The morning news., 1897-04-03
GOV. ATKlNSONS SON EL0PES.
HE is IL YEARS OF AGE AND HIS
BRIDE ONLY II.

HE Is IL YEARS OF AGE AND HIS
BRIDE ONLY II.
She Is a Granddaughter of Mrs.
Mary Il. Bryan, the WeII-KnOwn
AuthOress--A Previous Attempt to
Wed Frustrnted-The Girl Had
Been Sent by Her Parents to Visit
Relatives Near Kingston The
EBrTdegrOom Takes Advantage of
the Governors Absence From the
City 10 Garry out His Desire.
Rome, Ga, April III. p. Atkinson, the
17-year-old son of Georgia's governor was
married to-day to Ada Byrd, a 1i-year-old
Atlanta girl. The bride Is the granddaugh-
ter of Mrs. Mary e. Bryan. the authoress.
The boy slipped away from the executive
mansion in Atlanta yesterday morning and
went to Kingston. He found his sweet
heart with relatives near there.
An appointment was made for to-day
and the couple were married in the coun-
try. Then they came to Rome and regis
tered as ]. p. Atkinson and wife. The po-
lice found them and notified the governor.
The young people were married sitting
in buggy.
Gov. Atkinson and the girls father,
Charles P. Byrd arrived tonight, ana the
young couple were carried back to Atlanta.
The marriage is to be investigated, and If
valid and all right the young folks will be
forgiven and then placed in school for two
years.
Atlanta, Ga. April 2--The elopement of
J. p. Atkinson, son of Gov. Atkinson, with
Miss Ada Bryan Byrd to-day was sem
sation.
AS soon as the governor learned of the
marriage, which was performed by JUS
tice of the peace, between Kingston and
Rome he took the next train for the lat
ter place, where the youthful pair had put
up at the Armstrong hotel, to await
further developments Before leaving, the
governors mind was to take legal steps
to have the marriage annulled on account
of the youth of both parties.
-. p" as the young man Is known by
everybody who has got acquainted at the
capitol since the advent Of Gov. Atkin-
sons administrat ton, is not yet H. and
MISS Byrd is only IA. Gov. Atkinson was
greatly wrought up when he learned OF
L..
wears, his son, who is the eldest of his
| children, was entrusted with large part
of the correspondence and conhdenual
work of the executive offlce, acting as sec
| retary to the governor.
The ability which he displayed in 'he
| charge of these responsible duties Justi-
| fed the governors PRIDE and he enter
tained high hopes of the young man tu-
ture 1t was this hope that made the
| boyish marriage a hard blow to the gov
| ernor First he felt that II would break
up his plans for the future of his son.
| Mr.. Byrd was also considerably agitat-
| ed when the telegram announcing the
| elopement was received. Several weeks
! ago Young Atkinson sent one of the por-
| ter's at the capitol to the Office of or
] binary Hulsey and secured marriage
| license but Gov. Atkinson got wind OF
| il and succeeded in interposing his pa
| rental objection before the young lovers
| could reach a minister.
In order to put damper on the af-
| fair. Mr. Byrd locked his daughter up in
| a room and kept here there several days,
| and then she was sent Off up to Barlow
| county to her relatives.
| III was hoped that this separation would
put an end to the affair, but the young
| people were determined to maryland
| Love will find a way"
| Young Atkinson went about his duties
| AT the capitol as usual and the governor
! had about come to the conclusion that he
| had abandoned his young sweetheart. lie
| was. however, only awaiting his opportuni-
| ty. which came when the governor an
nounced his intention TO leave the city
/ for a few days to look into the condition
| Of the convict camps in South Georgia.
| No sooner had he gone than the young
| man began to devise plans for commune
cation with his lady love, who was being
carefully cared for by her relatives up In
Barlow county. on Wednesday, he set
| out for that place without telling his
! mother goodbye taking along with him
| a young friend, c. w Nell, to help him
| carry off his imprisoned lady love
| Yesterday they spent IN securing the IL
cense and making the necessary appoint
| ments with the justice or the peace VINO
| was TO tie the hymeneal knot. All this
was done without trouble, and with the
utmost secrecy, for II appears no one sus-
pected what was about to happen until
/ Miss Byrd was missed from her relatives
| house about noon to-day.
She went straight to Kingston and there,
| according to the plans, met young Atkin-
| son and his friend. The trio were soon
| off toward the magistrates office, where
| he was awaiting them, and before the tele-
| graph wires could get the news TO At
/ lnnta the knot had been tied. The first
information of the elopement was received
! bv Mr. Byrd from his father-in-law. Capt.
/ JOm Lyons, at AdTteTbNhits iic ltuiutdA-
| ately transmitted 1t 20 Gov. Atkinson.
| The governor soon had kilograms flying
| I'm all directions, making a determined ef-
| fort TO have the runaways intercepted and
| the marriage prevented. He offered 800
reward for their apprehension. Chief Of
| Police Connally was summoned TO the ex-
| ecutive Office, and a number Of private
citizens were wired 10 along the line Of
| the Western and Atlantic railroad, as well
| as officers, but the runaways had a good
start, and could not be caught until after
| they had passed the altar, and had no de-
sire TO prolong the chase.
Miss Byrd is a very pretty and attract
| i've girl.
| Gov. Atkinson returned TO Atlanta at
| midnight with his son, but his daughter
in-law was taken away by relatives. The
| fathers Of the young couple Will hold a
| conference tomorrow.
The boy says that the governor nor po-
| licoman nor any other power can keep
| him and his wife apart. II Is said the girl
was too young 20 contract "a legal mar
| riage and tka' this one can be set aside
/