National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-08-07


AFsr. I.sberer Rams Away With snd Mar
ries his Employers Feurtees-year Old
Daughter. ..r... =
Mention was made In the Democrat q day
or two ago Of the arrest Of young clipping
couple at vandalla, ILL., A correspondent
sends us additional particulars Of tho affair,
and history Of their brief career, as fol.
lows;
The young man now In jail ls Joseph Hess,
who for about Ave years has been farm
iaborer for a wealthy landowner, Reuben
Waits, near scipio Ind. Hess had always
shown an unusual affection for Mary, the
little daughter Of his employer, and spent
most Of his idle time with her. Tho girl,
who Is now but fourteen years old, cvlnced
Partially for Hess, but tho parents thought
II nothing unusual until about tho LIST Of July,
when Mr.. Waits discovered that Hess In
tended 10 make him his father-in.law. Waits
at once told Mary 70 have nothing more to
say to Hess, and to refuse 10 accompany him
TO any more plcnics or excursions. The girl
appeared to acqulcsce In his decision, but
Hess, on hearing Of IL, became indl }nant, and
after some words left tho house. Everything
went along smoothly for two or three weeks,
and, although Hess was known to be In the
neighborhood, Waits did not expect any
further trouble with him, and he was greatly
surprised to discover that through tho assist
lance Of her schoolmates Mary had main
talncd q regular correspondence with her
lover. Her parents watched her more close
discovered nothing further. On that day tho
girl started for school with her little brother;
but, after walking half way to the school
house, declared that she was too unwcll
70 go further, and turned towards
home. The hoy went TO- school and re-
NAMED until hight. When he reached home
he was surprised TO learn that Mary had not
returned. Waits, suspectlng the truth, at
once started on search for her, and learned
from the teighbors that she had been seen
going In the direction Of Sciplo early In the
morning. Arriving In town, he was In
formed that she had been Joined by Hess,
and , that together they had taken the train
reached Indianapolis only TO learn that the
pair had gone West q few hours before by
the vandalia railroad. Undiscouraged,
Waits followed by the first train, and at VAN
dalia overlook them, but was toJ late, as the
marriage ceremony had already been per-
formed: His next step was TO learn howa
license had been obtained, and for that pur-
pose he visited the office Of the county clerk.
There he found an affidavit fled by Hess TO
the effect that MARY Waits was Of tho law
full age of eighteen and competent to make
the marriage contract" On this the clerk
had Issued the certificate about an hour be-
fore Waits arrival. Tho latter a. once ap-
piled to Justice Jenkins, and had his son-in-
law arrested for perjury. Several citizens
intcrfered aud endcavorcd TO induce the vim
dictivc old gentleman to withdraw his COM
plant, but he was able; and In less
than three hours after tho marriage Hess
had been committed, after o preliminary OK
animation, to await trial at tho September
term Of the Circuit Court, and was securely
lodged In jail.
The father and daughter, 10 spite Of the
tears and circumstances Of the latter, re-
turned to their home In Indiana, Mrs. Hess
wiser. II not u happier woman.-Nissours
Democrat