Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-18
The SAD STORIES
or a Rroken.Hearted Father and =
Ruined Daughter.
She shuas Her Shame and voIuotarfly
Seeks AfOnement and Peace.

The corresDoudeut Of the st. Louis Globe
Democrat, wrifipg IRON Fargo, D 7, en- the
10. h ius'su'. tells Il case that bad lnsl
been Tried b,fJTe magistrate IN that city
which posse sses unusual interest because OF
the prominence Of the parties concerned.
The defendant Was E. G. Sprsgue, a man
mora Than sixty years OF age, and the owner
OF 100 900 acres OF good land in The Terri
tory-probsbly the richest man in the Terri
tory, and the lsrgest landowner in the United
States. He has always borne good char
acter here. He il 10 feeble health, suffering
from a recent attack OF psrsly is. A few dsys
ago he WAS arrested at the instigation Of
his former housekeeper, charging him with
unlawfully restraining his daughter, Miss
Louise Sprague, OF her liberty-keeping
her locked up in a room in his house
as in 4 prison, etc. At the trial the true
cause OF this apparent restraint was re-
vealed, and pubic sentiment was imme-
| diate changed in favor of the old man. L,
seems that the girl, who il not yet fifteen
years of age, il the mother Of q child year
old or more. She was seducsd by young
man named Frederick Steele, formerly a
| farm hand in the employ OF Mr.. Sprsgue.
Alter the birth OF the child Steele desired to
marry the girl and the girl, it is ssid, was
| willing. The father, however, was violently
| opposed TO the marriage. The Argus OF this
date gives the testimony OF Miss Sprague and
| her father as follows:
THE DAUGHTERS STORY.
Louise Sprague ia my name; am fifteen
| years old; Mr.. Sprsgue is my father; live
with him;I know Mrs. Jewell; she lives
with me and father; nv father and Mrs.
Jewell nsver shut me up; have never threat
/ ensd me with punishment of any kind;
have i room which l use for myself; my
room is 10 the northwest corner Of the house
/ had month ago the room next 10 it;
sometimes had one room sometimes another
l was not at home night before last; was
| there when toe officer served the warrant
upon my father; some came and talked to
me; found me in my room; there was a
| lock on my door; l keep a key;
sometimes ] lock the door 10 keep children
| out; stay there most Ct the time; / eat
! usually in my room; have eaten with my
4 father sometimes; nv father and Mrs.
Jewell never ill-ireated me nor abused me
heard witneFs testify that my father scolded
| he scolded my aunt once when she was in
there; she did not cry; heard no one else
| cry; never scolded nae in there; my father
has always treated me kindly; l STAY 10 my
room because | want to; they have never
locked me in there; / sometimes go to other
rooms in the house; l can go if l want TO;
have staid there most of the time during the
wiuter and fall.
THE FATHERS STORY.
| Mr.. Sprague was then called, and after
testifying, Attorney Bnrnham asked if there
were any others present who would testify il
they knew anything against the defendants
in the matter before the court. No one re-
plying, Mr.. Burnham asked Mr.. Sprague to
state in bis owa language the cause of the
seclusion OF the young woman. Being over
come with feeling, MIR. Sprague was not able
TO proceed.
The magistrate then protested against Mr..
Sprague being required 10 go outside OF the
case TO satisfy an idle curiosity on the part
OF the public, but stated that Mr.. Sprague,
ii ne chose, might make statement for the
purpose OF gratifying the public mind.
Mr.. Sprague then stated that his daughter
had been outraged by Frederick Steele, a
farm hand, and after the child, who was
| then but thirteen years old, was found to
have been wreuged, Steele came to the house
aud stated TO Mr.. Sprsgue that he lad come
| 10 marry Miss Sprsgue. The father h ad
bought revolver with the intention of kill
ing Steele, and when he was addressed by
| Steele he was so Infatuated that he threw
him out OF the house and went TO get his re-
volver. Steele ran away and never returned.
! 'his 1pt StaNcu thdt uc
his daughter and child from this villain, and
that his love and devotion to her was such
that all his wealth would be spent to protect
her If necessary. That she lived with him
from choice, having time and again refused
to leave his home and go TO his friends in the
East where she could he better protected
| from public disgrace that hiss now been
brought upon her. She has begged him 10
lei her live with him in secuson, and has
chosen against bis wishes and influence to
live more secluded life than he thought
necessary. She has been in possession of her
own door-keys, and besidss a complete bunch
of keys containing duplicates 10 every inside
and outside door to The house, with no re-
straint TO their use. That the object was
principally 10 shield his daughter and her
child from public odium and disgrace; tina:
her codrse was self imposed and OF her own
choice.
The case against Mr.. Sprague was promptly
| dismissed,