Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-18
The Spraguc Estate.

Inc SpraRuc ESTATE.
\ hearing has been begun in the United
States Circuit Court nj Boston, ina case involN-
ing upwards Of - 900. 600. in which the estate
ofthe Spragucs of Rhode Island is interested.
Il i, suit hv the grandchildren of Amasa
Spraguc. ST., To recover from the bankrupt es-
tate their mothers portionand II has been pend
ing about fouryears The actionis broughtby
/ William e. IIoyt, of New York, against ANA
sa Spraguc. William Sprague. Fannie
Sprague. individually and as administrators of
the estate of .ima>a Spraguc; Mary Sprague.
individually and as Administrative of William
Sprague: \. & W. Sprague Manufacturing
Company. and /acharah Chaffce, as Trustee
NJ the A & w. Sprague Manufacturing Com
pany. The case was argued before Judge
Shcplcy in 1871. but AZ the time of his death
no decision had been rendered.
The facts set forth in the plaintiffs brief
are. that in December. 1913. Amasa Sprague
the elder. was murdered on his farm at War
wick, Il. l.. and being intcstatc, his wife,
Fanny Spragur, was appointed administrators
She, however. so it is alleged, failed to take
action no account of any proceedings what
ever as admin tratriX. being filed. Amasa
Spraguc was the senior partner in the A. 1
W. Sprague Manufacturing Company. and on
his death William Sprague the elder then
United States Senator, resigned his seat. and,
returning home. carried on the business of the
COMPANY. continuing the old name without
liquidaling affairs or rendering an account
thereof Thirteen years later he took into
partnership his ncphcws. William and
Amasa sons of his deceased brother, and
his own son, Byron Sprague. The new firm
continued under the old name, and used the
asset, Of the firm without the addition of any
new capital or rendering of any account to
the heirs of Amasa Spraguc, Sr. Susan
Spraguc. daughter of AmaSa Spragup. Sr.,
married Edwin Iloyt. and on October rs,
1853, died intestatc leaving four children.
namely, Sarah. Susan =. William s. and
Edwin. who now bring this suit to recover
from the bankrupt estates of the \. < W.
SpagIc Manufacturing Company, and the
Quidincck Company. the share of the elder
Amasa's property, 10 which their mother was
the rghtful heir.
1t is charged in the bill that the shares of
the plaiMifs. who were at the death of their
grandfather infants. under II years Of age.
were. hg Il fraudulent scheme between the
sur, wing partners Of the firm and Mary
SpraGrlr. illegally kept in the business con
ductvd and continued Dy the surviving part
ncrs and their successors, the \. W.
Spragnc Manufacturing Company, that cor
pora.ion having taken the property with full
notice If the equity of the plaintiffs, which
alta .'icd at the death of their ancestor, and
which constitutes an equitable lien in favor
of the plaintiffs, in the property now in the
lands of /achariah Chatipe, the voluntary
Assignee. 1t is further charged that the de-
fcnlaIts paid as commissions to various per
sons large sums of money. which, by secret
agreement, were aftcrward returned and the
receipts not acknowledged in the firms books
Il, 1nfan tuV
wrongulIy from the time of the death of Will
liam Spraguc the elder, in 1856, the time Of
the purchase by William and Amasa of the
rights of Byron in 1862, carrie on the bust
ness with the assets of the old firm. and that
the amount now in their hands which should
be accounted for is upward of S., 900, 900.
They are also alleged to have charged up
ward of $3.50. 900 for carrying on the bust
ness from the death of William. in 1856 to
November. 1862, and the further sum OF
Ssl2, 600 from November, 1863, to December,
1855. when the case was first brought into
court. all of which they have wrongfully con
yertcd. and should have accounted for to the
legal representatives of the heirs of the elder
Amasa and William The relief sought for
Is the enforcement of this equity
by an accounting and by decree
charging the amount of plaintiffs distribu-
i've shares, Whcn aSccrtalned' on the proper
Is in the hands of the Trustee or Assignee
in preference to the general creditors of the
insolvent corporation.
The defendants deny the fraudulent comb
nation and scheme, and allege the legality Of
the acts complained of and deny the equity
claimed. George F. Comstock and W. A.
Butler appear for the plaintiffs. and b. F.
Thurston and Charles Hart for the defend
ants The hearing will probably occupy two
or three days.