The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-08
THE SUIT AGAINST DOUGLASS.
Interview with the Son and Daughter of the
COlOred Champion.

Interview with the Son and Daughter of the
COIored Champion.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb FIRED Douglass is hav-
ing the truth of the old adage impressed upon
him that the course of true love never runs
smooth. News comes here from New York that
lie has been sued by Miss Louise Sprague, sis
ter-in-law of his married daughter, for compen-
satiOn for services rendered as house-keeper.
The suit is for about 49, 000 The news caused
considerable comment when it reached this city,
and has been a source of considerable gossip here
o-day Douglass is out of the city on his we'd
ding trip, and could not be seen; but L called at
his office and had talk with Lewis H Doug
lass and Mrs Sprague, son and daughter of Fred
Douglass, They were seated side by side, en-
gagged in office work. The son said:
1--WE have received no notice yet of the suit,
If ithas been fled it was done to raise breeze
and annoy father"
Louise was living with me-" said Mrs.
Sprague who was an attentive listener, ''when
father asked her to come to his house She
lived there as one of the family and up to three
years ago my mother had entire charge of the
household arrangements During the last two
years of her life her health would not permit
her to have this care, and the housekeeping
duties devolved upon Miss Sprague After
fathers marriage the other day, Louise felt that
she could not stay there under the circumstan-
ces and so she came to my home in Mt Pleas
ant, where she is now"
'Did you ever hear her speak of this suit, or
know that it was to be insttutedN
81 never knew anything about such suit, y
she replied, until you told me-"
"Did your father know anything of such a
suit or clam9"
Before he left for Boston, on Monday, to at
tend Wendell Phillipss funeral, a person called
upon him and made demand. in behalf of Miss
Sprague, for services. My father replied that if
such claim was presented, and was not ex-
orbitant, he would pay it."
''And so he would, exclaimed young Douglass,
with some warmth never knew him to refuse
to pay just debt"
SIS there any contract existing between your
father and Miss Spraguel"
None at ALL" was the prompt reply. "There
never was any contract Miss Sprague was
member of our family, and was always regarded
as such. 1 have heard my father introduce her
as his adopted daughter"
eff there had been no marriage" he went on,
there would have been no such claim heard Of
AS said before, and as L say now, such suit,
if fled will only be for annoyance. People have
tried to represent that our family is broken up
by fathers marriage, and that we are his enc
miles, Such is not the case. Father had right
to marry whom he pleased and that is the way
we regard it,"
''Of course, put in his sister, 81 would have
preferred that at his age he should not have mar
ried again, but that is for himself to say Our
family has been very much misrepresented in
this matter, and outsiders have been trying to
make trouble"
7. j. Mackey, counsel for Miss Helen Louise
| Sprague, said it wac fact that such a suit
would be entered, and that the declaration had
been drawn. 1t would be for services rendered
to Douglass his housekeeper from Oct 81,
1872, to about Jan. "a, 1884, at the rate of $25
per month.
''She,T continued Judge Mackey, twas, at the
frst-named date, residing at Rochester, N. Y,
and was about seeking employment as seam
stress when Douglass urged her to come to
Washington and serve him as his housekeeper,
and IN the general work of the household, his
wife being then in feeble heath He assured
her that he could afford to pay her, and would
pay her, as good wages as any one else. She ac-
cepted the offer and came to Washington, Doug
lass paying her way and she has served him
continuously since as housekeeper, cook and
seamstress, and she occasionally drove his car
riage."
Judge Mackey said he had been retained in
Miss Sprague's behalf by her brother, sonin-
law of Douglass with whom she resides and
who has authority from her as agent. Miss
Sprague insists that Fred Douglass, who is the
foremost champion of the rights of his race,
shall not have the privilege of denying to one of
his race just reward for her labor Douglass
Is n1lite Nvnalthv