The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-01-17


Mother and Detectives Outwitted in the
Young Wife's Efforts to Join Her Hus-
band.
Chattanooga Special.l
Two years ago, while visiting Atlanta,
w. P. Baird, young merchant of Fay
etteville, Tenn, became acquainted with
Miss Friska Haverfield, of Cincinnati,
aged fourteen. On Miss Haverfeld's re-
turn to Cincinnati correspondence was
agreed upon, but Mrs. Haverfield sternly
protested, and it was carried on clandes-
timely. Miss Haverfield was placed in
boarding-scho Mr.. Baird found it nec-
essary to replenish his stock of
merchandise often, and at times regis
tered at the hotel under an as
sumed name. After awhile the couple had
a falling out, followed by the usual
''make-up." A few weeks ago Baird visit
ed Cincinnati, had a stolen interview with
his sweetheart, and proposed matrimony.
To this proposition she agreed, and party
of three gentlemen and ladies drove to the
school building, where the young lady was
found in waiting. The party drove to Par
son Gwyn's, where they were married. The
party returned to the boarding school, and
the new Mrs. Baird resumed her position
as a schoolgirl without having aroused
OuO SuSplClOn VI any SdNS d COuuuetIOC
who had assisted in the escapade. Baird
remained at the hotel and was visited on
several occasions by his wife. Ten days
ago Baird returned to Fayetteville, leav-
ing his schoolgirl wife to make prepara-
tions to follow. The bride was to leave
Cincinnati Monday morning and join
Baird in this city that night, but instead
there came telegram saying:
I can't come. Detectives are after me.
Mamma is furious I'm hiding out in Coving-
| ton. Be calm. I'll get through. Our friends
are vigilant. FRIsKA
| Probably fifty dispatches passed between
them Monday night and Tuesday. The
| police here have been te1egraphed to arrest
| Baird and his wife on arrival and hold
| them for marrying in violation of the laws
| of Ohio, which require the bride to be
| eighteen years old. Mr.. Baird, learning
| this, left the Read House in disguise, and
| was locked in room at the Stanton House.
At three O'Clock this morning Baird drove
| to Boyce Station in answer to the following
| telegram:
| LEXINGTON. KY, Januarys;
| W. P. BAIRD: Thank Heaven. I'm on the
| train; will be there in the morning. Meet me,
| Will, can tyou? FRISKA.
| Baird and friend took the morning
| train to meet the south bound train at
Dayton, Tenn, fifty miles north of Chat
| tanooga. The conductor and passengers
had been told the story by the bride, and
| when Baird entered she was brought from
| her hiding-place, and nearly every one in
the car rose and began to applaud. Friska
states that just she was preparing to
| leave Monday morning her mother made
the discovery and checked her, but not un-
| til her trunk had been sent. Mrs. Haver-
field began to arrange for sending her to
reformatory, but she escaped, and, going
to the Gait House, where two of Mr..
Baird's friends were stopping, disguised
herself as an old lady. She crossed into
Covington and stopped at the Clifton
House, but detectives got so close that she
was compelled to escape through a back
door. She was taken by her friends down
the Cincinnati Southern Railroad to Lex
| ington, where she took the night train,
reaching here this morning. The parties
| left for the South in a locked car this
evening. Miss Haverfield was formerly of
| South Bend, Ind, but has been in a Gin
cinnati boarding school for the last two
| years. When asked how the license was
| obtained in Cincinnati Sor the marriage
Mrs. Baird stated that she placed the num-
ber ''1S" under her foot, and her witnesses
could readily swear that she was over
| ss1SD