St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-24
A FIGHT'IN THE FAMILY
Sometime Ago the Widow of Millionaire
Mabley of Detroit Married Young
Preacher.
1t is Now Claimed that They Spend Their
Time in Oursing and Abusing
Each Other,
And That the Woman Grossly Abuses
and Maltreats Her Minor
Children.
A Petition Is Therefore Filed to Re.
move Them From Her Guard.
ianship.
A FIGHTIN THE FAMILY
Sensational Charges.

Special to the Globe
DETROIT, Mich, July 23.-Society Is
again all torn up here over to-day's scam
dalous developments in the case of Nine,
MaDley-Spiers, who was the wife of the
late c. R. Mabley, Detroits merchant
prince, before she entered into her queer
aLlance with the young reverend adven-
ttrer 0plerS lew months after her hus-
oands death. An effort is being made to
remove from her custody and guardianship
ner MINOR children, and to that end petit
ZION was hled in court to-day by the older
children which contains among other state
ments the following
HIGHLY INTERESTING ALLEGATIONS:
Your petitioners are informed and believe
that just before and at the time of Sn1es, mar.
floge with said widow he was under engage
menL 10 marry two young ladies, one of De-
troiC ana one of st. Louis Mo-, of one of
"hlcn engagements said widow was well
S"are; that with those who knew him said
Splers pears bad reputation for honesty and
integrity; that his motive in marrying said
WlooW was TO acquire for himself as much of
her money and that of her children as he
might be able to reach, and such is at present
the OPINION OF the public of him as expressed
mere In Detroit; that said widow has herself
reported that she has made her will nv which
she mad bequeathed to said Spies the bulk of
ner property and appointed him guardian of
her children: that said widow and Spies have
FREQUENT AND VIOLENT QUARRELS,
upon which occasions each uses toward the
other profane and indecent language in the
presence and the hearing of said minor chill
dren. Your petitioners further show that
said widow has violent and ungovernable
temper. which stirs up on the slightest cause
and gets control of her to such an extent
that she treats her children with great bru-
ltNT offo
object at hand for weapon, knocking them
down, stamping them, or pounding or pinch.
ing them, and to such an extent has she car
ried such treatment that all of her said chill
dren, including your petitioners. are more or
less frequent sufferers from injuries hereto
fore inflicted upon them by said widow. and
said minor children now
HAVE NERVOUS CHTLLs,
and are in constant state of terror regard
ing her; to such an extent do they fear her
cruelty; that so great has always been their
fear of her that they dared not tell their
father While living of her brutal and cruel
treatment of them, which usually occurred
during his absence from home, so that he
was ignorant OF her conduct in that regard
when be made his will, and your petitioners
believe he would not have Entrusted the care
of his children to her after his death had he
known of the said treatment of Them Your
petitioners further show that their little
brother Ray, who is but years of age, is in
feeble health, and is constantly kept in
state OF nervous excitement and fear Of said
widow, and at the hotel is frequently
LOCKED IN ROOM
by her and left alone while she and her hus.
hand are absent therefrom at some entertains
ment; that on several occasions when theS
have been in New York, said widow has 50
cruelty and wickedly punished said Ray as ID
render him still more feeble in health, and ID
he continues to remain with her your pesi.
TONERS h1t
Your petitioners further show that ssts
widow is in the habit of teaching said chidreE
to lie and be as deceitful as she is herself
threatening them with fearful punishment il
they fail to follow her instructions.
All of the children save Ray are now in
Detroit, and each has property in this
county, consisting of money due from the
estate of their deceased father to the
amount of S45, 96S.75, and also an equal in
serest in $50. 900 worth of bonds to be held
in trust for them under the provisions of
the will