The Worthington advance., 1874-11-27
RALPH p 1ABER.
His Abduction From Red Winx md
Recovery at st. L. uis,

| warrant it's recital.
Ten years ago d. NJ. Taber, a Young
lawyer of Red Wing, Minnesota, loved
and married Sadie A. Fields, q daugh-
ter of the A. r. Fields above mentioned.
MIR. Fields then kept hotel at Farm
ington, not far from Red Wing. Sadie
was only fifteen years Of age, but hotel
life had effected rather premature de.
yel0pment of self.assurance. and had
given her an unusual knowledge of
men and things.
The love and marriage above referred
to arc long since at an end, the latter
surviving the former for several years.
Why this was thus may never be
known to any but the two seriously in.
terested parties. Sadie's father says
that Taber drank to a brutal excess,
that he had three attacks Of dclirium,
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 confirmed invalid.
Taber's friends state, and recorded
testimony, it is said, shows that Sadic's
affection for her husband died through
her lack Of moral stamina, and her gid
diness, and that the cause Of her hus-
bands disafection for her was 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 Hungcrford'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 a 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
friends say that the divorce was granted,
and the only fruit of the unhappy mar.
riage-Ralph, a 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 a great pet Of the boy,
one Of them taking him under her spe.
cial care. The boys mother and his
mothers parents we're all much dissat-
istied with this, and Mr.. Fields was fire.
qucntly heard to declare that the boy
should not remain with his father.
+ Hearing this, 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 a bright afternoon
four weeks ago-the 18th Of October 1T
was-when he went to school and did
not return. Suspicion was instantly
aroused, and a vigilant search was in
stltuted, and it was ascertained that at
two o'clock in the afternoon the boy
was seen to cross the river in a skift
with man, and to get Into carriage
on the other side, containing lady.
1t was naturally thought, and is still
believed, that the lady was his mother.
Something Of interest had been oc'
curing in the discarded wife's life,
meanwhile. On the 9Th Of October she
was married at hotel kept by her par
cnts, in Eau Claire, to one j. D. Belts,
a hotel keeper of Mortified, MINI. AS
the abduction occurred four days after
this marriage, it was at first thought
chat the boy was taken to her 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 as fol.
lows: Mr.. Fields was in the employ of
firm named Williams, in Eau Claire,
and he planned, and with their aid car
ried out the abduction scheme. The
conveyance was furnished by the firm
it proceeded up the river in charge o1
one G. Master, who is brother Of Mrs
Fields. and on arriving opposite Red
Wing, Malstcr crossed the river in q
skif;, easily induced the boy to accom-
pany him, and the party returned t<
Eau Claire. The boy was discovered al
the house Of Williams, in Eau Claire
by the detectives, and Williams agreed
to have the right Of possession tested i1
the courts, (this Fields denies,) but
while the measures were pending tn,
boy was spirited off by old maj
Fields to St. Louis. Officer Frank Mishe,
armed himself with requisitions upo,
the governors Of Illinois, Iowa, Colo
RADIO and Missouri, and started on tn
chase. Fortunately he overlook hi:
game in this city, and learning of thei
eabouts-the Mansion house-h
enlisted the services Of the police an,
made the arrest.
On being taxed to the Four Court
Fields evinced a disposition to resist
but was advised by his lawyer that h
could not successfully fight the requisi
ton, and that he had better waive hi
right to demand the exhibition Of
req QUESTION from Gov. Woodson, and 2
with the officer. This he finally agree'
to do, but As the requisition could no
, warrant the taking Of the boy, he de
clared that the boy should stay her
with his uncle, Mr.. Jos. NJ. Dart, pro
prietor of the Mansion house. Tn
course he decided upon, because he wa
determined to keep the boy out Of hi
! fathers way if possible.
e While the conversation was pre-
=. crossing Chief Harrigan appeared 0
the scene, and on being informed Of til