Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-18
STRANGE EPISODE IN A PRETTY
SCHOOL GIRLS CAREER.
Claiming That at the Tender Age OF
Fifteen She Was COerced into Marry
Ing an Ex-United States Soldier of
Thirty.
From the New York Truth.

FROM the New 1Ork truth.
In 1876 John Elder, whose father, Jacob Elder,
kept grocery store on Ninth avenue, was dis
charged from the regular army. having served a
term of eight years. The ex-Unted States SOL
der was then about so years old. He had con-
siderable money, dressed well, and, as he car
ried himself with the grace and dignity to which
long service in the regular army had accus-
toned him. he attracted some attention when
OF fine afternoon, he went out Tor stroll up
and down Eighth avenue which at such times
was usually thronged with ladies out doing
their shopping. AS the eX-soldier was for the
time being gentleman Of leisure he frequently
gave himself an airing on the great west side
thoFOughtare, and the ''mashes'' that he scored
t among the ladies would excite with envy some
OF the finest dudes Of to-day.
scRAP1NG AN ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE GIRL.
AT that time Mamie Taylor. the pretty 15-year-
old daughter of the proprietor Of fancy goods
store on Eighth avenue was attending Gram
mar school No. SO, in west 2Sth street. She was
well developed for one of her age, and wealth
OF brown hair flowed over her shoulders In
| waves or ringlets. Elder met the blithe young
miss one day on her way to school and was smit-
ten. At the close Of school hours he was lying
| IN walt Tor her, and when she came out he fol-
| lowed her and ascertained where she lived. Not
long after this the then rather stylish eX-soldier
managed to scrape an acquaintance with his
youthful charmer. He frequently met her going
to or from school, and ALWAYS had some little
present for her. besides an abundance Of soft
words. The acquaintance ripened into genuine
friendship, If nothing more serious and the
young girl seemed to place all confidence in her
c!andestine acquaintance.
THE MARRIAGE IN SECRET.
From this stage on the history of the case ac-
counts differ. Miss Taylor who has now de-
velOped into full-grown, charming young lady
says that Elder met her one day on the street
and proposed marriage. She objected. she
says, whereupon Elder insisted. and told her
! that if she did not consent he would expose her
to her mother and all her friends, tell them all
the places they had been together in secret and
thus bring her into bad repute She saws that on
account of these threats she was coerced into
| going with Eder. and that being still under
| duress she went with him to the residence of a
clergyman who married them. She also saws
that soon after going away with Elder she was
missed by schoolmate who informed Mamie's
mother OF her disappearance That her mother
Immediately went in search Of her, overlook
her the same afternoon and brought her home.
She says that although the marriage ceremony
was performed she has always retained her
maiden name.
THE COERCION CHARGES DENIED.
The version OF the affair as given by the other
side is, that there was no such threats made as
alleged by Miss Taylor or Mrs. Elder; that after
being married they lived together for short
time In furnished rooms and then went to keep
ing house In west SD street; that they lived
happily together for about three weeks: after
which, the young brides parents having found
out where she was took her home
AS she was minor child Elder did not follow
up and claim his Wife, but dropped into the I'M
romantic drudgery of green grocery man, in
partnership with his father, where he has since
remained, growing round-shouldered and losing
his charms as a ''masher" altogether
THE YOUNG LADY's EFFORT TO GET FREE AGAIN
Miss Taylor, or Mrs. Elder, being now of ripe.
manageable age, and quite lovely withal has
began suit in the supreme court to have the
marriage with Elder annued, on the ground
that it was brought about by force and threats.
Elder, who is now nearly 40 years old and
confirmed greengrocer of the most prosaic kind.
says he will not interpOse any objection to hav-
Ing the marriage declared annulled. but will let
the case so by default. However the court ap-
pointed Assistant Corporation Attorney Charles
Blandy as referee, to take testimony in the case.