St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-06
BABY FOOT A FRAUD.
Strange Story Of the Marriage
Of Young Ezra Park
Foot.
Uow a Designing Woman
Forced Her Lover to
Marry Her.
qe Discovered Her Deception,
and Now Seeks a Di-
Vopee.
Serious Imputation on Her
Character Contained in
the Complaint.

RED WING, Mimi, March 5.-Unless
special order is issued by the board
the celebrated Foot divorce case will
not be tried this term, No answer had
been filed when the calendar was made
up on Tuesday evening. So far as can
be learned, the fair defendant has ig
nOred the complaint, and the gOsSipS,
who scented rich disclosures, are afraid
they will be cheated out of their prom
ised entertainment. The case may be
heard in special term, but the belief is
gaining ground that Mrs. Foot will
allow it to go by default. In many re-
spectS this is to be regretted, for, apart
from its local interest, the case possesses
several unique features, and publicity
is desirable.
Ezra Park Foot, the complainant, is
twenty-five years old, tall and well built,
with smooth, open face and an easy.
agreeable manner. lie is the son of S.
b. Foot. of the firm of Foot, SchulZe IL
Co, boot and Shoe manufacturers, st.
Paul. and vice president of the Duluth,
Red Wing Il Southern railroad. Ezra
enjoyed mans advan tages in his boy
schools in the state. finishing his studies
at the Shattuck Episcopal college. He
developed great skill as a musician, and
is now organist at the First Prssby-
terian church of st. Paul. During his
college days he is said to have been
rather wild and untractable. He got
into a number of youthful Scrapes, and
the neighbors used to shake their heads
OminOuSly when his future was dis
cuSSed. But his prankS and freaks were
the outcome of strong, buoyant nature
rather than the symptoms of original
perversity, and his father forgave and
literally settled for EZra'S early indis-
creti0nS. The young man was back
ward iii deciding upon profession. lie
was what is called "nOtiOnable" in that
regard, and when he showed an inclina-
ton toward dentistry his parents were
pleased that his plans were taking def
mite shape and equipped him generously
for a course in dental college at Phil
Rdelphia. Ezra was twenty years of
age when he set out for the Quaker
City, full of the lustiness and ardor of
youth and with determined purpose to
master his chosen profession. He
studied hard Tor time and made good
progress. But, while wrestling with
the intricacies of bridge work and eX-
ploring the devious pulp cavities of
mOlarS and bicuSDidS. his ardent spirits
occasionally broke loose and he soon
found himself enmeshed in the SnareS
Of Cupid.
He Fell in Love.
The young woman was Florence
Miama Blood. She is about his own
age. petite brunette, of attractive face
and figure, quick of mind and tongue,
apt in the arts of coQuetry, and ami
mated with the feminine desire and
power to please and prosper. Florence
used every vile to captivate young Foot
She told him sweet ficti0ns about her
past; she interested him in glowing
dreams of her future. The Lake of
Como with its marble palaces, its rich
perfumes and glorious birds and flow
erS, was nowhere compared with the
abode of love she pictured for herself
and favored one. She had all poets
fancy adorned with woman's wit and
responsiveness. and her art and imag
cry were calculated to arouse responsive
sentiments in more callouS breasts than
that of Ezra, who was soon deeply and
madly in love with her. He had money
enough and to spare to CRAFTY her tastes
and longlngS. She confessed that she
had loved in the past, but that her chief
aim in life was to make amends for
those errors. They entered into COM
pact to promote one another's happi
ness, but this agreement was not hal
lowed by marital VOWS. They lived
together in Philadelphia and New York.
Both seemed happy and contented.
By and by, however, there were brief
periods of separation. Ezra became
FESTIVE under the illegal intimacy, and
Florence was anxious to bind him more
orr rlv IN N
tude she cOnfided to him tender secret.
In few months she was to become a
mother. She besought him to marry
her and save their child the reproach of
illegitimacv. Young Foot was keen
~ susceptible to her entreaties,
but he was not ready for mar
rage under such circumstances. He
seemed to dread paternal reproach; he
was averse to assuming the responsible
tiles of welded life. although he recog.
nized the high claim of his paramouron
his chivalry and consistency. He put
off the momentouS question from time
to time, evading the woman's requests
with various kinds of excuses. Florence
went away moody and discontinued, but
she did not abandon her project. Some
months afterward she visited Foot at
Lancaster, Pa. and claimed to have
been delivered of bouncing boy. She
insisted that Ezra was its father, and
urged him again to restore her good
name and happiness by marriage. Foot
was moved by her pleadings, but he was
also beset by many misgivings. Where
was the baby. Florence had ready
answer. 1t was sick in New York,
and the distressed mother, Bit
terly alive to her unfortunate
position, had left it to the care
of strangers while she came and ell
treated It's father to save their future
from shame. Now Foot is by no means
q hard-hearted young fellow. The baby
was born, and paternal feelings spread
in his breast. He thought it was his
duty to give the shelter of his name to
the woman who had sacrificed so much
for him. He said he would marry her,
and the loving way in which Florence
received this promise amply rewarded
him for his Yirtuous resolve. Still he
wanted to see the boy. That was
natural. and his wish was soon graft
fed. With all the flush of matronly
pride Florence placed the baby in his
arms. Foot partook of her pride as he
fondled the child. His heart swelled
more and more. 1t did resemble him,
he thought. and he kissed the happy
mother and pledged her a new lease of
Joy in her married life. lie kept his
word. They were married at Camden,
n. j.. Dec. ~, 1889.
Settled and Happy.
Foot in the meantime had given up
his idea of becoming a dentist. AS a
married man, he wished to settle in life,