Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-07
Her Reported Intention to Bring Suit
Against Him for $4,000 for Services.

Her Reported Intention to Bring Suit
Against Him for $4,000 for Services.
WHAT HER COUNSEL SAYS ABOUT H-wHAr THE SON
AND DAUGHTER OF Mr. DOUGLASS SAY ABOUT IT
THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OF THEIR FATHER
A special dispatch from New York to the Phila-
deiphia Press yesterday states that from private
advices IL Is learned that suit Is likely to be filed
In this city against Frederick Douglass by Miss
Louise Spraglle. a sister-in-law OF Mr. Douglass
married daughter, for compensation for services
rendered as h0uSekeeper. The article goes on as
follows
''Some years ago man bv the name OF Sprague
married a daughter OF Mr.. Douglass Sprague nad
sister living In the west, an inteiigent muiatVo
girl. who was supporting herself as SeamStreSS
About the time of the marriage the former WE OF
Mr. Douglass was in such poor health that ne
thought IL best to relieve her as much as possible
from household cares and he suggested TO his SON
In law the idea of having Miss Sprague come to
Washington and take practical charge OF DIS mousse
keeping arrangements"
Correspondence was entered into and the young
woman expressed Willingness to undertake the
duty If the consideration was made large enough
TO justify her in leaving her business In the west
The proposition made By Mr.. Douglass, and SAID
now 70 be In the young ladys possession in writing,
was salary OF i25 a month and s'Iound." This
being satisfactory. the contract was closed, and
Miss Sprague came on to Washington.
This was twelve years ago. During all that time,
the complainant Will state. the plaintiff compiled
with the terms of the contract by giving her un-
divided attention TO the domestic arrangements Of
the Douglass household. performing great deal
OF mental service never contemplated. For all this
period the claim Will further aege that the plain
tiff instead OF receiving the stipulated salary OF $25
a month. obtained on an average about $40 a year.
on which 10 dress herself and that even this paltry
sum was wTung with great difficulty from the de-
fendant. Judgment In fun for salary as house
keeper for the above term of years, aggregating
nearly 5000. is the burden OF the suit.
This action has been FASTENED by the marriage
OF Douglass. The evidence it Is understood, viii
show that when he brought his white wife home
and introduced her. he encountered rather cold
and stormy reception. which he met by serving
notice that he was master. and all who were not
pleased could go. The plaintiff. whose occupation
was gone in the advent OF new wife, was promptly
dismissed, and without the usual payment OF
salary"
The counsel who IS to bring this action, is stated
TO be I. j. Mackey, formerly OF South carolina A
STAR reporter called yesterday at Mr.. Nackey'S
office and was informed there that he had gone ITO
New York on very important business, and was ex-
pected back IN day or two"
THE VIEWS OF Mr. DOUGLASS CHILDREN.
The reporter then went to the Office Of the
recorder OF deeds, and found MI. Lewis H. Douglass
and Mrs. Sprague. the son and daughter Of Fred.
Douglass. seated side by side at desk engaged in
the work OF the Office. copy of the article prlnteq
above was produced, and was read carefully through
by Mr.. Douglass.
II don't believe such a suit has been fled" was
his comment, land II IL has, we have received no
notice of 1t. think that understand why that
publication was made. and don't believe that the
suit will be filed II it is filed it win simply be for
annoyance"
But STILL he said, checking himself. 81 don't
know positively. but have my suspicion; am not
authorized To speak for my father, and / don't
know that he would like me TO. He always said
That Was TOO my opinion w
senal feeling, In the desire To nure my father and
raise breeze
WHO MISS sPRAGUE IS.
But Is there such a person as Miss Sprague9"
asked the reporter.
,i,1,- c1,o
came from Rochester. Y. Y, and Is not q seam
stress The house where they were living was
burned down twelve years ago, and my father in
ytted her TO make her home with him."
Louis was living with me-" said Mrs. Sprague,
who had been an attentive listener, when father
asked her TO come to his house. She lived there
mother had entire charge Of the household arrange
mentS. 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 Louise felt that
she could not stay there, under the circumstances
and so she came TO my home In Mount Pleasant,
where she Is now"
Ibid you hear her speak of this suit or know
that IL was to be instituted" asked the reporter.
Il never knew anything about such suit she
replied. until you showed me that article. Louise
has never said anything To me about It,"
THE PERSON BEHIND THE SCENES.
"She didn't do it," interrupted her brother, sand
Mackey is not the responsible person There Is some
one else behind who wants to inure father for his
own purposes For instance. hear this" he con-
tinUS6. reading the closing paragraph in the Press
article, which was as follows:
Judge 3tackey will emphasize the plaintiffs claims
By drawing SHARP contrast between the lofty political
will Snow how the underlying principle of slavery
namely. the denial of the right of compensation for
LABOR has Deen revived by great anti slavery leader
and a-aiIst ne of his own race"
THAT shows the ear-marks very plainly, and I
think that will find am not mistaken, concluded
MI Do glass
Who is this person you refer to?n asked the re-
porter.
'Ah. that is leading question: replied Mr.
Douglass, with Smile. Il ara not talking now"
TIE CLAIM THAT WAS MADE.
''Did your father know anything OF such o suit or
clai,li:n asked the reporter.
''BefOre he left for Boston on Monday to attend
Wendell Phillips funeral. a person called upon him
and made demand in behalf OF Miss SDrapye for
services. My father replied that if such claim
was presented. and was not exOrbitant he would
pay Ii; and so he would" exclaimed Mr. Douglass
10 pay ii just debt
lis there any contract existing between your
father aud Miss Sprague!" Continued the reporter
'Hone at.an.' was the prompt reply. "There
never was any contract. Miss Sprague was men,
Der OF our family, and was always regarded as
such. | have heard my father introduce her as his
adopted daughter
If there had been no marriage" he went on
''there would have been no such a claim heard OF
As / said before and rs say now, such a suit II
filed. VIII only be for annoyance
'Ie0pie have TIED 20 represent that our family Is
broken up by fathers marriage, and that we are
his enemies such Is not the case Father had a
hight 10 MARY whom he pleased, and that is the
way We regard it,
"Of course. put In his sister, 81 would have pre-
ferred Int, at his age he should not have married
again, but TIA; Is for himself TO say. Our family
hiS been very much msrepresented In this matter
ana OUTSIDERS have been trying 20 make trouble"
WHAT MISS sPRaGUE's COUNSEL SAYS ABOUT THE SUIT
Mr.. /. j. N4ckey, the counsel for Miss Helen
Louisa spraSae. was seen by STAR reporter to-
day. lie said II was fact that such suit would
be entered, and that the declaration had been
drawn. IL would be for services rendered 10 Mr.
Douglass as his h0useheeper from October list
Le12, 70 about JANUARY 2ith 1884, at the rate OF SIS
per month. ''She," continued Judge Mackey .was
at the nrSt named date residing at Rochester, n
u, and was about seeking employment as a seam
stress When Mr. Douglass urged her 10 come to
Washington and serve him as his hOuSekeeDer and
Ia the general work OF the household his wife being
then in feeble health lie assured her that he
could a1ord TO pay her, and would pay her as good
wages a. any one else. She accepted the offer and
came 10 Washington, MI Douglass paying ner way
ana she mas served him continuously since as
hOG5cneeper. cook and sedInStreSS, and she Occa-
Souaiiy drove his carriage. During this time he
paid her snail sums OF money 10 purchase clothing
amounting To not over $50 per year. He promised
however. 10 place in bank To her credit what he
deemed fair wages, and that she should have her
own handbook This, she says was not done Re-
Gently Nr. Douglass was informed that Miss
SpftSUe WAS no. according proper respect to his
WIFE, ana he required her TO either promise to treat
his wife respectfully or 10 leave his house She de
Clined making such q promise. and evidently Shar-
lnE in The domestic explosion that the marriage
ctssei In the immediate family Of Mr.. Douglass
she thereuion left the house. The declaration has
b. a drawn on this staLe OF facts" Mr.. Mackey
SAIL III mad been retained In Miss Sprague's behalf
nv Tier brother. the SOn-in-law or Mr.. Douglass
with whom she resides. and who has authority
from her agent, ard Miss Sprdgue insists that
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