Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-08-18
A SEASIDE SENSATION.
A Pretty School Teacher and a
Lumber Dealer Disappear.
He First Deeds All His Property to His
Wife and Then EIopes With
the Maiden.

LONG BEACH \. j., August l7.-Proba.
bly, what is the strlngest elopement on
record is the talH and excitement of this
section of Southern New Jersey. Theodore
F. Sperry is one Of the wealthiest and most
prominent citizens of Harris's Station, and
largely interested in the lumber business.
His residence is the most stylish in that
neighborhood, and Mrs. Sperry is more than
sn ordinary handsome lady, twenty-elght
wears Old. Mr.. Sperry is thirty eight years
of age, and the father OF bright boy OF
four years.
About six months ago
A Vacancy Took Place
in the village school and among the ap.
pointmCnts for the position was a trall,
slim girl of nineteen. with pretty white
rhild,like face. Tnruugh Mr.. Sperry's in.
!luerre the girl, who gave her name as Ella
MilICent De Haven, secured the position.
At frstthe new school teacher was board.
ed about Tree, rs is the custom in country
VILLAGES. when Mrs. Sperry became mnch
interested in the little school-mistress and
asked 10 be a companion 10 her and accept
a permanent home, which see did.
The GOssips' Talk.
The school teacher had not bsen long an
inmate of the Sperry mansion when the
neighbors noticed that on her way home
from school Miss De Haren inevitably
spent an hour or so IN Mr.. Sperry's 6usi-
ness office, and the goSSips began to talk.
But the talk never reached Mrs. Sperrys
ears.
On Friday last Miss De Haven left the
Sperry cottage, saying that she was going
TO spend Sunday at Brind etOTn and would
return in time to reopen the school season
on Monday morning. Mr.. Sperry left
home on Saturday ostensibly for Atlantic
City or Philadelphis, informing his wife
that he would return on Monday morning;
This was the last seen of Mr. Sperry aud
Miss De Haven at Harris Station. Toe
schoOlmistreSs not returning on Monday,
coupled with the non return OF Mr.. Sperry,
aroused suspicion. 1t was then learned
that Mr. Sperry, accompanied by woman
answering the description of Miss De Hav.
en-. had driven through DavisvilIe And
Brindletown on Saturday aud had stopped
over night at town further on.
Ris Money for His Wife.
Investigation showed that before his
flight Mr.. Sperry had taken all the yalus.
blss out of his safe, but, strange to say, did
not draw on his bank account Another
strange mart of the affair is that few days
before his disappearance be voluntarily
decided his residence and business property
over TO his wife, explaining to her al toe
time that ell business enterprises were pre-
carious and he wanted 10 see her safely
provided for. Mrs. Sperry is
Much shocked
over the conduct Of her hushsnd. but says
that he truant can never enter her home
again. The business of Mr.. Sperry is said
TO be in excellent condition. 1t is not
known where Miss De Haven came from
or snything about her sntecedents, but she
is in no way related to the De Hsvens re-
siding in this vicinity. The compile are
supposed 10 he in New EO-k or Phils1el-
phia The friends OF Mrs. Sparry say thai
10 efforts will De made 20 hunt up her
husband. Shsuld he return Mr.. Sperry
will ind the community q very warm one.