The anti-monopolist., 1874-12-03
RALPH TABER.
His Abduction From Red Wing and
Recovery at st, l. uis.

udy Uy OetcCClVc GSSS NJ Tie 1anSlOn
House, corner Of Taylor and Page av-
enues, on charge to which the Charlie
Ross case has lent a peculiar interest,
namely-kidnapping.
The tale which hangs thereby is
lengthy, bnt its interesting features
warrant its recital.
Ten years ago D. NJ. Taber, young
lawyer of Red Wing, Minnesota, loved
and married Sadie A. Fields, a daugh-
ter of the A. +. Fields above mentioned.
Mr.. Fields then kept . hotel at Farm
lngton. not far from Red Wing. Sadie
was only fifteen years of age, but hotel
life had effected rather . premature de-
velopment of self-assurance, and had
gwen her an unusual knowledge of
men and things.
The love and marriage above referred
to are long since at an end, the latter
surviving the former for sew eral years.
Why this was thus may never be
known to any but the two seriously in
terested parties. Sadie's father saws
that Taber drank to a brutal excess.
that he had three attacks of delirium,
and that his treatment of his girl wife
was such as not only to make her
loathe him, but to ruin her health and
make her q confirmed invalid.
Taber's friends state. and recorded
testimony, it is said, shows that Sadie's
affection for her husband died through
her lack Of moral stamina, and her gid
diness, and that the cause of her hus-
bands disaffection for her was a series
of love passages between her and a
brakeman on the Milwaukee and St.
Paul railroad named Hungerford.
They allege, and it is said that recorded
testimony shows, that Sadie was, to say
the least, regardless of her marriage
VOWS, and that, but for Hungerford's s in.
ability to pay the expenses therefor, an
elepemeut project would have been car
ried out. Long years Of regret and un-
pleasantness terminated in . mutual
agreement to live apart, which agree
ment was made in 1870. In 1871 ia.
Der entered suit for divorce, and the
tale of their married life was told
as both remembered it. Sadie s
friends say that this case never was
brought to definite result, and Taber's S
friends say that the divorce was granted,
and the only fruit of the unhappy mar.
riage-Ralph, bright, pretty child, OF
blue eyes and curly. auburn hair, was
given to the custody Of the father. At
all events, the father took the boy, and
having no home to take him to, he
placed him in the care of the family of
Hon. Charles Graham of Red Wing.
Mr.. Graham had number of daughters,
all Of whom made great pet of the boy,
one of them taking him under her spe-
cial care. The boys mother and his
mothers parents were all much dissat.
isfied with this, and Mr.. Fields was fire.
quently heard to declare that the boy
should not remain with his father.
Hearing this, 3 close watch was kept on
the boy. Miss Graham's treatment OF
his child warmed the heart of Mr.. Taber
toward that lady, and in 1872 he mar
ried her. The watch on the boy was not
relaxed, and it was successful in pro-
ticting him until bright afternoon
four weeks ago-the 18th Of October 1t
was-when he went to scheol and did
not return. Suspicion was instantly
aroused, and vigilant search was in
stltuted, and it was ascertained that at
two clock in the afternoon the boy
was seen to cross the river in . skif
with man, and to get iEto carriage
on the other side, containing q lady.
1t was naturally thought, and is still
believed, that the lady was his mother.
Something of interest had been &C.
curing in the discarded wife's life,
meanwhile. On the 9Th of October she
was married at hotel kept by her par
ents, in Eau Claire, to one J. D. Belts,
hotel keeper Of Mortified, MINI. As
the abduction occurred four days after
this marriage, it Was at first thought
that the boy was taken to hsr new home.
But the officers who were working on
the case-and Mr.. Taber
was unsparing in his efforts
and lavish in his expenditures
by some means obtained information
which they claim throw light on the
whole matter, showing it to be IS fol-
lows: Mr.. Fields was in the employ Of
. firm named Williams, in Eau Claire,
and be planned, and with their aid car.
ried out the addiction scheme. The
conveyance WAS furnished by the firm !:
it proceeded up the river in charge Of
one G. Malster, who is . brother Of Mrs
Fields. and on arriving opposite Red
Wing. Malster crossed the river in .
skifi, easily induced the boy to accom-
pany him, and the party returned to
Eeu Claire. The boy WAS discovered At
the house of Williams, in Eau Claire,
by the detectives. and Williams agreed
to have the right Of possession tested in
the courts, this Fields denies,) but
while the measures were pending the
boy was spirited of by old man
Fields to Louis. Officer Frank Mishen
armed himself with requisitions upon
the governors of Illinois, Iowa, Colo
RADIO and Missouri, and started on the
chase. Fortunately he overlook his
game in this city, and learning Of their
whereabouts-the Mansion house-he
enlisted the services of the police and
made the arrest.
On being taxed to the Four Courts
Fields evinced . disposition to resist.
but Was advised by his lawyer that he
could not successfully fight the requisi-
ton, and that he had better waive his
right to demand the exhibition Of
requisition from Gov. Woodson, and 90
with the officer. This he finally agreed
to do, but q the requisition could not
warrant the taking Of the boy, he de-
clared that the boy should stay here