The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-11-23
GIVES S0UTASENSATl0NAL
INTERVIEW.
TELLS OF HIS CHILD
lie Has been Much Persecuted since
His Marriage-The Aged Warrior
Bitterly Deoounces Ills children
Tells OF His Honeymoon
Tor the first Timo-she
win visit Him.

VALLEX VIEW, Ky, Nov. 22.-Gen-
eral Cassius Marcellus Clay yesterday
gave out the following sensational in
terview covering the troubles arising
from his marriage with the i4-yeal-
old girl, Dora Richardson. and her
deserting him:
My first marriage was unfortun-
ate. ] married in what was called
fashionable society. / was forced in
to divorce for causes which have
never disclosed After living in bach
elorhood for many years, | decided to
marry peasant ] decided to try the
other extreme of society.
After four attempts, which were
frustrated by my children, who did
not wish to have my hereditary estate
divided, married little Dora Rich
ardson three years ago She was too
young to marry, but the children
forced me into the union. II | had
sent her away, young as she was, she
would have been lost, body and soul,
as others have been lost under similar
circumstances. Her age was repre-
sented to he "A.
Almost Immediately after we were
married the most cruel vendetta ever
waged against any manin history was
begun. My ponds have been destroyed
by dynamite, horses, sheep and dogs
have been killed, provender has been
burned, wells poisoned and my cellars
flooded by the cisterns being turned
into them My clothing was stolen,
my cellars were robbed of hundreds of
gallons of spirits and liquors, meat
houses robbed, farming utensils stol-
en- and my guns and pistols that |
bought for self-defense disabled
Then my enemies felt ready for an
assault that combined to assassinate
me at o'clock in the morning I
frustrated their design by threatening
to blow out the brains of a son % a
member OF the attacking party ws.o
was in my room.
"Yes, it was child wife that mar
ried. The very ones who misrepre-
sented Dora's age TO me were the first
TO make war upon her Whenever
She was persuaded away she would
return. These attempts at a separa-
ton gradually lost their force, until
the present effort was made. What
the result may be no one can foresee
when | married Dora she was a
handsome and very sprightly girl
After while they drugged her, from
the effects of which she has times OF
melancholy, when she is irresponsible
for her acts One of the methods used
by my enemies is 10 get up the most
gross and infamous calumnies, intend
ed to cause me to discard her, most of
which l knew 10 be lies and many of
them impossible.
81 have examined into all the calum-
nies with watchfulness and pene-
tration which would he natural to a
husband. and | declare before Al
mighty God that have seen nothing
to warrant them
whether she returns or not to re-
main permanently, my wife will de-
eide. / have tried by all human possi-
bilities to do my duty AS a husband
and citizen. ! have exhausted my
money, my time and my health My
leycs are threatened | can do no
more II all is lost, / have no re-
morse; my conscience is clear.
Dora said last night she would pay
him visit to-day but was undecided
as to whether She would remain
permanently.