Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-05
Old Man BettyS'S Young Wife
ElOpes With the Sheriff.
MRS. SPARKS AND HER CHILDREN
Are Grisf Stricken BY the Husbands Taithlsss-
ness, and Mr. BsaEys Wants to Sell His
Furniture aud Things-Ths LaiSOn
Has Been Public Scandal for
Three Years.

deserts his wife and children, and
wrecks another home by eloping with a
mans wife. Sheriff Charles Sparks, Of
Robertson county, and Mrs. Lucy Bet
tvs, wife of S. H. Bettys, one of Mt. o.
ivet's wealthiest citizens, are the guilty
parties.
A few years ago Mrs. Bettys, nee
Hamilton, was poor girl, living with
al uncle. She was pretty, and rather
bright for her opportunities. Among
her admirers was s. II. Bettys, resi-
dent school teacher, twice her own age.
Lucy was looked upon by all who knew
her as good girl, and comes Of nice
family.
One night six or seven years ago
Squire Bettys retired as usual, poor
man, but awakened in the morning to
find himself possessed Of $3.50 in cold
cash.
A single dollar he had invested few
days before in lottery ticket had
brought forth fruit. The Squire In
vested his money in "houses and lands, 5"
and went straightway and proposed to
Lucy Hamilton.
He was one of the moneyed men Of
the town, and the poor and respondent
orphan girl had become the independent
Mrs. BettYs. A few years ago Charles
Sparks, a son OF well-to-do and highly
respected parents, married Miss Lenora
Dayton, a daughter Of S. II. Dayton.
Mrs. Sparks is the mother OF three lit
tie children. one little about ten, and
two girls.
Sparks was considered good busi-
ness man, and in August, 1890, was
elected to the position of Sheriff. He
has nice home In Mt. Olivet. Some
thing like three years ago a Irritation
arose between Sparks and Mrs. Bettys.
Becoming bolder, Sparks would call,
when Mr.. 3. was away from home.
NeighbOrs were not slow in catching
the drift Of things, and gossip arose, as
talk will. This came to the ears OF Mrs.
B. s relatives, and her father, it is said.
twice caught Sparks in Mrs. Bettys'
room.
He escaped, however, and not few
looked for . tragedy of some sort. Mrs.
Bettys, in talking to her husband,
secuted the idea of there being any
thing wrong between her and Mr..
Sparks; said they were just good
friends, and that all the talk was start
ed by envious women. Squire believed
il. every word. She smothered him with
kisses, caresseS and pet names. He con-
tinued to believe, and Sparks continued
10 call.
At the August election In 80, Bettys,
to prove that he still considered Sparks
''a nice man." came out and worked
and voted for his election. 1t became
common talk, and Mrs. B. was dropped
from the calling list of nearly all Of her
lady friends.
Mrs. Sparks had become aware that
all was not right, and then began that
torture which only good, true wife
under such circumstances endures.
Friends and relatives Of Sparks impor-
tuned him TO stay away from the wo-
man, but without avail. He needed not
She continued to play her double game,
and Mr.. b. continued to live on in bliss
ful ignorance with his beautiful young
wife. Her favorite name for her huS-
band was "pet," and many times have
the neighbors seen her slip up behind
him and steal kiss, fondly caress him
and fatter him and in the same day re-
ceiye Mr.. Sparks. This thing has gone
on for three years. Everybody knew
and believed but the man whose home
was being destroyed. The little
woman who was being deserted knew,
but was powerleSs TO prevent.
Mrs. Bettys has recently been max
ipC extensive preparations for visit
10 friends and relatives in Lexington,
Maysville, Covington and other places.
She had gotten herself magnificent
wardrobe, and rumor has IT, had $1,000
in money belonging to Mr.. B., which
she had been keeping. On Monday
morning she left home for Maysyille,
and the last words she said as she drove
away were, Goodbye, Pet. Take
good care of yourself"
About 10 o'clock OF the same morn
ing Sparks hired rig from Struve
Bros, livery stable, saying he would be
hack that evening or in the morning.
When Sparks failed to appear, and 1t
was heard that he went TO Agusta.
Some one Immediately remembered
that Mrs. Bettys had gone the same
morning.
The scenes that followed in the home
of the deserted wife and children | can
not begin to describe. Mrs. Sparks al
most went into Mysteries on Tuesday
NIGHT: the smallest girl awakening cried
for her papa. The mother has not
sIept an hour since, and Is well-nlgh
heart-broken. .,
Even on Tuesday, when approached
nv friends about it, Mr.. Bettys indig-
nantly denied the probability OF such
thing, kept the house all opened up
and tenderly watered the once fair
owners flowers. On Wednesday morn
inp he went to the Germantown Fair.
still believing in his wife and thinking
how some people will talk. But when
he returned the awful truth had been
forced upon him. His eyes were sud
denly opened, and this morning he says
his house and furnishings are for sale.
The bulk of the sympathy goes out 10
the broken-hearted wife and pitifni lit
tie children. She will not suffer for
this worlds goods, for her father is a
wealthy man, but her suffering IS OF a
kind that cannot be allayed. Sparks
bondsmen as Sheriff, one OF whom Is
Senator-elect Kenton, are very uneasy,
and he will be compelled TO relinquish
his Office should he return, as many
suppose he will. A brother and brother
in-law of the missing man left yester-
day in search Of him, but the search
will no doubt prove fruitless. All the
parties connected, directly and indi-
rectly, are in high standing in the com
munity.