Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-24
N LEAVY WANTS HIS WIFE.
A Young Irishman Says His Bride is
Being COerced.
She is a Jewess, and Was Married
Without Her Parents Consent,
The Girls Father Brings Suit to
Have the Marriage Annulled.

New York. April 23.-Albert E. Morse,
prosperous furniture dealer and auctioneer
of this city, has brough, an action before
Chancellor McG.E, in New Jersey, to have
the marriage of his daughter Rachel to
Francis McLeavy annulled on the ground
that the young woman is not of age. Rachel
herself signs the complaint. but Mr.. Nc
Leavy. the young husband. declares that
she has been coerced into so doing.
Mr. Morse has several children. Rachel
was always his favor.te. she is a Jewess
and is uncommonly pretty. Her eyes are
large. dark and wide apart and her lips
are as red as any cherry. She is now in
her eighteenth year. Francis McLeavy is
also in the furniture business in this city;
he has just reached his majority. is stall
wart young Irishman and a Protestant.
Francis and Rachel went to the same
school for four years and were fond of each
other as children. Francis always carried
Rachers books and spent many evenings
al her home. Mr.. and Mrs. Morse regard
cd the intimacy between the young people
merely as school friendship. Last year
young McLeavy began 10 speak of mar
riage to Rachel The girl. knowing how
firmly her father was grounded in his re-
ligious belief. expressed some misgiving
about his consent TO their union.
McLeavy did not propose to lose his
sweetheart because Of any prejudice
against him as a Christian. and Rachel
loved him well enough to risk parental
wrath. The young couple therefore went
over 10 Jersey City on January IS last.
where they were married by the Rev. John
L. Stoddard. rector of 81. Johns Protes-
tant Episcopal church. Rachel gave her
age as IS years. although she lacked a few
months of being that old. The young
people intended their marriage al that time
TO be merely a safeguard against separa-
ton should her parents refuse their con-
sent after she had passed her eighteenth
birthday. They both became frightened.
however. at what they had done and de-
c:ded 10 make clean breast of II. They
went 10 their respective homes that night.
and on the following morning McLeavy
called on Mr.. Morse and told him all about
it. Mr.. Morse was enraged and forbade
McLeavy his house. and the young man
has not since seen his bride.
McLeavy makes answer to his father-in-
laws complaint through Attorney F. X.
Porter. He admits that secret marriage
without the consent Of the parents of either
party to it, and that by agreement they re-
turned to their respective homes imme-
diately after the ceremony. He contends.
however. that his wife is now being con-
troiled and influenced by her parents
against her judgment. inclinations. desires
and wishes. The opposition to him. he
says. is because he bears an Irish name
and because Of his religious belief. Con-
tinuing he says: while nv name is Irish
IL has been an honorable name which has
never been disgraced ny any act of mine
I am a Chr.s'ian by faith. and the parents
of my wife are Jewish in theirs The only
objection TO me is because of my name
and religion. I am ready to maintain and
prove these assertions on the trial OF the
action"
McLeavy further stated that Rachel told
the clergyman she was eighteen years old
and had full power 10 contract a marriage
He says he used no undue influence to
persuade her 10 marry him; that she went
of her own free will. and that she under
stood that the ceremony was 10 be bind
ing and the marriage permanent. Young
McLeavy is very popular among those who
know him. He is prominent member Of
s. Michaers Protestant Episcopal church
al Columbus avenue and Ninety-ninth
street.
Mrs. McLeavy Is kept closely guarded In
the home OF her parents Mr.. Morse and
his attorney. Mr.. Hill. both refused to say
anything about the case until the hearing
in the Chancery court.