The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-28
GRACE PATRONS CASE
FIRST DAY OF A SENSATIONAL DAM
AGE SUIT IN SUPERIOR COURT.
Michael HI. Spades Asked to Pay S35,-
900 Dnmages-The Mother of the
Girl on the Witness Stand.

The. damage suit of Grace Frances Pat
ton against Michael H. Spades is on in
Room 2, Superior Court. The plaintiff al
leges that she has been betrayed and wants
SIS, 900 of the defendants money. Her
mother, Belle Tilghman. is seeking also to
recover for her daughters alleged dishonor.
1t was nearly noon yesterday before jury
was selected and the opening statement of
the plaintiff was made Mr.. Spades sat with
his attorneys, Messrs. Rocker and Spaan.
Grace Frances Patton. the PLAINTIFF,
is slender, dark-eyed girl of
about seventeen. She sat between
her mother and grandmother, an aged
woman, whose gray locks strayed from
beneath her black bonnet. The plaintiff
was CARRIED in black and wore spray of
violets at her throat. A blue sailor hat
sets off her short, brown curls. Her coun-
sci is ex-Judge Cox, assisted by ex-Deputy
Prosecutor Cox and attorney Rockford.
The usual crowd of men occupied the
chairs in the court room during the morn
ing. In the afternoon three APP
peared and gots seats in the gallery. The
crowd of men in the afternoon grew cur
ious and insisted pressing to the front.
The bailiff brought a rope and stretched it
across the room and kept them back Ex-
Judge Cox made the opening statement for
the plaintiff and was followed by attorney
Span, who denied each allegation. During
Mr.. SPANS remarks, his client sat with
his hand over his face Attorney
Spaan denounced as false the statement of
the opposing counsel that attorney Rocker
represented Mr.. Spades when he had the
case docketed in Lawrence township.
The assertion is made that the girl was
led astray while she was employed in
Spadess office in the Windsor Block. This
teen years OF age. The defendant is
charged with taking advantage of her
-0olr nh aiaI D,. Cor
the first witness called, testified that when
the plaintiff was fourteen years of age
was unable to control her actions and had
little will power. Clara Bracken, who lives
the Pattons, she said She also knew the
defendant, having worked for him at his
i house and store: It was through her that
PENDANT: Spades asked her to get him a
nice, decent GIRL, to work in his office.
The witness met Grace Patton coming out
of the block at the southwest corner of
Delaware and Washington streets, one att
to work for MIR. Spades
Il would like it if he's nice gentleman
the girl had replied.
And what did you tell her?' asked at
torney Cox of the witness.
Il told her he a gentleman and |
Mrs. Bracken said she accompanied the
girl to Spadess office and was present
when she was employed.
Belle Tilghman the mother of the plant
iff, was on the stand nearly all the after
noon She is sh5 harp e -, black Sa.
fought an unequal battle with the world
Her first husband was William Patton,
father of the plaintiff. She separated from
HIM in 1872 but remarked to him in a
year. She then lived with Patton until
his death. She was married to Tilghman
said, had contributed to her support until
she went into the, office of the defendant
Spades. The girl left school to take en-
ployment in the Windsor Block. Mrs.
Tilghman said her daughter had never re-
which she suffered for long time. She
was very nervous, and at times was unable
to feed herself. Sometimes she would ges
up in the morning and attempt to put on
her shoes but nervous that 1t would
require hours to accomplish the simple
task The witness said the family was
poor and had been compelled to take in
washing for a living. Her daughter de,
livered the clothes after she had washed
from Mr.. Spades in February, which she
destroyed. They concerned her ,s daughters
visited Grace once or twice in March. On
one occasion she found the girl at the teiec
o'clock in the morning, and a great deal deals OF
the time. her duties We're not conelud te,i
until s. ocloe5 her IN the ebenh Was dismissed
BY Spades. After that she took no interest
in the family, and was noe std naG Masn
office after her daughter had been as
charged The defendant told her that ne
had dismissed the girl because business
Afterward the witness called at the Wind nd
daughter. The latter had disappeared. The
defendant said she had been there ana he
had given her two dollars c
L told Mr.. Spades then not to give ., Grace
any more money" continued the witness,
sand he replied that he would give her
money whenever she asked for it. 80
..Did YOU go to Spadess office again.!
asked attorney Cox. 49,.
hand We found Mr.. Spades in his office.
/ asked him if he had seen Grace ana ne re
said she had been there again. | asked II
he had given her more money and ne SAID
he had given her a dollar
'sWhat did you say to him.?
II told him that | had warned n him ,no, not
to give her more money, and then looked
him in the eye and said: Mr.. Spades, there
is something wrong between you and my
daughter When / used these words he
turned white and then, turned green; His His
face was as white death asked MIN
where Grace was and he said she was
boarding in nice place near the viaduct
The PLAINTIFFS attorneys attempted to
show by the mother that the daughter had
q good moral character prior to taking
position in the Windsor Block. Judge Har-
yev declined to admit the testimony OF the
-, ont