The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-16
The WAGES OF Sin.
A FAMILY SUBSISTING ON A
DAUGHTERS SHANE.
A Sister NegOtiates for Her Re.
m0yal to a House Of
Ill Fame.

woman giving her name as Mrs. Mag
gle Sewsrd presented herself at the
Station House and complained that her
daughter Annie, aged fifteen and
hall years, had been absent from home
for q week, and that certain young
man OF this city knew of her where
abouts and had probably abducted
her. A warrant for the arrest of the
supposed culprit was sworn to before
Justice Powell, but at Mrs. Stewards
request its execution was delayed I'M
til the.officers heard nom her again,
as che hoped to find her daughter
without the aid of the police. She
PROMISED TO RETURN
in half hour, but up TO midnight the
mother had failed to put in an appear.
ance. An APPEAL reporter got wind
OF the affair about dark and at once
proceeded to the mothers place OF
abode, No. 1l9 Vance street, near
Avery. He found Mrs. Seward in the
front yard, and upon making known
his desire for an interview, was led to
| the front room OF the basement
floor, which presented unmistaSa.
BILE evidences of squalid poverty.
There was but one light in the apart
ment, miserable cosl oil lamp with
out chimney, that filed the atmos-
| phere witn a suffoca,ing odor and sent
clouds OF thick, heavy smoke in every
direction. On the tioor two baby boys
were sprawling on all tours, while Miss
SAllie Seward, the eldest daughter of
the family, sto d by the mother aud
occasionally ventured a suggestion.
There WIS no furniture in the room
but rickety bedstssd, table and
one chair. From the inner room,
evidently the kitchen, came the
sound Of frying bacon, in preparation
doubt ess for the
EVENING MEAL.
Mrs. Seward is probably about 40
years, OF ssllow complexion, aud rather
scrawny vi4age. Her daughter Sallie
is about 20, with black hair and eyes,
and remarkable chiefly for the general
slovenlinC 70 Of her appearance. Upon
being questioned as to her non-appear-
auce at the Police Station to urge the
execution of the warrant she had
herself sworn out, she stated
that she had become satisfied
that the party charged with
completely in her daughters flight
from home was guiltess of any wrong !;
that she knew OF her daughters
whereabouts; that the hayward girl
had been seen by her sister during the
afternoon and promised to visit her
mother in the morning The reporter
inquired OF Miss Sallie where she had
SEEN HER SISTER,
and she replied: "At the house OF a
colored woman named Ada Shelton on
Hooper's alley, near the Boulevard.
Both mother and daughter agreed that
the wandering Annie was as chaste
as ice and had never deviated for
moment from the straight path
of virtue, but this story did not tally
with the mothers subsequent admis
sion that the girl had spent portion
of last week at Blanche Curry's on
Market Square, from which place she
Rad been removed by a male friend.
This knocked the chastity theory so
high that further investigation was
deemed necessary and the reporter
let. Ablut half an hour la er, the
reporter while on his way to the
house of Blanche Curry, met Mrs.
Seward on Popar street car and
learned that she was going to the Bou'
levard to make an effort to induce her
daughter to return home The re-
porter accompanied her. The daugh-
ter was not found at Ada Shelton's, IS
was expec ed, and that woman vehe-
mently denied having seen her for
several weeks. 4 white woman Famed
Mrs. Mollie, who WAS found on the
premises, admitted that 9he had seeu
Annie Seward that afternoon, had
been in her company, but was
ignorant OF her whereabouts. BAT.
fed in her search, the mother
started on her way home. The re-
porter, suspicious Of the mother )
actions, and by contradictory stories
told by her and her daughter Salie
called at 100 Market street, and was
there made acquainted with the
SHOCKING DETAILS
of horrible story. The house is in
charge OF Lou Walker, who showed no
disposition to eva1e question
ing, and promptly answered all
questions put 10 her. She said
that on or about September 9th
girl named Edith, a resident OF Alice
Grants, received visit from Salie
Seward, the sister CT Annie, bearing
in her hands note from the latter in
| tr-htoh ahn rar,tnaafAI fhn Loan nf GE ~
avoid ejectment for rebt, and promised
in return for the loan to 60 to Alice
Grants house and embrace a life OF
shame. Sallie Seward was fully con-
versant with the contents of the
note, and stated in explana-
ton that her sister was liv-
ing an Improbable life of shame,
and that The family might ss we'll
profit by it. Miss Grant refused to
receive the girl. Bale West, an in
mate of Blanche Curry's house, was
also applied TO, and went in hack,
accompanied by a girl named Florence,
to the house of Mrs. Seward, made
known the object OF her visit, and paid
Mrs. Seward So. Mrs Seward protested
against the execution OF the contract
but Ssllie Seward promised to see it
! performed. The women left in the
hack without the girl, but that same
afternoon the two sisters called st
Blanche Curry's, and Annie Seward
was left there. She made no otjec-
ton to the arrangement, admitted
that she had been intimate with
one man for nearly a year, and
that the family had lived on what
her paramour had given her; that the
latter had indicated his willingness 10
provide for her, but objetted to take
care of the entire family; that the
mother and sister both knew OF her
conduct and were constantly after her
for money. The next night the girls
lover came after her, repaid the SO
advance, and removed the girl to un.
known quarters. The day following
she revisited the Curry house and ex-
pressed satisfaction at having escaped
the guardianship of her mother and
sister, who played upon her feelings
and wheedled her out of every cent
che had. This is an outline OF the