Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-16
A VILLAIN
Charged with an Unnatural Crime-A
woman Claiming to be the Daughter
or George w. Lake, Charges him
with being the Father or her
ChIIdren-sIs Denial

New York Tribune, 18Th: information was
received, yesterday. by Captain CATER, OF the
First precinct that Nellie Lake, living at
No 81 State street, was insane. and had at
tempted to commit suicide by jumping from
a third-story window. An officer went 20 the
house and found a young woman, with an
infant eight days old. The woman appeared
very weak and partially deranged, not hay-
had any medical attendance or care IN her
illness. When she became calm, she SAID
that she was the daughter Of George Wilkins
Lake, an importer OF teas and Japan goods,
at No Cedar street, and that he was the
father of her two children, girl two years
old and the newborn infant. Lake went TO
the police station, and agreed to bear all
necessary expense of removing the woman TO
the hospital and Of securing good attendance.
He was much excited, and his stories were
at first incoherent and conflicting. He said
to Sergeant Woodruff that Nellie Lake was
the daughter of his divorced wife, but not his
own child Subsequently he stated that she
was a girl he had educated and permitted to
call him father. He was locked up on a
charge of failing 10 register the birth Of
the child. The wcman was taken first to the
Chambers street and then to the New York
hospital, at both of which institutions she
was denied admission. she was carried
home again, and then taken to Bellevue hos
pital, where she now Is, III a semi delirious
condition. Lake was taken before Justice
Wandell at the Tombs, where the charge of
incest was not entertained, because the accu-
sation was not made in his presence.
| He was committed until this morning, with
instructions to have him confronted with the
| woman. When she was taken TO Bellevue
| hospital, yesterday afternoon, Nellie Lake
violently assaulted one of the police officers.
| When Lake came into the ward she fell back
| in silence, and the physicians did not deem 1t
prudent to tax her strength any more, and
Lake was taken back to the New street sta
ton. The police also state that Lake and
this girl boarded at the Washington hotel,
Nc, Broadway. about two years
ago, and registered as George
W. Lake and daughter. After remain
ing there several months, it was discovered
that the girl was about to become a mother,
and they were ordered to leave the house.
They next went to a hotel at Broadway and
Beaver street, and subsequently moved to
their present home on State street, where
they have lived as man and wife. The story
of the girl to the policeman yesterday is that
Lake is her ia; her, and that when he returned
from a business trip to Japan, three years ago,
he took her from boarding school near Bos-
ton, and that he has since lived with her as a
husband. Lake said to Tribune reporter
last night: ''This charge of incest is false.
In 1870 l married Lucy Jane Wilkins, at
Topsfeld, Massachusetts, She had two chill
dren, the paternity of which | deny. l Sc
cured Utah divorce from her, and she sued
me for divorce on the ground of desertion.
She now lives with her father in Middleton,
| Massachusetts. In 1869 | met Nellie Towns,
| a daughter of Moses Towns. She was a
bright, pretty girl, ten years old. | took an
! interest in her, as she was deserted by her
father, who claimed that she was ilegiti-
mate. l put her in boarding-school at
Boston. | went to Japan, and
on my return in 1872 my troubles began with
my wife. l adopted Nellie. A few years
ago | brought her to this city, and she has
been my mistress. The elder child is NINE
The oae recently born do not believe to be
mine, as while | was sick Nellie was in the
habit of associahng too freely with other
men," Lake does not believe in employing
physicians, as he says they have killed number
of his best friends. He claims to have studied
medicine and to have effected many remarka-
BILE cures. Nellie also has strong antipathy
to doctors. A memorandum at the police
station states that about year ago Nellie
wanted Officer Raleigh to arrest Lake for at
tempting to commit an abortion on her. Lake
ascribes his troubles to enemies who are in
the employ OF his divorced wife. He is a
man of more than ordinary intelligence, and
is in moderate circumstances. The girl who
charges him with incest Is weak and ema-
ciated, and gives evidence of being more
than ordinarily handsome when In good health.
The case will come before Justice Wandell
this morning.