Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-27
ADDED TO HER YEARS
YOUNG MAN ARRESTED FOR FALSELY
SWEARING TO A LADY'S AGE.
Romantic Story Of o nfarringe-License
and Double Wedding-What the Pri-
soner and Family Say.

II. S. Voss. q young married man of this
city, was arrested yesterday afternoon on
warrant charging him with falsely and
feloniously swearing before the Clerk of
the Hastings Court that Miss Martha alas
Mollie Amos was twenty-one years old,
whereas in truth she was only sixteen
years old.
The oath, whether true or false, was
made in order to procure marriage-license
for the young lady named and Mr.. James
Noss, who were subsequently married, and
the circumstances Of the case are a. complicated
ms the labyrinth In which the tabled Minotaur
dwelt. They soem 10 be about as follows:
On the lst OF last September double we'd
ding occurred at the homo Of Mrs. J. yoss, which
- situated on the sOutheast corner OF Fourth and
Marshall streets. The two joyous couples were
Mr.. Benjamin Amos and Mrs Virginia Williams,
a widowed daughter Of Mrs. Yoss, and Mr..
James Voss and Miss Martha Amos. Thus It
viii be seen that sister and brotherin ono fam
lly welded brother and sister In tho other.
While the romance and complications Of this
tranfactlon in kinship were sufficient In them-
selves 10 make the heads fthe respective brides
and grooms swim, they nevertheless sailed forth
on the matrimonial seas under most propitious
winds.
SUNSHINE TURNS TO DARKNESS.
But all did not continue 20 20 we'll as the
months rolled by. Although Miss Amos, who
married James Voss had only met her spouse
ten days before he called her his own land nc
cording 10 the laws Of romance everything should
have gone of welD, yet they did not live to-
gether happily. The Hanover sunshine (she
was from that grand old county which at
first lit up her eyes soon faded, and whore
Love had once reigned Disoord usurped the
throne The husband became Jealous, 30 he
says, while according TO the other version Of the
story tho mother-in-law did not make herself
agreeable. A short while ago the couple Bepa-
rated, and tho girl for time returned to her
father, who yesterday swore out the warrant
against ii. S. Noss (his son-in-aw's brother),
charging him with the aforementioned offence.
Magistrate w. B. Jones Issued the warrant, while
Sergeant Cosby executed IL, and the prisoner was
taken 70 the Second police-station, where bail
was refused.
About o'clock at night he was bailed by jus
tice Crutchfield in the sum OF $1,000 for his
appearance at the Police Court this morning,
with Mrs. V0ss, his mother, as surety.
THE PRISONERS STORY.
The prisoner was seen yesterday by DISPATCH
reporter while In his cell and asked 70 give his
young man, and when approached by the scribe
was lying stretched out on the sill OF the cell
window with most comfortable air.
II don't like to say anything about IT," OK
claimed he; "fot / know you Will make big
story ont OF nothing"
The reporter told him he was hunting for facts
alone, and after some persuasion the prisoner
consented 10 tell his side OF the story. lie mar
"When | went TO the Clerks onice TO get the
license | was accompanied by Benjamin Amos
0er brOther), who married my sister. The Clerk
asked me II the girl was twenty-one and replied
that 20 the best Of my knowledge and belief she
was. | referred him 10 her brother, who nodded
his hoad In assent"
"Ihen, why did her father swear out the war
rant against you?" asked the reporter.
"Oh there were some matters in our family
that led TO the action. know why II was done,
replied Voss.
"Why7" queried the reporter.
81 wouldn't ike TO say was the answer.
"Eyery family has skeleton in the house, you
| know" added the accused.
ANOTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.
The reporter next called on Mrs. Charles Zohle,
| who is a near neighbOr OF the Vosses. She said
/ that Martha told her that she got along very
| badly indeed with her mother-in-law. Mrs. ZohlC
| suggested that she write home to her father
which she did.
Mrs. /. voss tho mother-in-law, and her son
James, who married Martha, were seen by the
reporter last night At first they declined to dis
cuss tho matter at all, but finally said that the
whole trouble grew out OF the fact that tho hus-
| band intended 10 get divorce from his wife, OF
rather had asked her TO get ono from him
| promising not TO appear in the case at all.
| SAYS HER PATHER KNEW OF THE MARRIAGE.
| "Did your father-n-law know that you intend.
| cd 10 marry his daughter?" asked the reporter
/ Of Mr.. Voss.
days before the wedding. lie told me that she
was his dearest child, and that must take good
| care of her. This promised 10 do.
| al loved her then,n added the young man
| Wand this thing is killing me. What grieves me
| Is that INV brother has been arrested for my
| sake. wish IL had been NO."
s.Did your mother and your wife get along vel
| togetner7"
| AZ this point Mrs. VOss started 10 reply, but
her son told her 20 keep quiet; that the news
! paper-man "would put every word they said II
| the paper.
No definite response was therefore obtained L
| this query.
Both Mrs. Voss and her son made the same
! statements regarding the circumstances undei
| which the license was obtained that the prisonel
! gave. -,
! Mr. w. F. Amos, the gentleman who swore out
the warrant, Is resident of Hanover county and
| could not be found In the city last night. Ills
| daughter Is said 20 be In Richmond at present