The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-03-24
BUNCO SPRAGUE
Who Played Mr.. SadIer for
$4,000 Convicted
IN THE CRIMINAL COURT or FAYETTE co.
A Brief Review Of the now famous Case.


There has been so much publish
ed and said of the now famous
Sprague case in which a very esti-
mable citizen of Point Marion is
deeply interested that nothing new
is needed The buneoer Sprague
was indicted by the Fayette county
grand jury for defrauding Mr.. Sad
Ter. Last week Sprague was tried
and convicted. In its report of the
criminal court the Connellsville
Courier has the following account of
the trial:
The trial of I. A. Sprague of Pitts
burg, charged with defrauding Cyrus
X. Sadler of Point Marion out of
$4,000 was one of the most interest
ing disposed of this session of court
Sprague was srraiged before Judge
Ewing, Friday, and the trial CON
tinued until Saturday afternoon.
The defendant visited Point Marion
two years ago to organize a local
branch of the United States Excel
sior Building and Loan Association.
The prosecutor alleged that Sprague
went to his house in 1892 and board
ed with him several weeks He soon
worked himself into the good graces
of the whole family and finally in
duced Sadler to buy a one twentieth
interest in the National Excelsior
company, which was organizing.
Sadler informed Sprague that he did
not have the money, but that he had
optioned large part of his property
in the vicinity of Point Marion which
he hoped to sell in few months.
This WAS satisfactory and Sprague
accepted note for $4,000 which he
Immediately entered up in the
Prothonotary's office. In his tes-
timony Sadler, the prosecutor, said:
He said he was President of the
United States Excelsior Building
and Loan Association, and proposed
to sell me an interest in the copy
right. He said the company was
capitalized at 100000 and that he
wanted to sell me one twentieth in
terest in the copyright for $4,000
He had sold the State of Pennsyl-
vania, he said for $4,000, and West
Virginia for $4,000 and had sold
one-twentieth interest in the remain
ing States to a Mckeesport banker.
named Stewart, for $4,000; one
twentieth to Johnstown man and
one twentieth to each of eight Pitts
burg business men," The prosecu-
tor also testified that when he paid
Sprague 81, 900 on the note the lat
ter gave him a receipt for it, but
failed to credit the payment on the
note in the Prothonotary's office.
This aroused his suspicious and he
had Sprague arrested for false pre-
tense.
The defense moved that the in
dictment be quashed, rs there was
no evidence to show thai the interest
Sadler purchased was not of value,
and claimed that it was straight
business transaction all the way
through. Several witnesses from
Pittsburg were put on the stand,
and testified that they were in the
association in Pennsylvania, and
that it was good thing. Sprague
also testified that the national body
is now organized, a capital of 81 ,000,-
900, and was in process of organiza-
tion when he sold Sadler his inter
est. Judge Ewing refused to quash
the indictment after the prosecution
made the point that copyright was
al, Sorague had, simple copyright
on the forms of the association, and
that anyone could organize an asso-
citation under the same rules, which
makes Sadler's purchase practically
valueless. Attorney ID. NJ. Hertzog
addressed the jury for the prosecu-
tion. He argued that Sprague's
copyright only covered the book of
rules and bylaws and the forms and
books used, and that the Supreme
Court had ruled recently that any
one could purchase these books and
papers and organize associations I'M
der their plan. That Sprague OBJ
tanned the money by false pretense
in asserting to Sadler that his copy
right operated the same as patent,
and such not being fact under the
law, hence he was guilty of swind-
ling This declaration was new law
to most every person and was a pos
er for the defense. Attorney r. p.
Kennedy argued the case on the side
of the defense. The jury found |
Sprague guilty as indicted.