The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-14
WAS MARRIED VERY YOUNG
Rev. Mr.. Jennings Tells the Story of
His ElOpement at College.
Trial of the Culprits BY the Hanover Faculty
The Wife Soon Tired of the Match
Minister 0utwitted.


divorce suit, called at the Journal Office
corning his former marriage. Mr. jennings,
in order 10 make the matter perfectly clear.
reviewed the escapade from beginning to
end, which is here given as he told 1t:
While he was a student at Hanover Col
lege. jefferson county. this State. In 1881,
he became greatly smitten with member
of the annex" of that institution, as the
men delighted TO call il. or more properly
speaking the female department., Miss
Mary Ryie by name, whose home was ct
Burlington. Boone county. Kentucky.
She was an orphan and had been sent there
by her grandmother, who was her guar
dian. Her age was eighteen and Jennings
was twenty. What was at first supposed
by the other students to be only slight
indisposItion gradually developed into
violent and malignant case of love.
STORY OF THE ELoPEMENT.
They resolved to e!ope. Accordingly. on
the 22d of October. after an acquaintance
of only six weeks. the gay young couple
stole away from beneath the wings of their
watchfuI alma mater and fed TO Madison,
Ind. where they were met By Edgar ALL
was to DO the necessary swearing for q
license. procure q preacher and. in short.
perform all the functions of best man. The
three proceeded to the office of the county
clerk, where AIlhands swore that Jennings
was of suitable age to marry" as the ques-
ton had been put to him by the clerk.
The three then went with the license to
the office of Judge j. q. Allison. and the
marriage ceremony was performed. lmnle-
diately after the ceremony the wedding
party returned to Hanover, the groom gO-
ing to his mothers home This mother living
temporarily In Hanover while her son and
daughters were being educatedl and the
blushing young bride TO her boarding
house. Both remained there, except when
they went TO their Rotations, and concealed
all Intimation of what they had done. They
did not live together, or even see each
other. except in classroom or Oh the
campus. passing 10 and from dormltOry TO
recitation hail. Three days later the Madi-
son Daily Star got hold of the little rO-
nance through the marriage license book,
and then. of course. the wide awake re-
porter hustled over TO see Judge Allison
and got what be had to say. and on the
18th of October the whole thing came out
In glazing headlines.
TRIAL BY JURY"
Then it was the faculty's turn. which op-
portunity they lost no time in utilizing.
Forthwith the college officers held star
chamber sessions every half hour in the
day from a. NJ. to p. ". and at the last
one the young culprits were asked in. Two
charges were preferred against each of the
principals and three against the second"
in this little match. Mr.. Jennings was
charged. first, with contracting u secret
marriage. and. second. with allowing All,
hands TO swear that the groom was "of
suitable age to marry" thereby represent
ing lie. The poor. distressed little bride
was ordered TO stand up. and. in the
presence of all assem- bled. the stern
and grave mien told her. very much after
the fashion of q judge sentencing q con-
demned murderer, that she had broken the
rules of the college by being clandestinely
married and by leaving the town without
permission.
Then came young Allhands's turn. When
hidden he staggered to the center of the
arena, and, facing the stern old prex. was
told that he was the worst pea In the pod.
or words TO that effect, and after saying
"Yee. SIR" 10 this. the foreman of this ped
agogic jury informed Allhands that he had
been indicted on three counts. First, as
slsting IN clandestine marriage; second,
in applying falsehood; third, In leaving
the college town without permission.
The president then announced that the
three would be gwen To q certain time,
naming the date. to file bill of exceptions.
When the time for a second hearing came
around Jennings declined TO appear before
the faculty. but sent it word that be wished
IL uDucIobOOu tuab t0lS W Is u Tree country
and n man had a right to marry whoever.
whenever and however be pleased, prOvid-
Ing he got the license. and that he wished
bis name and that of his wife obliterated
went with his bride to her grand
mothers home at Burlington. KY, where
he was cordially received. and at once
made great impression with the old lady,
who thought anything Mary would dc was
all right.
REPENTED AT LEISURE.
But soon after their arrival there clouds
began to gather over the happy little home
in Maiden Lane. Without were honey
suckles and trailing wisteria nearly hiding
the old fashioned cottage from view be-
hind the outer trellis, while within were
unkind. petulent words regrets for youth
full folly and desires TO be free again. Mat
ters grew worse By degrees. and the wife
OF only few weeks made no denial OF
the fact that her love had complete
ly fniled for her new husband,
and that she longed TO be single again and
back ut Hanover. Young Jennings brought
her TO his mothers home IN Hanover. where
solid advice. Mrs. jennings. ST., advised
them to separate for a year. and then if,
at the expiration of that time. they wanted
TO live together again. oil well and good;
1t not. by all means have o quiet, legal
separation. Mrs. jennings jr.. readily
agreed TO this. but her husband says he
was heart-broken.
His brother came up to Hanover from
Westport. KY, and took her to her grand
mothers at Burlington. 1t had been
agreed upon by Mrs. Jennings. the mother.
that she would support the young wife
during this year of probation. although
this was quite unnecessary. as the girl lad
about - 900 IN her own name. still she
couldn't get at 1t ut this time. The year
came TO close. but instead OF bringing
him JOY. it only added TO his sorrow. for
the mail brought him one day notitca-
tion from the clork of the court of Boone
county, Kentucky. that he was made do
fcndant In a complaint for divorce. filed by
Mary Ryle Jennings. He wanted to go at
once to Burlington, but his parents refused
TO allow IL. and the result was that the
case went by default. and divorce was
granted.
NOT HER MONEY HE WANTED.
Concerning the article in yesterday
mornings Journal bearing on this story,
as told briefly by the friends of the present
Mrs. Jennings. the minister said: The di-
vorce was not granted on the grounds of
cruelty. for Miss Rylo was proud high
spirited Kentucky girl, and not the kind
who wonld have tolerated snch n thing or
acknow edged 1t If 1t had been the case
She Is not now single or teacher in the
schools OF Louisville. for she subsequently,
married n Professor Whitehead. a Ken
lucky teacher. ana the last heard OF her
was living happily with him. They NOV ed
To EIzaberhtown. KY, where he had q
school lt Is equally false that | married