The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-18
APPEALS TO FORCE.
Mrs. Kohney Shoots Her Daugh-
ter's Husband in Court.
AN EXCITING SCENE FOLLOWS
Acq uitted of Perjury, He IL About to
Take His Girl Wife Away, When
Bullet Mains Him.

. Bullet Mains Him.
=
Mrs. Annie Kohney. zsother OF Hattie May
Barnum. the 14-year-oid girl who eloped last
Wednesday night with games Halder, a waiter
in the Peoples theatek. shot and wounded
Halder in Justice Won TSbers court yesterday
afternoon at the close sof tho trial, in which
Halder and Robert sharrSer were acquitted of
the charge OF perjury IL procuring marriage
license. The. shooting came Unexpectedly, at
the moment when Haldes tried to take the girl
away from her mother
Mrs. Annie Kohney q proprietress of the
European house on Washington street, nearly
opposite the Peoples ths.ster. She has pretty
14-year-old daughter nEsned Hattie May Bar
nun. the latter name besng the surname of a
former husband. Hattie is said to have one
fault and that is telling "6bs" This caused
Mrs. Kohney to send hes 10 the House Of the
Good shepherd six uoEths ago, but after q
duo course OF instructor her mother relented
and took her back to thu parental roof. Not
long after James Halderz who works in the
thester across the street.: took a room in the
house. He came into ttss kitchen frequently
and talked to Hattie. Mrs. kohney never
thought that any love AFFAIR was on the boards
aud did not give the affsir any thought. Is
appears, however, that tse two had agreed to
be married after New Years, but at no special
date
few days ago, in the course of household
affairs, Mrs. Kohney founY out that her daugh-
ter had not been telling her the truth. and she
threatened to send her 20 the House of the
Good shepherd if she DID not reform. This
alarmed the girl, and x1len last Wednesday
afternoon about O'Clock che received another
mothefly admonition, she: left the house and
went to her sister, Mrs sSelia Kasuth, at the
corner of Yesler avenue s1,d Fifth street. and
told her story. Halder wss called, and decided
to marry the girl at once, 20 with Robert Shar-
mer, friend, he went 20 the courthouse and
obtained license to wed. Sharmer swearing
that Hattie Nay Barnuin yas Is years old. They
obtained the license at O'Clock, and the mar
rage ceremony was perfol3ned before 2 at the
residence of Rev. John Z. Damon. They re-
turned to the Baxter bloeE on Yesler avenue,
and then Haider went dowl to the theater to
tell John Considine that hE had married and did
lot want to work.
While he was gone. Mrs. saohney found where
the girl was and took her t. task for what she
had dona The young girl decided to 60 with
her mother and was lodgets in the House of the
Good Shepherd. In few sliuutes the husband
was at the door after his psfs, but his demand
was refused, and he returned to the theater to
relate his woes. Then he u5nt to Mrs Kohney's,
but she was out. 50 no trc5,ble ensued. After
visiting the police station Cad stating his case
he went home and TO bed, thinking OF the wife
that he had married and lGst in the same hour
The following morning Mts Kohney swore out
warrant charging Hslaer and his friend
sharmcr with perjury in swearing to the age of
her daughter. The men wsre arrested and were
in Jail until the trial yesterday afternoon, when
the grand finale came.
After Hattie May Barnurs had been placed in
the House OF the Good sBepherd, her mother
became worried by the threats of Halder's
friends, and was afraid tssat they would take
the girl away from her by foree if she let her
leave the house. Her fears concerning the girls
actions were set at rest Friesay by the following
letter:
HOUSE OF GoaD SHEPHERD,
SEATTLE. Wash, Dec. 16, 1892
Dear Mamma: am very sorry for what have
done, but was coaxed into that marriage. The
man that ! married gave syo names, Mitchell
and Halder, don't know watch one is his own
name, therefore / denoune., those names and
the one that has them. ! aul satisfied where
am at present till you think ut to take me homo
know that am not Is, bug they told me to say
Twas am very sorry that did sayI was Is
Now, mamma, you see by tt9s am sorry, and If
you think it is necessary % get a divorce and
get everything fixed up In respectively way,
think it is the best thing y5u can do. i never
intend to speak to him again. Good bye,
mamma From your lovinedaughter,
HATTIE BARNuM
Mrs. Kohney still worried about having her
daughter present at the hesring in the perjury
case yesterday afternoon, and at las O'Clock
went TO the prosecuting attorneys office to see
If the girls deposition couI6 not be taken with
out presenting her in court. The girl was with
Mrs. Kohney, and while thry were waiting to
see Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mcbride q
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES reporte4 came in and had
long talk with the mother ynd daughter. Mrs
Kohney said she hated to he5e her daughter 60
in court and be looked at by crowd of
curious people. AUD wosld try to avoid
1t If possible. Incidentally she showed the
letter produced above. and remarked that her
child had come 10 see tho mistake she had
made in COINS of with sucis a man as Halder
The girl said that she did Got know why she
engaged herself to him Or why she married
him. but was sorry now thar it had happened
She admitted that she saS to Rev. John F.
Damon that she was IS year. old, but did that
so the marriage ceremony w:.uld be performed
When asked If she loved Ea lder she replied
that she did not think she knew what love
was. Attorney Mcbride caIys in and the con-
versation ended.
On account of the subpnla served by the de-
Tense Mrs. kohuey had 20 ap~ear IL Justice Won
Tobers court with her daugtser and Halder saw
his bride for the first time ss=ce he left her at
the house on Iesler avenue .mmediatsly after
the marriage. When the case was called the
room was crowded, several vomen being pres
ent The room 10 on the secGnd foor in the oc-
cidental block and faces EAST. The entrance
the door sat Mrs. Kohney ano her daughter. On
the right hand side OF the room as one enters
and about eie ht feet from the front windows sat
the defendants and their attorneys Justice
Won Tobel's desk is in the southeast eorns. of
the room.
Attorney Wiustock. who eos7ducted the prose =
eation, introduced Fred Twsehell, OF the au-
ditors Office, TO prove that tSe marriage csrtif-
cate was obtained by swesrlG:, that the girl was
Is His evidence was puinte5. and showed that
sharmer did the swearing sext Mrs. honney
vas called aEd swore 10 the Ga.e D. her daughter
as Il years. While she was o., the stand the at
torneys Tor the defense atlac@ed her character
by leading questions, but the austice upheld the
objection of the prosecut on aud the witness
was dismissed. I ne defense GID not Introduce
any witnesses aud moved fora dismissal The
court held that under the law Of ashington il
was not perjury 20 evade the- marriage license
IN - 30 ~