St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-15

MR.. MELODY'S MISTAKE
Finding That His Wife and Her AL
legged B, .,r Deceived Him, He
Nah Things Lively.
A Strange Story Of Woman's Duplioisy
and Mans Gullibility in the
Garden City.
Two Sharpers Contrive a Scheme to
Work a Man for Wealth He Had
in His Mind.
How Young Lady Makes Her Lover
Stand Trial Before She
WEEDS Him.
Melody and Music.

Special to the Globe.
CHICAGO, May 1.-Two actors con-
cerned in the unfortunate matrimonial ven
ture made by Thomas F. Melody, gave a
version to that affair this morning illus
trative of the old saying that the course of
true love never did run smooth, sand
wiched in with proof that even in these
days women are sly and men easily de-
celved. Mr.. Melody was married April 20
last, and yesterday had his wife arraigned
before Justice Arnd ON the charge of big.
amy, and William S. Pratt On the charge of
conspiracy to defraud. In his complaint
Melody told very strange story. He said
that his wife's name before he married her
was Frances Pratt. After the couple went
to housekeeping the lady introduced him to
William S. Pratt as her brother. Within
the past few days Melody declared that he
discovered that the couple were not brother
and sister, but husband and wife. The
accused furnished bail in the sum Of $500
until tomorrow, when their examination
will take place.
1t is all spite work. said Mrs. Melody, this
forenoon. The lady was found at No $40
North Clark street. HE (aIelody) is a great
big cowboy" said she. II got acquainted
with him in
VERY FUNNY WAY.
personal asking for the acquaintance of a
blonde lady. The advertiser was Melody
and he represented himself as q wealthy
ranch owner, besides having shares in a
number OF silver mines. I thought I would
like to go out there, so answered him. He
wrote back and so we fell into regular cor
respondence. At the time was living with
friends at Homewood, on the Illinois Central
railway, and q few weeks later he sent me
letters of Introduction to his folks,
xr,o 40
tied them and it seems they liked
me. Mr.. Melody sent presents, one time
watch and chain and another time he gave
me two rings. The lasr ring was the engage
ment ring. 1 told him all about myself. I
SAID that was widow and had two children.
He said he did not like children, but asked
me to write and tell him their ages" This
letter Mrs. Melody showed to the GLOBE cor
respondent. ''Well,'' said she, ssto make a
long story short, Melody came on here,post
haste, and arrived about the Sd or 4th of last
month I received message from him and
the next day met him at the house of his
friends. He told them he got acquainted
with me at the Palmer house. I passed as
widow because did not want everyone to
KNOW MY BUSINESS.
81 did live with Mr.. Pratt, though"
The party just named entered the house
at that moment. He is hotel man, and
for several weeks past has been employed
as steward Ior Cnapln q GOreS restaurant.
He dresses well and is under 35 years of
age. Pratt acknowledged the paternity of
Mrs. Melody's two children, and said that
he had known the woman for a good many
years. She continued with her story and
stated that although not liking Melody at
first sight, she concluded to marry him,
thinking he was rich. They were married
at Kenosha by the Rev. NJ. French, rector
of the Episcopal church of that place, and
returned to Chicago in few days, Just be-
fore the groom's money petered out. He
paid one months rent and advanced S25 on
some furniture; then, as she termed it, he
went broke" The new wife ceased from
that time to care for her husband. Pratt
was in town. He gave her some money to
buy groceries, then came to room at the
house. The old story cropped out, and
now Melody is living apart from his wife.