The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-01-07
A strange elopement.

| A married man deserts his wife and two
| children.
He elopes with pretty sixteen year old
| girl.
| tempt suicide by the morphine route.
They recover from the effects of the
| drug, and while officers are taking the
elopers to Boliver Margaret Shepherd
takes the girl away from them and brings
her 10 this city.
The main actors in the sensation are
w. T., Woodbury., q Wheeling q Lake
Erie operator at Brilliant, but formerly
agent of the w. & l.. e. at Bolivar, Tuscar-
awas county, and Miss Blorece Kline, the
sixteen year old daughter of w. ). Kline,
prominent and highly respected farmer
living near Bolivar.
On Monday last Miss Kline left her
home, saying she was going to visit an
uncle at Phillipsburg. She purchased q
ticket to that place. Woodbury. was in
Bolivar at the time, and learning of her
intended visit, took a train for Navarro to
avoid suspicion. He then returned on the
next train, Miss Kline getting on at Boli-
var. He induced her TO abandon the pro-
posed visit and accompany him to Akron.
After arriving in that city they took quar-
ters at the Empire House, registering as
w. T.. Ling and wife.
Tuesday night both took large doses Of
morphine before retiring. When discov-
cred they were in very critical condi-
tion, The girl was taken TO the city prison
and recovered rapidly. The man was
very low and was allowed to stay at the
hotel. The girl, on being questioned,
said her name was Florence Kline, and
her lovers, w E. Woodbury.. The
authorities at Boliver we're telegraphed
and word was soon received at Akron to
hold both parties.
W. S. Kline, the father of the girl, swore
out a warrant before Justice j. V. Toner
for the arrest of Woodbury. on charge
of enticing his daughter away
from home, for immoral purposes.
This warrant was placed in the hands Of
Constable j. NJ. Kennels, who with ID. G.
Kline, a deputy constable and uncle of the
girl, proceeded to Akron. Woodbury. was
arrested and with the girl they started for
Bolivar.
On the train Florence was taken sick
and Margaret Shepherd, the woman who
has become notorious on account OF her
lectures denouncing the Catholic church,
saw fit TO interfere with the officers in the
discharge of their duties. She took the
girl off the train and brought her to the
Hurford House. This was done notwith-
standing the protests of the uncle, who IN
formed Mrs. Shepherd that the girls
father and mother would be at the train
to meet her and take her home, where she
would receive the best of care. The otli-
GERS were too lenient and allowed her to
take the girl away. They should have ar
rested Mrs. Shepherd and taken her to
Bolivar on charge of interfering with an
officer.
Drs. Brant and Schaefer were called
and gave the girl the best of treatment.
She was very low last night and her moth
er and father arrived late in the evening.
This morning she was taken to her home
near Bolivar.
The girl is mere child and wears short
dresses. Sue is rather pretty and has al
ways borne a good reputation. Her par
ents are highly respected citizens and
have the sympathy of all.
Woodbury's wife came to Bolivar We'd
nesday night from Brilliant. She, of
course, feels very badly over her hus-
bands downfall, and is unable to account
for his actions. The citizens of Bolivar
are greatly excited, and denounce Wood
bury in the most bitter language.
Itis learned that Woodbury. has been
paying attention to the girl for the past
two years, but il is thought their relations
have not been criminal up to the time of
the elopement. 1t was hoped when Wood
bury left Bolivar the trouble would end,
but such was not the case.
w. S. Kline, father of the girl, was seen
this morning at the Hurford House by a
NEws-DEMoCRAT reporter. He feels very
badly over his daughters disgrace, and
he and his estimable wife have done ev-
erything possible for the girl. She is a
mere child, and they hope to reform her
Woodbury. will be prosecuted to the bitter
end, and made to pay the penalty for ru-
In this connection it may be proper to
quote the following from lecture deliv-
cred by Rev. r. Il. Mahar, ID. D., of Akron,
SO that the citizens of Canton will know
something in regard to Mrs. Shepherd:
have said enough to show you that this
woman Is guilty of the vilest misrepresen-
tation, that her statements are unworthy
of credence. II such they are in publish
ed books, what must they be where there
is no dread of exposure-to women only |!
/ firmly believe that IL Catholics were to
go about and malign non-Catholics in this
manner his life would not be safe. Mrs.
Shepherd will never be harmed. We
know our duties too we'll.
We have a community called the Sisters
of the Good Shepherd. Into the ranks of
these Sisters no woman who has fallen
from virtue is ever admitted, as such per-
sons are never admitted into any OF our
orders. Nevertheless the Sisters of the
Good Shepherd have charge OF such wo'
men and seek to reform them. Among
these fallen women the Sisters form q
community called the Magdalens into
which penitents are admitted, after due
probation. This community of Magda.
lens is the only community Mrs. Shepherd
entered and she did not even complete heI
probation. The evidence for this state
ment is in her own books. She says there
that she was Magdalen, and have tolc
you what the Magdalens are. A long
good night TO Mrs. Shepherd and her pa
tronsl
The following from the Akron Beacon
| in regard to the elopement OF W. IL
Woodberry and Florence Kline will be o.
| interest here:
II met Will about two years ago at thu
| time of an accident near Bolivar. Id
was then married man but We struck vi
| quite friendship. For about year h'
| gave me lots of nice presents, real nic'
books with pretty stories in them. A
| last his wife "got on to" us and for lonl
| time never met him. But about tw'
weeks ago when the wreck oc
Cured at Bolivar l met him agaii
| and the old love revived In M
heart. We we're together all that day
He had moved with his family from Boil
var TO Brilliant, where he was stationed
and we made arrangements to meet q
Valley Junction on Monday last. w
were both there and determined TO com
north. The telegraph operator kne'
what we were about TO do and he came I
| me and said; My poor girl, am sorry fo
| you.' / told him he needn't bother hin
self about the matter for we would com
back after taking little trip. We cam
10 Akron and both decided we did M
care to live any longer. We had foI
l 4 - ,I.t. sNtlI nKnh II Ina