Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-09
Miss Sprague,s Claim.

THE STORY OF FRED DOUGLASS soN-rN-LAw-rHE
BILL MADE OUT READY FOR PREsENTATIoN-How
MISS SPRAGUE CAER TO LEAVE MR. DOUGLASS
HoCSE-SHE COULD NOT RESPECT THE NEW MIS-
TRESS OF THE MANSION.
III have not entered any suit at all for my sister
against Mr.. Douglass said Mt. Nathan Sprague,
son-in-law OF MI. Fred Douglass to STAR reporter
last evening. 81 simply advised with lawyer,
whom never saw before. as to whether my sister
could get anything for her services as there was no
written contract between her and Mr. Douglass I
stated that would go and see Mr.. Douglass If the
lawyer thought we had any claim have entered
no suit, and did not expectto What wanted to
know was whether my sister had any legal claim.
!. knew mat Mt Douglass would payit If he thought
all, or matter in which any personal feeling en-
tered but matter OF dollars and cents. All the
push business on my sisters part was done by me, and
Inefe was no hard or unktnd feeling against Mr..
Douglass at all. called upon Mr.. Douglass, who
told me to make out the account and If it was just
he would pay it. You see Ihad no occasion to go
to law. because he said he would pay it. The
move on my sisters part was not instigated by any
one who Is lnlmical to Mr.. Douglass as have seen
IL stated 1t Is simple claim for services, pre-
Sented"
"You expect to have settlement7r said the re-
porter.
"Yes, said Mr.. sprague, "the bill has been made
out and will present 1t to him when he comes
home. 1t Will make claim for compensation for
services as houSeheeper for II years. months and
DAYS. 1 ask simply that he pay my sister fair
one of the family and thought that for that rea
son she could not recover any pay; That was the
reason took the advice OF counsel. My sister did
not do the washing and hard work Of the house,
but did generally the work of a housekeeper. AS
Mr. Douglass says, she was well cared for and
dressed well. She was regarded as member Of
the family, and he used to say that II anything
happened to him she would be provided for.
Twelve years out of W mans life is great deal
II she had not given this service to him she might
have been at work at something else, and provtd-
Ing for her Old age'
But" asked the reporter, "was she obliged to
hnt,
'She could not stay there with Miss Pitts,' said
MfS Sprague They were not on good terms.
she ana not dislike her because she was white or
because she married Mr.. Douglass. She disliked
her long before that-before anything was said
about the marriage. Mr.. Douglass was married
Thursday, and Friday some one told me 'Mr
Douglass is married. l laughed and said THAT
has been the tale for a long time 1 did not be-
lleve 1t. OF course, 1 afterwards learned that it
Douglass house to take away ANNIE my daughter,
VINO had been staying there with my sister, Mr..
douglass 5; said that Annie would stay there We
talked to Annie, and told her If she stayed there
she ought to respect the present Mrs. Douglass as
much u, as she had Mother Douglass, who died. She
said 1 cannot do that Mr.. Douglass said Then
you had better CO. l asked my sister If She would
1--we with and respect Mrs Douglass she had
mother her and she said she would not. Mr.: Douglass
SAID Il men you had better co. Now, think that
Is very much Ike being turned out OF the house."
~ MI Sprague yesterday received letter from Mr..
i: D. Mackey, saying: You are entirely correct in
your statement that when you consulted me as to
Tue matter of the claim OF your sister upon Mr.
Douglass for services rendered advised you to pre-
sent The account to Mr.. Douglass for settlement be-
lore taking any action in the courts. You stated
mat you intended to do So and that you desired to
make fair settlement with him i'm behalf OF your
sister. Helen Louise Sprague, without going to law.
Your statement TO me had nothing to do With Mr..
Douglass marital affairs. nor did the case involve
any review of his domestic relations My own state
ment TO The STAR reporter on yesterday was neceS-
Sary TO indicate me from the published charge that
naa been retained to carry out the malicious
scheme or some party politically or personally hos
tlie 10 ;lr. Douglass l am not responsible for the
ultlmely and offensive publication OF the matter"
WHAT Mr.. DOUGLASS SAYS.
Mr. Douglass returned home last evening, and
when questioned On the subject OF Miss Spragues
claim this morning simply said he was correctly
reported In the article published in THE STAR yes
tefday, ana no bill had yet been presented to him.
The Virginia Legislature.
THE REINFORCEMENT PLAN, ETC
The Virginia senate yesterday passed house bill
turning over to the sinking fund the states STOCK of
s21o,OO0 In the Richmond, Fredericksburg ana Poto-
mae railroad. The senate also passed house bill
prohibiting the taking OF more than two bushels OF
oysters during the summer months.
The caucus of democratic members of the legis-
lituie last night rejected the plan adopted by the
Joint committee for the reapportionnent of the
state for Congress. The bill submitted by Mr. Dun
Top, OF richmond, was adopted with some amend
m"ntS. Under that the 1St, I'd and 81 districts re-
main unchanged. Fucker and Campbell are put In
new districts, and it Is claimed that under the plan
adopted by the the democrats can carry eight
districts out of the ten.