Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-30

CAS- a matter of fact then your home
| life was not most pleasant"
| Certainly not. My husband has mis-
| used ME in many ways. Particularly in
| the last four or five years he has been
| abusive. l know, sir, that if the story
of my life in my husbands house were
told in detail it would enlist the SYM
pathy of every fair minded person in
my behalf
rs the statement that you complain
ed OF Your home life because YOU de-
sired the company of younger people
true?"
Certainly not True, I liked the
company OF young people because l am
young myself. l had an idea and
nave 1t still that when l finished the
work about the house, have taken care
of him in all that he requires, | should
have what pleasure and enjoyment |
might or may secure from associating
with young people. His story of my
refusing to do his washing l wish to
explain as follows: During the WIN
ter | slipped and slightly dislocated nv
shoulder and two ribs. NV doctor told
me | should not do the family washing.
l did only the easiest of it, Now. sir.
| want to say to you, does it look rea-
Sonabie, if l intended to clone. that |
should leave great amount Of cloth
ing, certainly more than 500 worth Of
silverWare. which is my own private
property, ana do you not suppose that
| would have turned into cash nv own
private team, which / bought and paid
for myself"
1t would seem so to a contcmplatiya
person."
Nov as to my acquaintance with
Mr.. Ponsant. That is explained in this
way: Last fail | asked my husband
for funds. He told me that there was
not enough in the farm for he and |
and the little girl. | am proud and
have always had decent clothing Il
wear. | told him | would work cut
and earn my own clothing. l came to
the city and during the special sale at
the store of Reny & Marshall, | was
employed as 4 clerk Later | worked
at the Sawyer Publishing Co. Office on
stencil work. This | could not stand,
as it affected my lungs and gave me a
bad cough. | then entered the studio
of Mr.. Morris, corner of Common and
Main streets, and during the absence
of Mr.. and Mrs. Morris in Boston l
took charge Of the studio.
when | came to the city my hus-
band, feeling the need of q housekeep-
CT, went to Mr.. PonSant, who was then
clerk to the overseers of the poor, and
asked him if there wasn't some woman
at the almhouse whom he, my hus-
band, could employ at his home. Mr..
Ponsant told him there We're several
out there and he could go and take
his pick. 1t was not long before |
heard of scandal arising from the
presence of that young woman in my
home. l went to Mr.. Ponsant's office
He was a perfect stranger to me. l
handed him my card and then asked
him what 1 could do or what he might
do to change things at my home. The
result was that the young woman was
sent back to the almhouse.
My husband had others of like
character at our home to do the work |
called several times at the olilce Of
Mr.. Ponsant on business relating to
the employment of city charges in my |
home Mr.. Sturtevant and l have visit
ed Mr. PonSant'S office together. I |
want to say right here that Mr. Pom |
like a gentleman. that at least he has !
to have respect for me and |
never at any time has anything occur |
ed between US that I would not want |
the whole world to know
Mrs. Sturtevant during the long in |
terview carried herself with real wo-
manly mein and dignity Her tone |
certainly indicated her depth of feeling |
and clearly emphasized what appears
to be the fact that she is certainly |
most embarrassing posi-
ton socially and one that few women
would care to have in their experience.
A communication has also been re-
ceved from Arthur J. PonsOnt which |
states that he went away on his own
business. that his relations with Mrs.
Sturtevant have always been proper
and in business way only, that he |
went away with his wife's knowledge
and that it was the business of no one
else