The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-02-20
TWO DAYS OF Welded LIFE.
Then Came Separation 60 What Was
The Cause Of the In
happy Affair?
She Says He Forced Her to Marry
Him and Threatened Her.
Which lie Denies.

The welded happiness OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Mike Smith did not last many days.
They were only married last Wednesday
evening in the presence of IA few friends.
by Judge Race. From al appearances
they were 10, mismatcd and nothing
happened at the time of the wedding
that could in any way be construed as
showing that the union was not a happy
one. The man is comparatively young.
with good prospects. beng one of the
proprieturs Of the Montana rcstaI-
rant, and in a fair position
to provide Il home for himself and wife
and 10 support Il family in comfortable
circumstance. The woman, known be
fore her marriage as Lena Dawson, is,
If anything, younger than he and is said
To bear a good reputation by all who
know her. She came here about seven
months ago from BoHcman and obtained
ii position in the Great Western hotel on
Second avenue south, where she worked
continuously up to the time of her mar
riage, as a waitress. The proprietor Of
the latter place, Mr.. Wilson, spoke we'll
! OF her. as did others around the house
who knew her. Now cohcs the strange
part Of the whole affair. the separation.
and tn mans and the Woman's story.
Mrs. Smith WAS seen at the Great
Western hotel yesterday afternoon,
where she has been since Friday. She
was rather disposed to he non-cOmmu-
NEGATIVE at first. but when told that the
affair was known to many people ana
that it had reached such a phase it
would lie Il difficult matter 20 keep ii
quiet she consented 10 tell her side Of
the unfortunate circumstance. She says
she WAS forced into the marriage 10y
Smith, that he threatened her. and, in
short. compelled her to become his wife.
lie ever went SO far as to say that if she
did not marry HIM she would never
1--we to marry u other man.
She says she finally concluded
to yield to his threats and
they were accordingly married Wcdncs
,;ay night 10y Judge Race. She further
says that after she went home with him
10 the Montana restaurant he displayed
IL knife and Il pistol and said If she ever
attempted 10 leave him she would not
live long. Friday she left him and went
10 the county attorney. telling that oiii-
cial what Smith had threatened to do
before and after they were married. The
prosecuting attorney told her that if it
could be proven Smith forced her into
the marriage, as she claims. the latter
could be sent to the pcnitentiary for
from ten to fifteen years. She SAYS she
thought it all over and concluded not to
prosecute him but to quietly apply for
Il divorce, meanwhile remaining here and
working for her WI support. She asked
the county attorney if she might have
her clothes which were al Smith 5. and
by his orders an officer was sent with
her yesterday to get them. She obtained
everything and says if smith does not
bother her she will quietly support
herself using every effort she can to Sc
cure Il legal separation.
Smith was seen last night at his place
of business. He laughed when told what
she had said about his forcing her to
marry him. and threatening to kill her If
she ever attempted to leave him.
lie said: "Aii this talk about my fore
ipg her to marry IN" is mere rot. ! never
made any threats before or after We were
married, She set the day for the we'd
ding without my having any voice in the
matter. 1t was to have been hcid Tues
day, as she proposed. but as she said she
wanted another day to get ready it was
put of until the next day. She went
along with me peaccably to Judge
Races court room where in
the presence of responsible witnesses WI
,,.,. ,,,r.ial IN a., ,p,,.1 l.,y.l M
She answered all the questions the
Judge asked her without any hesitation
and at no time while there displayed any
back here and with a few friends we had
nicely. We had no words nor any
trouble and | made no threats Of any
description. She remained here until
Friday afternoon when she said she
wanted to go to get a costume to wear at
the masquerade bail that night. | made
no objection to her going to the ball
with another lady as ! promised to call
for her at midnight, but ! have since
learned she did not 60. ] did not see
her again. Yesterday she came
with an officer to get her trunk and
other things. which was while was
out.
Il think the whole matter is worked
up by outside parties and that if she had
been let alone no trouble of this kind
would have occurred. If she wants tC
remain away she can do 50, but | shall
fight any efforts she makes to obtain /
divorce, as | have the hest Of proof that
| used her well the few DAYS we lived to
grthcr."
TItE MANi "a ISTiuS.
\ Litter FROM the second Assistant
Postmaster General.