The Farmer And Mechanic

The Facts About Judge Hunt's Four Wives. - As there is considerable gossip floating about the country in regard to our much married Secretary of the Navy, it would be as well perhaps, in justice to the dead as well as the living, to give the facts.

William Henry Hunt was born in South Carolina, but at an early age went to reside with his father, in New Orleans. He went to Yale College, but did not graduate, and on his return home studied law, and began the practice of his profession in 1847 or 1848. His brothers, Randall and Theodore G. Hunt, were distinguished Whig politicians and prominent men in the South.

Secretary Hunt's first sail on the matrimonial sea was with Miss Andrews, of Mississippi, who lived but a short time.

His second wife was Miss Elizabeth Ridgely, of Baltimore, daughter of Commodore Charles Goodwin Ridgely, United States Navy, with whom he lived very happily and by whom he had several children.

His third mate was a widow, Mrs. Harrison, a daughter of Jacob Barker. She was much older than Mr. Hunt, and shortly after the marriage they found they had made a mistake, and agreed to disagree; she to go to Europe and he to remain in this country. While she was in Europe there was a divorce act passed by the Louisiana Legislature containing a clause which embraced Hunt's case: and abridging the time for decrees. Another Legislature repealed this act, but while it was in force Mr. Hunt instituted suit, and obtained decree of absolute divorce.

A year after this Mr. Hunt married Miss Adams, of New Orleans. When he and his new wife reached New York on their wedding trip the third wife, Mrs. Harrison Hunt, brought suit for divorce, alleging adultery. The Court decided that under the Louisiana law the divorce was legal. Mrs. Harrison carried the case to the United States Supreme Court which held that the Louisiana decree was perfectly good and valid.