The morning call., 1891-08-31
KITTY ELOPED.
She Flees From Petaluma With n
Sporting Man.
The Couple Stop Off at San Rafael and Get
Married = They Come to This City
and Are Landed in Prison.

little romance that started during the
Napa races two weeks ago was rudely
checked yesterday afternoon by the TO
mancers being landed in the City Prison.
In short, the story is that Kitty Rice. the
daughter of Thomas j Rice, proprietor of the
City Hotel at Petauma. eloped on Saturday
with Lee Edward kirkpatrick, veterinary
surgeon, race course gambler and all-arOund
sport
The whole trouble appears to be in refer
ence to the girls age. She says she is IS,
but her stern papa declares she is two years
younger. More than this, he has a strong
prejudice against sporting men and fire.
Guently cautioned his daughter to let them
severely alone.
When Rice discovered that his daughter
had flown, and with her had also gone Mrs.
George CAM and Mrs. Dan Milo, wives
of sporting men, his suspicious became
aroused. An hour later he learned that
kirkpatrick had disappeared from Peta-
luna. and he lost no time in sending out
kilograms in all directions. At 80 o'clock
Saturday night Chief Crowley received the
following dispatch from him:
FROM THE FATHER.
Arrest Gambler Milo's wife and two young
men, who left here to-day on 4:30 tram, carry
Ing away my daughter, about 16 years OF age.
She is supposed 10 live Oh Fifth, Sixth or Sew
enth street, between Howard ana Mission.
THOMAS j. RICE.
An hour later another telegram arrived
from Petaiuma reading:
Find Mrs. CAM, 675 Mnna street. II not
there try ST. Elmo House. Make her tell where
the girl Is. Left In her company.
Officers Anthony and Curran found the
missing girl al the house of Mrs. CAM 575
Minna street. yesterday afternoon. With
her was kirkpatrick, a stalwart, muscular
fellow, who declared: ''She is my wife"
Kitty and kirkpatrick were escorted to the
City Prison, where the bride was slowed
away in the hospital to await the arrival of
her angry father. Kirkpatrick was allowed
to DEPART after convincing the officers that
he had married the runaway girl.
STORY OF THE BRIDE.
The incarcerated bride is a small-sized
girl with regular features and blond hair.
To CALL reporter she related the story of
her elopement with great gusto. "Pll
never 60 back to my father alive" she said,
for love my husband and they can't take
me away from him. My mother, who was
divorced from my father thirteen years ago.
and who lives in Iowa, says Pm Is and
that ought to settle it. How long have l
known Kirkpatrick? About two weeks. l
first met him at Nara, where my father
kept restaurant. Falling in business there
my father followed the races to Petaluma
and leased the City Hotel l never asked
him if l could marry Mr.. Kirkpatrick be-
cause lie had always refused TO let me talk
to sporting people. Last Wednesday Lee
asked me If | would marry him and [ said
yes Then he said he was going to San
Francisco and asked whether to buy an en-
gagement or wedding ring. | decided on
wedding ring. He returned Thursday and
l said: What's the matter with going to
the city Saturday night and getting mar
ried?' He agreed to the plan and secretly
made arrangements TO elope. Mrs. CAM
was stopping at our hotel and she helped
me get ready.
IN DISGUISE.
about o'clock l left the hotel in dis
guise. l wore an old wrapper a long ulster,
pair of blue goggles and a heavy veil.
myself until near San Rafael, when Kirk
patrick, Dan Milo and Mrs. CAM Joined
inc. We all got off at San Rafael and pro-
cured marriage license. After I was mar
lied to Kirkpatrick by Justice of the
Peace we took the next train and came to
this city. Then l went with my husband to
Mrs. Canz' house, where a room had been
reserved for us.
mo, III never go back to Petaluma and
my father will never take me there alive. 1
telegraphed him this morning that had
been married and l guess that ought 10 sat
isfy him. He has no right to complain, for
he elOped himself when he married nv
stepmother year after my own mother Sc
cured divorce from him. MY folks were
awful cross to me and made me do all the
work in hotel of twenty-five rooms, l be-
came very tired OF being drudge and that
is why eloped."
The father of the incarcerated bride tele-
phOned to Chief Crowley last night that he
would come down from Petaiuma to-day.
so Kitty will remain a guest at the Hotel
de City Prison until after her augered
parents arrival