The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-18
SCARED INTO MATRIMONY.
A Boy Captured by n woman Old
Enough 20 ne His Mother.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, February IT,
A youth OF seventeen named William
Saunders, Of No. 4l32 Ludlow street,
was the defendant in q suit before
Magistrate Smith at the Central Sta
ton to-day, in which woman giving
the name OF Elizabeth Saunders, and
claiming TO be his wife, charged him
with desertion and refusal to support
her. When the prisoner was placed
in the dock he was found TO be but
seventeen years OF age, while his oil.
legged wife looked as II she was on
the shady side OF forty.
81 am twenty-six years DID," said
the woman, land was married last
November to that man." pointing TO
the prisoner, whose youthful appear
anoe and look OF imbecilty caused
the magistrate to smile. eve were
married but two days when he told
me to go TO the almshouse aud live. i
went, and have been there ever since"
When Saunders was placed on the
stand his dilemma was plainly notice.
able. After considerable questioning
he told the magistrats that Father
Gsrvey Of st. James's church had
married them and that they did not
have a license.
81 didn't want TO marry her." taid
Saunders, with an effort, "but she
scared me into it,"
"Tell me how IL was DONE" sa!d
Magistrate Smith.
'She came to our house and occu-
Mad ~ NhRaA Vatnhka md tho.
told me II l didn't marry her the
devil would get me-"
The young man refused to comply
with her request, whereupon she con-
cocted plan which so worked on
his enfeebled mind that he at last con-
scented. From the time of his refusal
to marry the woman his life became
a burden. The winds that whistled
around the house at night and the
banging shutters and rafting we're de-
picted to him to be the work of the
devil. The woman said that the devil
was going wild, and il he did not con-
sent to a speedy marriage the devil
only knew what he would do. Still
he refused, and the toitures increased.
His door would open and shut with
out any apparent agency, and an in
visible bell awakened him from his
sleep. Apparltiols hoated through
his chamber, aud when this addi-
tional evidence OF the DEVILS handi-
work was seen by the boy he sat up in
bed, and, with his hair on end, men
tally resolved, il he was spared until
n orning, that he would end his perse.
cutions by marrying the woman, who,
he was now satisfied, had entered into
a compact with his satanic majesty.
His vow was forgotten when daylight
appeared, but the woman painted his
punishment in such narrowing colors
that he accompanied her to the priest
and was married.
The magistrate, upon hearing Saun-
ders's story, discharged him, saying:
"The marriage is invalid; no license
was procured, the boy is a minor and
feeble-minded."
Addressing the woman, he con-
tinued: Madam, you had better 90
back over the Schuylkill. You've lost
you husband"
Father Garvey was not present dur
ing the hearing, but appeared shortly
atterward and explained to Magistrate
Smith that while the couple had no
license the woman had told him
story which he thought justified him
in marrying them. He was admonish-
ed TO be more careful in the future,
and told that a civil action would pro-
hablv he hFought nVainaL him