The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-03
QUEER ELOPEME EMIT.
\ Wel!-Known Gambler huns Away With
Judges Daughter.


r. Baney Matthews. a well-known gam
bier of Roseburg. and Oracle Smith. the
daughter of Thomas j. Smith. ex-judge
of Douglas county, have just been mar
ried at Vancouver. 1t was an elopement,
| the particulars of which and the causes
| leading to the step, will furnish Rose
| burg a genuine sensation, and a cause for
| nine days social gossip, says the Port
land Oregonian.
Oracle Smith. although not Il years OF
age until next July, looks to be older. and
has an attractive face. She and young
Matthews have been acquainted for a
long time, his father being one of the old
er residents of Roseburg, blacksmith
by trade, which vocation Baney followed
for a time lie and Miss Smith appear to
have been deeply enamored of each other
and several weeks ago Roseburg was
much startled when Judge Smith caused
the arrest of Matthews. charging him
with an attempt to outrage his daughter,
and further alleging that the crime was
committed i'm a schooihouse building in
Roseburg. The couple were found there
at midnight. Matthews declared himself
entirely innocent of the grave charge bus
he says there was such prejudice shown
against him by some that his bonds were
fixed at 5000 to await the action Of the
grand jury. Matthews furnished the re-
quired bail, his relatives coming forward
with the necessary security.
After the preliminary disposition of the
case Judge Smith kept watchful eye on
his daughter, and while she was not en-
tlrely restricted TO household limits, good
care was taken that she did not meet
Baney Matthews. Bat love-certain va
rieties of love-laughs at locksmiths.
prison bars and also stern parents, In this
case. The two young people managed to
see each other and so secretly planned an
elopement that IL was carried out without
even the chance of possible discovery be-
ing made to illustrate tneir scheme.
Monday night there was home talent
performance in Roseburg, i'm which the
local dramatic club took part supporting
an actor named Lawrence Underwood.
There was the ususal good attendance
that marks such occasions. and not only
was Miss Smith present, but also Mat
thews, but, of course, they were not
seated together. No one i'm the audience
save Matthews imagined that the pres
ence of Miss Smith was simply a device.
and that even then she was fully pre-
pared for sudden fight. When the perfor-
nance had ended Miss Smith started di-
rectly for home, chatting merri'v on the
way. and when the house was rca he'd
the young women retired to Their ooms
at once.
Oracle, Immediately taking of her
shoes, quietly left the house without
causing alarm. Before leaving her room
she placed a note on the bed. addressed
to her parents, saying:
Il have gone away with Baney Ma
thews of my own free will. There Will
be no use to try and stop me- If you do
] will do IL again at the first opportu-
nifty"
As she left her home Matthews was
waiting for her across the street. and
hastily replacing her shoes. she joined
him and together they went to the house
of Matthews brother. where they re-
mined until the arrival OF the northbound
overland train which leaves Roseburg at
IL 20 p. m. No one at the station observed
the clipping couple board the train. good
care being taken to avoid observation
Miss Smith took a berth in the Pullman
while Matthews quietly seated himself in
passenger coach. At o'clock i'm the
morning, after the train had pulled out
from Salem, the Pullman porter aroused
Miss Smith and a few minutes later she
Joined her lover. On reaching Portland
the couple hastily left the train, Jumped
into hack and were driven to the Van
couver electric line. where a car was ia
ken and the lovers were soon speeding
on their way 10 that Mecca of elopins
couples the Gretna Green across the CO.
lumbia, where w. W. Sparks, a justice Of
the peace. soon united them in marriage.
and they returned to Portland on the
next car as man and wife.