The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-16
HIS BRIDE DESERTS HIM
TOM SMOCx TRIES TO RECOVER HIS
WIFE BY HABEAS CORPUS.
She Is at Cambridge City-slrs. Lenvitt
Says SmOck Shamefully
Treated Her.

The troubles of Thomas Wade Smock.
who eloped Friday with the daughter of
Oliver Leavitt dairyman north OF the
city, will be given an airing in Judge Har-
vey's court this afternoon at O'clock in
habeas corpus proceedings.
Smoek and Miss Anna Leavitt were mar
ried Friday night. The young couple took
a furnished room at 517 Hudson street and
remained there Friday night and until Sun
day evening. Then the girl left, saying
she would go home. Smock says she told
him she would go home and get her clothes
and return next day.
She had not returned last evening and
Smock secured the services of Sterling r.
Dixon, an attorney, and at o'clock they
went to Judge Allen. of the Circuit Court
He declined to issue the writ of habeas
corpus. They then went to Judge Carter, of
the Superior Court and again failed, for the
reason that Judge Carter is a relative of the
Leavitts and did not like to interfere. At
Judge Harveys house they were more sue
cessful, and at 1910 o'clock the writ, re-
turnable Tuesday at o'clock, was placed
in the hands of Sheriff Shufelton. The sher-
iff drove out in fierce storm to the Leav-
lit home, which is about mile north of the
state fair grounds. The writ was addressed
to Mr.. and Mrs. Leayitt and A. r. Feems-
ter, the latter an uncle of the girl. The
uncle was not present, but the writ was
read to the two chief defendants and the
meaning of it explained. They told the sher-
if that the girl was in Cambridge City; that
she left this city at clock yesterday aft
ernoon to go home with her uncle.
Let me explain the case to you, sheriff, !"
people, and we have been bothered by that
man Smock for years. He is worthless and
is bad citizen generally, and we have
been trying to protect our daughter from
him. She never encouraged him to keep
coming, and ] firmly believe never con-
scented to marry him. She was drugged. He
caught her in town alone. took her horse
and pocketbook away from her and drugged
place when the ceremony was being per-
formed, and twice she came near falling
to the floor. She told me this. Then he
Kept her in a room i'll the city and would
not let us see her. Finally she broke away
from him and walked home in all that
storm. When she walked into the house
where was sitting, her first words were:
Oh, save me, mother, save me from
Tom Smock, If you love your daughter. l
never want to see that man again Then
she told me of the experience. 1t is a
shame. Can he take her from us and compel
her to live with him?"
1t was a great load off the minds of Mr.
and Mrs. Leavitt when they learned that
there was no law in Indiana by which
him. They will be in court at 2 o'clock this
afternoon and say they will have the girl
come home and live with them.
Smock was out to Leavitt's house yester-
day afternoon, and his wife met him at the
door in the presence of her mother and
brothers. The mother and brothers said last
night that she told him to go away and
leave her, as she was done with him NOW
and forever" Smock said late last night
that they would not let her come out and
would not let him come in. He remem-
bered her saying something which sounded
like now and tomorrow
The Leavitts are greatly provoked at the
statements made by Smock to the reporters
regarding his two years of courtship. Mr.
Leavitt denies ever having a personal en-
counter with him, and says he would not
have known Smock had he met him until
he came out to the house yesterday He
says ne never had a shotgun or other fire.
arm in the house. The Leavitt brothers
talk very nationally about the affair They
are, deeply incensed at what Smock has
said, but discuss it quietly. John 3.
Leavitt lives in this city on Ash street. He
says the story of Smock might lead some
people to believe that Smock helped him
get his wife. He assures his friends and the
public in letter to the Journal that he
never associated with "toughs and ro-
mancers, such as Thomas Wade Smock has
proved himself to be-