The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-09

Another $4,000 seduction case holds
the boards, the defendant this time be-
ing a single man, in which Nephi ].
Pratt is charged with having seduced
and debauched Sophia Heding,
pretty Scandinavian girl. who wants
him to pay her the sum alluded to, or
else marry her and make her an hon
orable wife.
The complaint was filed in the dis
trict court yesterday and alleges that
on Sept. 26 1898, Pratt promised TO
marry the plaintiff within a reason
able time, and that she, cOnfidiDg in
that promise, remained single and is
still. and that now defendant refuses
to fulfill his part of the agreement
1t is further alleged that on Oct 20.
1898, after the promise to marry was
made, the defendant. with force and
violence, indecently assaulted plaintiff
and wickedly seduced and debauched
her, by reason of which seduction and
debauchment plaintiff has been sick
and completely broken down in health
and unable to attend to the ordinary
business affairs of life, to her damage
in the sum mentioned.
REFINED AND INTELLIGENT.
Miss Heding was seen by a reporter
for this paper yesterday. She is
Slight built little woman, and is ap-
parently refined and intelligent. She
says she came to this country when
but Is years of age and has worked for
a living ever since She was alone so
far as parents were concerned, and had
but few relatives here. She was out
walking with a girl friend one evening
when she met Pratt. He was with
another young man, who was an ac-
quaintance of the girl she was with,
and an introduction followed.
From that time on Pratt continued
TO keep company with her, and one
evening overcame her. Since that and
for nearly two years he has called
her his wife; lived with her in three
different houses and apparently be-
slowed upon her all his affection, until
last July ne abandoned her for a, young
lady named Pettet, whom he has been
going with for some time. although
Miss Heding says he told her he had
no intention of marrying his latest
flame; said he wouldn't marry her for
a million.
ENDEARING LETTERS
For a period of nine months during
their acquaintance the plaintiff was in
California, visiting sister, and while
there Pratt wrote her ON an average
of three letters each week. These mis-
ture that she kept them all and now
has a very neat little bundle of cor
respondence, which viii be introduced
in evidence. The letters make several
promises Of weddings to come and how
happy they will be in the future when
they are united, and according TO
plaintiffs attorneys make out a dead
sure case.
HIS LOVE GREW COLD.
Miss Heding says Pratt began to
treat her coldly some time last fall and
when she demonstrated with him he
told her he wanted nothing more to
do with her. She appealed to him to
give her her rights, but he declined.
and then she consulted her attorney.
Pratt has had several consultations
with her and her counsel, but each
time refused to do her the justice she
sought, although his parents advised
him to do right by the girl, marry her
and avoid all the shame and scandal
attaching to a suit in the courts.
The last attempt at securing a recon-
Citation and marriage was made on
Friday evening, when the girl and
Pratt held a meeting at the Office of
her attorneys. He laughed at her and
defied her to get anything, declaring
he had nothing she could get hold OF
in the way Of property. That seemed
TO be a source of satisfaction to him.
How ever, he has some valuable mining
claims, which will be attached at once.
Young Pratt is "A years of age, while
the girl is one year his senior. She
declares she thought more of him than
any man she ever met, and does yet.
and would marry him now if he would
consent, in order that the disgrace she
has incurred might be removed from
her name.
SHE IS NOT RESENTFUL.
Miss Heding is broken in health and
looks pale and wan. She evinceS no
luminosity towards her seduceT, but
processes sorrow at what mas happened,
claiming that had she loved him less
her condition would not be as it is.
1t is expected that Pratt will be
made defendant in a. criminal proceed
ing, although her attorney said last
evening that nothing of the sort would
be attempted, unless the prosecuting
attorney first made a movement in
that direction.
Half Rate East via Union Pacific.