Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-04
THE MELVILLES' MIsERIES.

THE MELvILLEs' MIsERIEs.
Statements Of Friend Of the -Iretic Mari
ia or as to the Trouble Betsceen Man and
WUe.
Miss Sarah Capel, The daughter of Mr..
John II. Capel. of No. 176 Ryerson street,
Brooklyn, yesterday told a reporter of the
World the story of the domestic unhappi-
ness of Engineer George W. Melville, of
the Jeanette expedition. Miss Capeps
story was substantially as follows:
"My father, who is an elderly man, has
known Mr.. Melville for the last twenty five
years and is very much attached to him.
My father fully appreciates Mr.. Melville's
worth. When Mrs. Melville was taken to
an insane asylum at Norristown, Pa, Mr..
Melville, who was likely to be for some
time detained in Washington on business
connected with the Jeanette expedition,
telegraphed for my father to go to Shar-
on lodge and take care of his house
and look out for his business there. He
went, as a matter of course, and is
there now. telegraphed to him yester-
rying away of Maude, but have not heard
anything from him yet. I am very much
worried, and if do not hear from him ty
tomorrow shall send someone there t.
find out what the reason is"
'How came Maud to be in your custody,
Miss Capel:" asked the reporter.
"About six weeks ago." replied Mis- :
Capel, II went to Sharon, partly to see my
father and partly for recreation. I did noi
go after Maude, and had no idea when
went there of bringing her away. But
when got there, and came to understand
the true state of affairs, became anxious
to get Maude away from the influences by
which she has been surrounded for 50
many years, and it was finally arranged
that I should bring her home with
me to Brooklyn. brought her with the
full consent and approval of her father
It was the intention that should keep he1
for an indefinite period, or at least until
her father could arrange his business so as
| to take charge of her, and arrangements
had been made to legalize the affair so as
to give me a full and perfect right tc
assume the guardianship of the child.
was fitting out her wardrobe, which had be,
come entirely inadequate to the actual ne.
cessities of girl of her age, and was max
ing arrangements to provide for her edu-
cation, which has also been most shame
fully neglected"
"Was she contented to stay with your
"She was perfectly contented and ap.
peared to be happy. She was always do
cile with me, and was very fond of her.
did she 60 away willingly with her
mother yesterday"
"In the excitement of the moment she
did not seem to realize what it all meant.
and she suffered herself to be taken away
by her mother and uncle without actual
force, although it was undoubtedly a
case of coercion. When the woman called,
five minutes before Mrs. Melville and her
brother. and said she was the wife of En-
gineer Taylor, and was stopping at the
navy yard with some friends, was so sus-
picious that would not allow Maude to
see her at first, and only consented after
repeated and earnest solicitation, and then
only in my presence. In fact, I have never
allowed her go out alone Or leave my sight,
for fear something might happen to her.
am now convinced that Mrs. Taylor was
sent here by Mrs. Melville to find out
whether Maude was here, and that when
she left instead of going to the
navy yard, she went to the corner
of Grand and Willoughby avenues. where I
have been informed Mrs. Melville's carriage
was waiting for her. Then when Mrs.
Melville and brother called, I, of course.
did my best to prevent them from getting
Maude, but was unsuccessful. Mrs. Mel
ville's brother never saw before. and I
never saw Mrs. Melville but once. Mrs.
Melville's brother is very rough man, and
he certainly treated me in very rough
manner. His name is Waldron, and I
believe he lives in Buffalo, where most of
Mrs. Melville's family reside. I had no
difficulty in recognizing Mrs. MeIville's
voice. It is peculiarly harsh, load, shrill,
unpleasant voice. Poor Maude was taken
away with only thin cotton wrapper, and
nothing on her head. I did not follow
them because knew it would be useless,
and furthermore have no doubt, from
what know Of the woman, that she was
armed, and that she would have shot me
without hesitation had I attempted to in
terfere with her."
''What are the facts in regard to the
trouble between Mr.. Melville and his wife,
asked the reporter.
''Ir. Melville 10y his generosity srd his
desire to shielu hi, family. has th0s Tar re-
Trained from saying Il word on the sub iect,
Notwithstanding all the public scancag his
wife has maize ant. the charges thai !..ye
been made against him of cruelty TO AJAX.
neglect OF his family. AS to the charge ths,
Mr.. Melville did not properly provide for
his family. it is absolutely false. He owns
a'ho1se at Sharon, Pa, about seven miles
from Philadelphia, wdere his family reside
when he. is a.g;tv Whila ha was away fine
last ii;ne. for eight months Mrs. Melville
drew from the paymaster Of the UHired
States navy $40 per month and
for tie remainder of the time $50 per month.
And yet when he came homo he found
himself involved in debt on every hand.
Among the bills was one of $40 for liquors,
including wines, whisky, and champagne.
When Mrs. Melville was taken to the
asylum at Norristown her other two chill
dren-Elsie, ten years old, and Meta, eight