The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-08

4 petit.on 7sas fled in the Circuit Court
yesterday afternoon by Edward A.
Spraguc Of No. $3.50 Cabanne avenue ask
ing to be divorced from his WIFE May Lii
lian Sprague. formerly living at NO. 4i3'
Delmar boulevard. and for the custody OF
their only child. Melvin. years old.
In his petition he states that he was
married to the defendant on May %. 1895.
and separated from her last May, alleging
as grounds for his petition for divorce.
naming as correspondent George Morton.
general passenger agent of the Missouri.
Kansas and Texas Railroad.
He also charges that she and Morton
had lived for some months at No. 4135 Del
mar boulevard. the Sprague family resi-
dence after he had become separated from
her.
Mr.. Sprague. who IS stockho'der and
superintendent of the Crunden-Martin
Woodenware Company. said last night re-
garding the suit that it concerned no one
except those who are parties to the suit.
and that he desired no notoriety in the
settlement Of his family troubles
1t is said that Mrs. Sprague confessed
her infatuation for Morton. vowirS that
the sacrifice OF husband. home and friends
was preferable to sacrifice of the man she
loved. although she fully realized that
Morton had wife and children.
The alleged relations between Morton
and Mrs Sprague were broken off few
weeks ago, it is said, when Morton left
her to return to his family, who reside at
No. 573S Won Versen avenue.
A few days following the severance of
relations between them she visited him at
his offices in the Wainwright building, 1t
is said. and shot at him at close range.
The bullet was ineffective
Failing in this attempt it is said. she
visited his residence a few nights after
wards at 10 o'clock. and when refused ad-
mittance she battered on the doors and
windows until he came out. Morton called
the police, who took her to the station.
She was released the next day. She has
since remained in seclusion with friends,
pending a settlement of affairs of busi-
ness, when she probably will go to Chi
cago and make her home with her mother.
Mr. Morton is in the City of Mexico with
an excursion of travelling passenger agents
of the Missouri. Kansas and Texas Rail-
road through Mexico and will not return
to st. Louis for two or three weeks.
WANTS HER CHILD.
Having been served with no petition, I
cannot state specifically what answer
shall make to the charges" said Mrs.
| Sprague last night. Il suppose that some
of the charges are harsh, but shall no.
attempt to deny any part Of them that
| are the truth. II I should enter a gen.
| eral denial, the people of St Louis would
say that I was lying, and 1 disapprove
emphatically of that.
II want my boy. That is what my at
| torneys and myself shall fight for. shall
base all my efforts upon retaining him.
and never will I let him go while there is
any chance to hold him. He is now with
my mother, and so far as I know Mr..
| Sprague has made no attempt to get him.
| Last summer he wrote to my mother in
| Chicago to have him sent here to see the
| Worlds Fair, and also spend some time
and intend to keep him.
Reconciliation is impossible. Divorce is
| the only solution. I was not allowed to
| take the legal step. but separation must
come, and suppose that the sooner it is
over the better It will be for all We are
| all well known in st. Louis, having lived
| here since a girl, and there is bound to be
talk, but I suppose that that cannot be
helped.
From what hear OF the petition the
charges are widespread and do not know
| whether I will deny or affirm. As said
before, will meet the truth with truth