and interest that he
had looked on only In passing. and
had long forgotten. He talked with.
out roughness. and even found him.
self thanking the waitress for things
she passed him. lie felt pleasantly
uncomfortable.
He walked that evening with two
Of his fellow dodgers, for little exer.
else before retiring, One OF them
was the young lady whom he had sat
next TO at dinner. The other was q
young lawyer who occupied the room
next to his in the hall. Their talk
was wholesome and happy. They
asked him about his home and his
business. not as curiosity seekers OF
ldlers, but as people sincerely inter.
ested In him. They never talked OF
themselves but answered his CUES,
tons frankly.
was flower on his bureau. The gas
was burning low The windows were
slightly opened. and the fresh, pure
air surrounded him. He found a pitch.
er OF cool water at hand, and n glass
stood near 1t. Presently. Mrs, Slmp-
son knocked at his door. 1T occurred
to me-" she said. sweetly, that you
might not yet have unpacked your
books"
Watkins looked appreheusiveiy at
the cheap. trashy literature that
adorned his shelves. Mo" he
said slowly Il haven't"
III you would like TO use any of our
books, just go down into the library
and help yourself You need not
bother to return them to their places,
If You get Interested, Just leave them
here in your room"
Upon the following Sunday one OF
the neighbCrs met Mr. Watkins In
front OF 1916.
Il suppose this is Mr. Watkins" he
said, cordially Offering his hand. Il
am indeed glad to meet You for I
have heard OF you from your friends.
Como up tomorrow to 1924. three
doors up. and have dinner We shall
be glad TO add another gentleman TO
our list Of acquaintcnces
And 50 time passed. until ono
bright day, three months later. there
came again TO 1916 Mr.. J. Spencer
Parker. He pulled the door knob
with some trepldation. and heard
again the faint tinkle Of the ,mlta.
ton cowbell In the rear. He talked
again to the middle-aged. delightfully."-
beautiful woman who answered his
call. He left again in about half an
hour. But this time, rs he passed
tho little grocery store on the corner.
he was seen to slap himself enthusiasts.
tically on the les and to smile ra
dainty.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04

almost anything, But defy you TO
ind anything like this ''unwritten
law" IN all the lessons. laws, precepts
and examples to be found between
the lids OF the Book OF Books. I con.
fine you let us live by the sacred
decalogue. There is all the law. Ac.
cept the sermon on the mount, the
holy lesson OF our Savior. who prayed.
Forgive us. as we forgive others"
"unwritten Law" 10 Now.
II may be well enough for those
who care to entertain any sort OF pa.
thence with the "unwritten law" plea
TO understand distinctly that 1t is en-.
tirely Of mushroom growth and char,
acter. Think of Draco or Lycurgus
entertaining such absurdities. You
will see nothing OF the sort even
limited at In Justinian's code. Coke
upon Littleton. no commentator. an.
Client or modern. ever mentioned any.
thing OF the sort. The law was the
law, that was all. Blackstone was a
brave, bright poet a sentimentalist
as well az mighty expounder of the
law But surely no would have
laughed in the face OF any advocate
who might have dared to talk to him
of the "unwritten law" There is
literally nothing of the sort outside OF
America. and there is really nothing
OF the sort here except sort of sub
terfuge for law, used by demagogues.
And the sin of 1t all is the misleading
of silly people who mock at the laws
that have cost SO much toll and are
costing so much to maintain them
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04

threatened her lite. II sh. mad re
treated to the wall to elude him. II
would have been a case of justilable
homicide. But his crime against her
was more atrocious one than muir
der. II took away hor good name. the
love and affections of her friends and
relations, her future. her faith In and
respect for herself-and her trust II
God and man.
Written In the Mothers Heart.
And, again. the man takes. under
the unrighteous laws of certain states
his child away from its mother. Which
law comes first-that written in the
statute books or that written In the
heart OF every mother by the pangs OF
childbirth? So sure as she lives. that
mother will obey the unwrltten law,
and the child she will have 1t is only
ten years since there was taken from
our statute book the law that man
could by will give his unborn child to
whom he pleased. without reference
to the paramount claim. by affection
and suffering of its mother.
A member of the bar in the one
state in the union where there are no
divorce laws once told me that in his
state they had no serious trouble as
to domestic infelicities. III a man
abuses my sister he knows whom he
has to deal with" In this case the
law seemed to be preferred
TO the statute law, which sewers the
marriage bond on adequate grounds
well proven. suggested to the gen.
tleman that all women were not 80
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04
THE LIE CHARITABLE
BY HARLAN EUGENE READ

$50 he said" returned Mrs. Simp-
son, land It is indeed delightful that
those who know one well can speak
so well OF him. But come-your
trunks must he taken care OF. will
call our man"
The man came--a wiZened man,
whose face was wrinkled into q con-
slant smile: and as he hustled about.
assisting Watkins with the trunks, he
talked pleasantly and respectfully.
you will be pleased here, SIR" he
said, as they stopped, painting, at the
top OF the stairs. III | do say 1t
myself, there are no more gentleman.
ly or lady.like people in the world.
than at 1916"
Watkins. who had been Just on the
point OF cursing the man roundly for
dropping the trunk on his foot at the
top landing. contented himself with
disappearing inwardly instead.
At dinner there was a general hush
when he entered the room. and he
was introduced to the dodgers, one by
one. A sweet looking girl sat next
him, who said:
1T will be so delightful To have you
here. Mr. Watkins. Mr. Parker, who
called here yesterday, tells us that
you spent two summers In Europe"
Memories OF rough debauches in
London and Paris and feverish gam
bling at Monte Carlo came flooding
to his brain. His only subjects OF
conversation, in regard to European
travel. heretofore. had been coarse
ones. But now. coloring. he spoke
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04
BY JOAQUIN MILLER.

a woman, good or bad, shot a man,
good or bad. In his hotel In our ma.
tional capital. the other day. She
stands, she says. 'intrenched behind
the 'unwritten law" She claims to
have chased this man from Utah to
Washington and shot him to death
In his hotel. because he refused to
provide for her and her two children;
that she has twice been made a
mother; that one Of the children bears
his name.
We have, up to date, been pretty
tolerant of the woman who takes a
babe on one arm and pistol in tho
other hand and pursues a man to his
death But when there are two chill.
dren, as In this case, one may well
ponder bit before he gives her the
tears and tenderness so generously
given to the guileless. misguided girl.
Like HighWayman's Act.
A woman cannot well come into
court with a family of children and
plead seduction and betrayal, as u
girl too often does, and have the sym.
patty of both men and women. This
womans statement is that she asked
the man either to marry her or give
her money TO support her children. He
said NO; l will not" and with that
she shot him to death. or, at least, did
her best to kill him on the spot.
Briefly and bluntly she shot him down
In his hotel for refusing TO give her
money. The difference between this
act and that of the ordinary burglar
or highwayman is not very distinct.
Her declaration that the world VIII
see the Justification OF her act Is as
the declaration of an insane woman.
And this must be. as you will see. Is.
her only excuse; and II will be pleaded
so soon as a lawyer can be found to
take care of her, her only defense.
Yet there will be many ready 10 say
Served him just right" will say II
without waiting to hear one single
word of the other side. Sitting at
table today, some one read the wom
ans statement. wherein she supple
mentod the story of the attempted
murder with the assertion that she
had not one cent" Whoreupon a
beautiful lady OF more than ordinary
culture and knowledge of the world
was moved to tears and sighed: Not
one cent; think of IT." But hardened
man, n husband and father with
family OF daughters, sighed from the
other end of the table: "Ah, my dear,
there are others who have not cent.
II we are to allow all those who have
not a cent 10 set out and chase those
down who happen to have cent or
two where will that sort OF plea lead
u.s."
Victims Morals Irrelevant.
As said before. as to whether this
man is good or bad man. high or
low, rich or poor, or whether the
woman is either. neither, or all of
these. does not figure at all in this
dismal and pitiful case. Can woman
leave her children behind her and
chase a man thousands OF miles. and
then when she murders him put as her
last excuse the fact that she has not
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04
CONDEMN AND DEFEND
THE UNWRITTEN LAW
TWO SIDES OF THE QUESTION
Man and Woman, Prominent Public Life State Their
Views Subject at PRESENT of Much Pron,ir e nee
The Right to Defend the Integrity of Family Life Is
One of the Plea, Mnde-Onb Punishment to FIJI
the Crime.

Count up on your fingers, II you car
do II on both hands, how many cases
OF this "unwritten law" idea have
been conspicuous since the silly and
insolent young idler In the Tombs be
gan to exploit his defense for shoot
ing useful and Industrious man In
the back. Why. right in the column
next to the ugly account OF the
woman without cent" who left her
babes behind to travel for days and
nights to kill q man, you read OF q
woman killing a doctor and pleading
in justification "unwritten law" Pity
her? Yes. But put her quietly In
some good asylum. and. above all,
don't exploit her as you have the
young lunatlc in the Tombs. who so
enjoys being exploited. For see what
comes Of II all. The most piteous case
of this character took place n stones
throw from the White House, in front
of the old house where the assassins
tried to kill Seward the night Lincoln
was murdered. But II took place quite
a dozen years before the fateful night
at Ford's theater. A young politician
of great promise. and. too, OF subse.
quent great achievement. was living
with his notably young wife on that
same side Of the square. A great iron
fence enclosed the square at that
time, Had It not been for that fence
his retreating victim might have fed
and escaped.
Two Cultured Victims.
Both the young men in this very
first "unwritten law" tragedy were
men of fortune, culture and position.
One. the son OF poet who wrote The
Star Spangled Banner" the other a
member OF congress from New York
and equally conspicuous and respect.
ed. The member Of congress. seeing
the other leave his home and wave a
handkerchief back to his young wife,
leaning out of the window, confronted
him there by the iron fence in front
of his door and telling him OF his
shame and that he must die. followed
MN UP anu blpl MN w hthAH' Nho
reading law at the time of the trial
and followed the case closely. | re.
member reading with surprise the
plea, not of tho advocate, but the plea
OF the Judge for the prisoner re.
call how one Of the jurors. the Oldest
of them all, going down on his knees
in corner of the jury room, prayed
long and loud for the divine guidance
In holding the hearthstone sacred.
The man was acquitted. partly be.
cause It was made to appear that he
really loved his wife, but mainly be-
cause the victim had by his acts and
some foolish admission TO a friend,
made It appear that he had no real
heart In the affair, but rather gloried
In his crime. II is to be admitted
that the hearts Of all. both women
and men. were with the wronged man,
especially when he again took the
frail woman to his heart and lived the
life of a good husband till death took
her from him.
Lines BY c. n. Webb.
As an example of the unexampled
pity for both parties to the tragedy let
me quote a few lines written at the
time by c. II. Webb. of New York,
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04

Shot and killed former Senator Arthur
Broqpn of Utah in Washington hotel for
refusing TO marry her. Held on murder
charge.
Killed Dr.. Thomas Butler al Monticello,
Mss. for boashng of alleged relations
zvhh her. Found guilty of Granddaughter.
Killed Dr.. Benjamin Harris of Chicago in
ioqpyer's office because he says pictin
sureeked his home in Artiso. Wis. Case
pending.
Tried on charge of numbering William T.
Nierar of Chicago in Empire hotel. Me
man had promised 10 marry her. Vas
acquitted.
Killed Stanford White in Mezu York Roof
Garden Theatre. alleging White had
ruined his qDife. Ebebm Mtsm Thau.
Murder trial pending.
Tried and acquitted of Killing Caesar
Young, d bookuake-. in CAB in NeTv
York. Had HUtd 4uM Young. quho euas
married.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04

cranks seeking notoriety through the
newspapers.
And oh. the pity of It! Pity for llv.
ing and dead! But pity most for this
deadly disease spreading over the land
like n plague which laughs at the
decalogue. the holy lessons and the
life and death of Jesus Christ, in.
voking the hideous and defiant plea
of the higher law"
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-04
rhe Extent Of Hia o.neronl.v.

Generous? Why, he's the stingtes,
man | ever knew"
Yes but he gives himself away
whenever there is a call for aay oit
Law ot ney."--Houston Post.