The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-30
ELOPING BY WHOLESALE.
ILLINOIS GIRLS WITH GRIEVANCES,
AND TIE REMEDY PROPOSED.

They ALL Had Trouble at Home, and,
Their Lovers Being Wiling, They
Decided to Elope-several Couples
Leave Home-One Young Man and
TWO Girls Now in Jail.
From the NelO York Sun.
ST.. LOUIS, March 22.-ShortIr after 7
o'clock tonight Polics Sergeant Michael
O'Malley and Roundsman James Corcoran
saw a tall, nicely-dressed man step from a
Mobile aud Ohio train and help two young
girls down the steps. the man appeared to
be under the influence of liquor. and when
he walked away with the girls the police.
men followed.
They watched him get into q cab with
the girls and then decided to look into the
matter more closely. So they stopped the
cab and questioned the occupants. Their
stories were not satisfactory, aud the three
people were taken to the four courts.
To the sergeant in charge the man gave
his name as Henry F. Barnes, "a years of
age. and said he was a printer from Gin
cnnati.
The girls gave their names as Dell and
May Roberts, aged 18 and II, and said they
were cousins, and that Barnes was also q
cousin of theirs. They lived at Jonesboro,
ILL.,, they said, and had come tu St. Louis to
visit brother who lived here.
Capt. William Young took them in
charge and for nearly two hours examined
them together and separately, but they
stuck to their stories. Finally the man
weakened He said he had only known the
girls few hours and had met them on the
train.
He was taken out and the elder Of the
Yfrl1 hrDt1 crht in aHh fn har
grst story. Then the younger was placed
in the sweat box. She held out for few
minutes and then, without q tear, told the
truth. Her story is as follows:
My proper name Is Minnie Coleman, aud
the girl in the other room is my sister,
Dixie. am II years old and she is nearly 10.
My father is James w. Coleman, a lawyer
OF Anna, Ill.,, also sergeanr-at-arms of the
Illinois state Senate.
1--WE lived in Anna, and there met Mr..
Barnes, who stopped at the hotel there.
This morning we three, along with six
other girls and five men, eloped from Anna.
don't know how it all came about, but to
the best of my knowledge home troubles
caused the whole.
"Mr. Barnes used to call at our house req
ulsrly. He was keeping company with a
widow, Mrs. Bowman, who lived in Jones'
boro, one mile from Anna. John Morris, q
young painter, used also to call at our house,
but he was going with Fanny O'Keith.
Last Saturday party was given in
Anna, and my sister, along with me, Barnes
and Morris attended. There we met num-
Der Of girls. In the course Of general con-
versation We began talking OF home. ALI
the girls had grievances. and when we spoke
of ours, q general chorus of lamente atoms
went up.
Then we we're told that plan OF elope-
ment was being arranged by which about a
6nZaO oOuninq n nh
tiously and 20 to Chicago, where all were to
be married. OF course we entered into the
sport of the thing. Mr.. Barnes and another
young man agreed to become our side part
ners.
This morning the plan was ripe. Only
three girls and four men, including Barnes
and Morris, besides US, were ready to go.
We walked to Jonesboro, and there boarded
wagon which was hired beforehand, aud
which took US to Alta Pass.
Here all of us except Morris got on the
train. Morris told us TO buy tickets TO
hurphysboro and from there pay our fare
to st. Louis IN cash, 80 as to throw Off sus-
plclon. Morris did not come, as his girl
was afraid to leave home. .......
"At Murphyshoro all the party except
my sister, myself and Mr.. Barnes left the
train. We came here, and our arrest fol-
lowed. L want 60 60 to my brother in
Chicago. He is willing to receive u5. and
know my father will not relent."
The girls were placed in charge of Police
Matron Harris and their parents we're noti-
he'd. Barnes was locked up. The police
believe his real name is Harry 4. Harris.
When searched $40, q loaded Smith &
Wesson resolver, and a lot of papers were
found on his person.
Among the papers was a newspaper clip
ping with an account of divorce suit / g.
tween Kate StouRht and her husband. H. p
Stonght, who were married in Shelby
county, Illinois, April, 1889. .......