Indiana State sentinel., 1845-02-20

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MARRIAGE.-We find in
the Fredonia Censor, and have been requested to copy
the proceedings of public meeting held at Fortesve
IN Chautauque county the l7th instant, for the
purpose Of giving expression to public opinion in
relation TO occurrences growing out of the recent
elandestine marriage Of John Stearrs With daughter
OF Edward b. Kingsley, Esq, of the town Of Ark
wright. Tie Rev. James Bennett presided at the
meeting, and committee, composed CT some OF the
most respectable citizens, reported a preamble and
resolutions, from which we derive the following
statement of facts -
Join Stearns had been for some time previous to
the marriage referred TO, in the employ yment of Mr.
kingsley during which time, by various ariifceS, he
contrvcd TO win tie confidence Of hs daughter, girl
cf twelve years. and also the confidence of her parents
so far to gain their consent for her to accompany
him on visit 10 bis brother Ia Erie county, under the
false pretence that they 10 be accompanied by
his sister. While on their way, he for the first time
proposed to marry her, under the assurance tLa they
should not live together until she arrived at the age Of
sixteen years, during which time their maria ge was
to be kept secret. E:i fattering representations
and fair promises her consent, and ON their
arrival The nuptials were solemnized by magistrate
IN the person of John e. Dayton. ESP, of Eden.
On her return, she continued TO live with her
parents, who were as yet entirely ignorant Of the
transactions, until about lie last of November when
he told that the marriage could no longer be kept
secret, and that when her parents should become
acquainted with it, they would spurn her from thcm
and turn her out of DOORS and that she must look to
him for support and protection. With these repre-
sentatons, he prevailed her to leave her home and
go to his fathers, without the knowledge of her
parents. The parents first apprised Of the
marriage by Stcarns himself, who after f
her clothes.
The parents then went with their friends and
neighbors to the residence of Stesrns father to see
and converse with their daughter who ON find ny that
her parents would not cast her Off but would Nfuly
cbo lie. al
Stearns after arrested for violation of the
law IN marrying girl under fourteen years of age
without the consent of her parents.
Soon after this, Stearns went to the house of Mr.
Kingsley in company with his friends, and demanded
his wife, declaring that he would have her at all
hazards The girl refused to go with him, plainly
telling him that If she had any affection for him.
his conduct and deception Lad destroyed it all and
that she would suffer anything rather than live with
him. On Friday, the 18th inst, Stearns in company
with of his relatives, and man by the name of
Whitney from Buffalo, who pretended to be a sheriff.
clothed with authority to take her, went to the hoo
house where the girl was in attendance, and made
forcibIc attempt to take her away; but repulsed
by the girl, AIDED by the mistress and her scholars.
After this repulse, Stearns went to Buffalo and
employed lawyer by the name of Eli Cook, by whose
aid he succeeded in obtaining precept from Judge
Stevens, commanding tie person of the girl to be
brought before h.s honor in Buffalo, (athough there
in Chautauque county at the time several officers
competent to issue such precept)
This precept was placed in the hands Of a consta-
BILE, in the city by the name of PatchIn, who came
with fleet horse, and demanded the GIRL assuring
Mr.. Kingsley that he would stop in Forestyille and
satisfy him that he clothed with the proper
authority. The fither and mOther prepared to
pany theIa, but as on as Patchn got the girl into
his sleigh, he hurried on and left them behind and
instead of Stopping in Forestville, through the
village at full speed. When Mr.. Kingsley arrived in
the village and found that Pachn had stopped
be agreed, he gave the ALARM reasonably supposing
that, like Whitney, he was an impostor, and acting
without authority. Our citizens Immediately turned
cut in pursuit under the same impression, and after
close chase, with cries of % Murder" and s op
Thief" in his rear, and the Of the girl in the
sleigh, Patchin finally overaken about four miles
beyond Lagrange and the girl rescued from his hands
and restored to her parents.
We have stricken out some words in the foregoing
statement, which seems TO have been drawn up under
te influence OF highly excited feelings, and accuses
the officer, charged with the execution of the precep
of being guilty of acts that deem Incredible