The herald., 1896-03-05
MISS MERGERS MARRIAGE
Causes Serious Trouble for All the
Parties Concerned
The Lately Un-Wedded Bride Is Arrested At
the Instance Of an UnweIcoms But
Persistent Wooer

SAN FRANCISCO, March 4.-Inez Mercer,
variety actress, was taken to the city
prison last night on bench warrant issued
by Judge Slack charging her with perjury.
The arrest was made on the Oakland mole,
just as the young woman and Joseph Valet
we're about to board the outgoing train for
Cripple Creek, Colo.
The arrest of Miss Mercer grew out of
the same transaction which operated to
land w. G. Isaacs in the city prison Mon
day evening on similar charge. About a
year ago the young woman was one of the
members of theatrical troupe playing in
Portland, Ore. On one of the evenings
after the show the members of the compa-
ny and several non-professionals sat down
to beer and ham sandwich banquet. To.
ward the close of the feast the crowd be-
came hilarious, and one of the non-profes.
sionals. r. B. Westcott, Chicago drum
mer. announced his desire to marry some
one of the women present.
Miss Mercer seemed to find the most
favor in Westcott's eye, and no sooner had
esced. A broken down tragedian. who had
played many parts in his time, volunteered
to perform the ceremony.
The couple pledged themselves to each
other as man and wife, there was hurrah
OF congratulations, more beer. and the
party broke up early in the morning. From
that day to this Miss Mercer has never
seen Westcott. She looked, or claims to
have looked. at the time, upon the marriage
as mock affair of no force. Some time
later, however. she seemed to think it
might be legal enough and 80, not desiring
to be entangled in such manner, she
brought suit in May last, when she came
to this city. for an annulmsnt Of the mar
riage. The case was heard before Judge
Slack. Dorm q Dorm being attorneys for
the plaintiff.
In that trial 1saacs testified that he was
in Portland at the time the alleged mar
riage was celebrated and in his opinion
mono of the parties to the ceremony looked
upon it as anything but a joke. Miss Mer-
Ger testified to the same effect, stating that
lsaacs was present as he had stated on tho
stand.
There was no contest, and upon the teeli.
mony Judge Slack entered decree an
nulling the marriage. Lately friends of
Westcott in this city have taken the trouble
to look into the testimony and to make in
Quiries as to the whereabouts of Isaacs
when he claimed he was in Portland at the
mock marriage. They claim that he was
in this city at the Belmont on Turk street
at the time he testified he was in the north.
His name shows on the register of that
place, and the proprietor and clerk are
ready to testify that he was rooming there
at the time.
This is the alleged perjury upon which
he was arrested. For testifying that he
was there when Westcotts friends claim
to be able to prove he was not, Miss Mer.
Ger was taken into custody last night.
Miss Mercer refuses to talk concerning
her case, but Joseph Valet. who seems to
know all her secrets. asserts that the ar
rest was instigated by wealthy resident
of this city who is enamored of Miss Mer-
Ger and WHO does not wish her to leave the
city. He refused to divulge the name of
the alleged pursuer.