New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-20
ELoPING FROM NEWPORT.
BOUND TO WED HER FATHERS FOREMAN.
THE DAUGHTER OF Mr. uoDcsos. THE yrsrn-Avx.

THE DAUGHTER OF Mr.. H0DGsoN THE FIfTH-AvK.
FLORIST, AND HER LOVER PREE TO MARRY.
telegram was received at Police Headquarters on
Tuesday night from John NJ Hodgson the Fifth-aye.,
florist who was at Newport, X. l.. stating that his
daughter Louisa had eoped with his foreman Richard
A. Merritt. and that they had taken passage on the
steamboat Old Colony Of the Fall River Line for ths
city, Mr.. Hodgson wanted the runaway pair stopped
by the police and detained until be could make
arrangements to have his daughter taken back New.
port. Detectives Hey and Thomas of the Steamboat
Squad were at the Fall River pier yesterday morning.
when the Old Colony arrived and they had no difficulty
In picking out tho elopiug lovers from among the other
passengers. Telling young Merritt that he and bis
sveethear must consider themselves under arrest the
officers called carriage took them to Police Head.
quarters. The young took his arrest cooy hile
he declared that the police had right to stop him,
but MISS Hodgson wept and appeared much surprised.
Inspector Steers sent Merritt to the Jefferson Market
Police Court and had him rcmanded to gain time sup
posing that the prisoner could be held q charge Of
and said that he was florist living at Newport lie i
q slender man. with dark hair and eyes small mus
tache and fairly good-looking In the prcsence OF
not inclined to talk
Miss Hodgson placed fn the care Of Matron
Webb for time. and she became more cheerful when
assured that no harm would come to young Merritt.
She said that she was twenty-five years old and her
looks confirmed the statement Her slight angular
form was clothed In q neatly fitting but inexpensive
dress. and she wore a small hat with veil which
partly covered her fscs She plain looking aud
her eyes were red with weeping The story of beov
affair was told by her with apparent freedom.
Ny parents' she said, +" 1--we at No. 545 Ffth-ave
In winter and we 60 every summer to Newport wbero
my father owns several greenhouses; have known
Mr.. Merritt ever since he was boy. might almost
say we have been brought up together, because my
father took him into the store when he only boy
and always had the greatest confidence In HIM. Richard
showed much ability IN the florist business that my
father made bim foreman Of the establishment New
port. He and have loved each other for years and
were engaged two years ago: Richard spoke to my
father then, and wc were told that we might marry
some day II We kept of the mind until bad got
old enough to know what was best for Lately my
fathtr has tried to keep apart and mother sides
with him, although she promised once that could
marry Richard. My sister forced to give mp
young man to whom she was engaged and my brother
had trouble In getting married. thought they wanted
me to marry some Efth-ave., swell and made up my
mind that l would have Richard anyhow. dont
see why father objects. He way with my mother
when he married her. Our family Is English Richard
perfect gentleman ana nothing can be said against
him, but will marry Richard il have to run away
Mr.. Hodgson, when informed that bis daughter was
at Police Headquarters, teegraphed to Nc. Hoffman,
his New York foreman, to take Louisa back to New
port Mr. Hoffman went to Police Headquarters but
the foreman admitted that Lonisa was of age, ln-
spector Steers decided that the police had right to
oetain the young lovers He sent Merritt to the police
court again aud had him discharged. When Merritt
and Miss Hodgson met again at Police Headquarters
both free to where they chose. Merritt prom.
ised to take Louisa directly to minister's house and
get married They shook hands with Inspector Steers
aud said they would remember bis kindness to them