Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-07-26
AN ITALIAN ROMANCE.
Bambina De Platchett's Checkered Career
Not Quite Fifteen and Married Twice.

Not Quite Fifteen and Married Twice.
CLEVELAND, July 25.-In East Cleve-
land Township yesterday Bambina de
Platchett was arrested for living in an
unlawful state with George Turan.
Bambina is not the only one under ar
rest. Turan is also In the custody of
Sheriff Ryan, but his case is common
place and uninteresting. He is twenty
six years old and has been employed in
the quarries at Euclid. But the story
Of the girl is very interesting, as it
shows the innocence OF an eleven-year-
old girl and the passion OF a lecherous
man, who was at the time of the begin
ming Of the story twenty-seven years OF
age.
The girl, for although she has been
married she is a girl in years, is the
wife of Antoine di Platchett, an Italian
laborer, who lives at Erie. She is
nearly fifteen years old, has been a
mother, was twice married and has been
divorced, and all this has taken placei In
little more than three years.
She came from sunny Italy when she
was about ten years old and lived with
her parents at Erie. Her name was then
Marie Mellero. She couldn't speak
English and her only companions were
few Italians. Among them was An
tome di Platchett, who was rather
handsome looking young man, who
talked to the young girl and filed her
head with air castles. When she was
eleven years old he told her that he
would buy her many silk dresses il she
would go with him. Marie was an i'm
aginative maid and her little head was
full OF day dreams. She listened and
eagerly accepted the proposition, never
thinking of anything wrong. They
eloped and went TO neighboring
county seat. The young Italian tried
to procure a license, but Marie couldn't
tell her own name and on account OF her
youth and the suspicious circumstances
Antoine was arrested and detained. He
was imprisoned for about month and
then Marie's parents consented TO her
marriage, as irreparable wrong had al
ready been done. The young wife lived
with her husband about ten months, and
about the time her child was born she
procured divorce from him because he
had cruelty treated her.
After the separation Antoine re-
turned, begged forgiveness, was for
given, and he again tried to procure a
license at Erie. The authorities refused
to grant it as they knew the facts, and
more than that Marie was still under
the age Of consent, so the refusal was
absolute. Not to be thus thwarted
Antoine persuaded his former wife and
hnancee to accompany him to New
York where the marriage laws are no
restrictions TO entry into welded life.
There they we're again united and. the
tie that bound them has never been
dissolved.
The second marriage took place about
a year ago when Marie was little less
than thirteen years old. The second
marriage was no more felicitous than
the first. According to the girl wife's
story her husband whipped her near Y
every day AID frequently he threatened
to shoot hel Not only did he threaten
her life by words but he seemed bent
upon the attainment OF the same OBJ
iect by refusing to feed or clothe her
This misery she endured until about
the last OF November or 1st Of Decem-
Der. 1890 w1en she deserted her uncOn-
genial husbtnd.
During tie time of her first marriage
and also duiing the interim between the
first and set9ld marriages she frequent
" met GeoEe Turan, who was arrested
with her yesterday. She knew him
quite well and he was still In Erie when
she decidedto leave Antoine. He pro-
posed thatthey leave Erie and she
readily consented. They came TO Cleve-
land and Gorge found work in the Eu-
cid quarris. He rented house and
since December 10 they have lived in the
Italian colony In East Cleveland town
ship like m;n and wife to their neigh
bOrs.
At the jail last night Marie, or as she
is generally called, Bambina, tearfully
related her5tory and much Of it is so
revolving that it cannot be produced In
print. Shedeclares solemnly that her
relations with Turan have not been I'M
lawful, but on the contrary she has
only acted IS housekeeper for the man
who befrienied her. The warrant upon
which she vas arrested was sworn out
before Justice w. II. Jayred. OF Erie,
Pa, and chlrges both with living to-
gether unhwfully since December II,
about which time they began house
keeping in .he Italian colony.