The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-23
TIE TONGUE OF SCANDAL.
How 1t Broke Up the Home of Charles
ShepIar,
BY Causing His Wife to Fly From Her
Husband and Children-A
Touching Letter.

returned to his home about three weeks
ago to find it deserted.
He was in the northern part of the State
when he received the letter written by
his wife, and which is given below. He
returned at once, reaching this city on
Tuesday, to find his wife had deserted
their home and three children. The letter
reads:
SACRAMENTO, Sept. 8, 1892.
Dear Husband: Something very serious has
happened at home to cause me to leave It, MY
intentions were togo to you and explain to you
ali, but Mrs. - and - can tell you, tnough,
instead. Mrs - came to the house one DAY
when there was no work IN the cannery, ana
called me everything but lady, ana accused
me of things that, as sure as there Is q COO
above us, am perfectly innocent or she
said that / neglected my darling baby, as IL
died, and that my other children L was not
competent 10 care for, and they, too, would go
if had the care OF them. / am nearly heart
broken.
Ihave left the children at Delia's, 1891 l.
street. Mrs. - also told her things about
me, everything which is untrue. l wish To
God in heaven had never been born to see
this day, that have 10 write this But there
viii yet a day come when they will meet with
their deserts.
Charlie, this is the second time have been
accused of wrong, though innocent so think
that you will, though 1t is hard 10 say 1T, get
along better without me. Be good 10 my dar-
ling babies and try to forget me. do not
want you to try TO find me, as VIII never be
brought back alive. This 1 mean. am nat
urally proud, and ii has almost broken my
heart 10 be the talk of every one.
Be good To my darling babies, and don't let
them think wrong OF their mamma. Mr..
Beasly and Della and my dear papa and sister
Katie, think, are the only ones That believe
me innocent. i have taken nothing from
home but yours and my darings pictures,
and my dear, dead baby's dress and shoes.
Everything else is there. / did not pay the
rent, as that ten dollars is all l had in the
world, but L ask nothing more. will soon
get work, and, Charlie, don't think hard OF
me. When ask you not to look for me, just
believe am dead, mean It, | cannot stand
any more trouble will die first. II Is better
we part. Don't feel too bad, as you have my
loved ones to love you, and / am alone.
intend going far away-the farther off the
better-it will slit Inc. Don't worry for me,
as perhaps am not worth it. Be good TO my
darling babies and my dear papa, and may
God in heaven bless you all.
YOUR HEART-BRoKEN WIFE.
Written across another page is the fol-
lowing:
have been offered a position on one of the
steamers going TO England, which intend to
take. Goodbye, dear Charlie, and love my
babies
On the back of '.memorial card" of
the death of a four-months-old child she
wrote:
Ellen S. Sheplar, died July 18th, aged A
months and days / had the baby given
private baptism, and dear old Mr.. Corwin
read the funeral services at the house, also at
The grave.
Mrs. Sheplar left no clew to her pro-
posed destination further than is given
in the letter-that she had been offered
position on an English steamer. This
her friends do not place much faith in, as
she is not known to have had any ac-
.quaintances connected with steamers, and
they do not think she would apply to
strangers. While he- friends do not be-
heve that she has gone on a steamship,
they are at loss to form any idea as to
her movements or probable destination.
SCANDALS DEADLY TONGUE.
A RECORD L MON reporter was in
formed yesterday that the scandal con-
meeting Mrs. Sheplar's name with that of
one Joseph Derban and another man was
not altogether groundless, and from the
fact that Derban is said to have disap-
peared shortly after Mrs. Sheplar did,
and that he has not since been heard
from, it is thought he may have knoWl-
edge of her whereabouts.
The something serious referred to in
her letter her friends seem unable to ac-
count for, unless it is that one or two
over-solicitous neighbors who have made
1t business to pass judgment upon her
actions, had driven her nearly frantic by
criticism and advice, had finally sue
ceeded in inducing the young woman to
desert ner husband,
HER HOME AND CHILDREN.
The eldest of the children is little girl
of years, another a boy of 6 and the
youngest little girl of about years of
age. They are unusually bright little
ones, and are at present in good hands
The reporter found them in charge of
Mrs. May Doyle, for a long time an init
mate friend of Mrs. Sheplar, and who
has known the family for several years
and been frequent visitor.
Mrs. Doyle was very guarded in her
statements about the matter, but it was
evident she thought that while Mrs.
Sheplar's conduct had not always been
above reproach, she considered that her
desperate resolve to leave her home and
children forever was caused by the Cos
sip of the neighbors and her proud and.
sensitive nature.
TIMELY VISIT.
Mrs. Doyle came here from San Fran
cisco on her way TO take a situation as
housekeeper at Elk Grove. incidentally
she visited Mrs. Sheplar, only to learn of
her absence, and on Mr.. Sheplar's return
she was induced to remain at his home
and take charge of the children. MIR.
Sheplar being obliged to return at once to
Shasta County to fulfill a cattle-buying
contract he had assumed.
lie notified the police, and made every
possible effort to trace his wife before
leaving for Millville, Shasta County.
where he now is.
THE LAST TRACE OF MRS. sTrEP1AR
Is obtained from c. G. Beasly, who owns
the house in which the Sheplars lived
Mr.. Beasly says he was called in by Mrs.
Sheplar, who asked him to strap her
trunk, but gave him no information as to
her intention to desert her home. He
noticed her as being frequently despond-
ent and hckle-mlnded for four or five
days.
The trunk was traced to the depot, but
whether it was checked and taken aboard
tram or atterward removed from the
baggage-room is not known. Its thought
by some that Mrs. Sheplar is still in this
city. It's also learned that she is likely
to assume rename of Mrs. Ella Schaetfer.
She is comely woman of % years,
vivacious, Intelligent and good natured,
at other times nervous and excitable.
She has very large and bright black ewes.
and fairly regular features.
Mr.. Sheplar, who is very highly spoken
of by friends of the family, has regrlarlv
sent his wife remittanceS of never less
than $50 per month, and their home was
comfortably and well furnished. More
than this, he is said to have been in love
with his wife, and attentive and provident
in every way, except that his business
kept him from home months at time.
Judging from all that can be learned,
the case is one of a fickle-minded woman
driven to desperation by the gossip and
interference of others before she had an.
opportunity to explain or contide in her
husband.
The deserted husband was nearly
frantic after the receipt of the letter
given above, and did all in his power to
trace his wife, but so far has obtained no
Information further than is given above.
She took with her various photographs
and trinkets and all her personal belong
inps