Long Island - The hitherto quiet village of Pearsall's Corner on the South Side Railroad, has had a genuine "sensation" of the free-love order. Two of its married dames have disappeared, namely, the wife of Samuel Sprague and the wife of Samuel Abrams. A good looking single young man, named Richard Slavin, who made his appearnce in the village about four months since, is also among the missing. Slavin boarded at Mr. Sprague's house, and was very attractive to Mr. Sprague's wife, and also to Mrs. Abrams. He was considered by almost everybody to be a "fine fellow." On the 5th of October, Mrs. Sprague and Mr. Slavin left the village, and people thought neither of them would ever return to it again, but Slavin did on election day, during the absence of Mr. Abrams, and when he went away again Mrs. Abrams went also. Each of the female elopers took with her whatever cash she could get. Since the disappearance of the trio nothing has been heard of their whereabouts. The husbands of the missing wives are both sad and angry and would give Slavin a warm reception if they could find him.
Brooklyn (New York) Daily Eagle, November 8, 1872.
Copyright © 2004 Larry Slavens. All rights reserved.