The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-06
BAKERS MISSING BRIDE.
A Practical Joke with q Feeble-NIindcd MA
or 81 ms Its Victim.

A Practical Joke with a FeebIe-Mindcd MAN
or 81 ms Its Victim.
Alexander A. Baker of Bellcville. n. j.. who
told Justice Of the Peace Conncll on Tuesday
that his bride had boon spirited away, was the
vic i'm OF a practical joke. He is 81 years old
and feeble minded Recently he has been liv-
ing with the family of Albert Parsclls. q wheel
wright and blacksmith. whose home is in Main
street. Belleville.
One of Mr.. Bakers decisions Is that he is a
great beau. He made love to a young woman
living near Lodi. who was visiting Mrs. Par
sells a month ago and proposed to her. Wish
Ing to rid herself of all embarrassment as easily
as possible. the young woman accepted him.
She was introduced to him as Annie Jones. q
widow. owning a house and $4,000. After
she returned to her home the old man could
talk of nothing else than his contemplated
wedding.
On Monday night all Of the Parsells family
went out save Mr.. Parsells's son. Vrceland. who
remained at home to look after Mr.. Baker. 1t
is not thought safe to leave the old man alone
for any length of time. Shortly after the fam
lily left the house a friend of Vreeland's. George
Wilson, dropped in to spend the evening. Mr..
Baker fell to discussing his approaching mar.
the, victim Of a, practical joke. Wilson put. on
a shawl and a bonnet. walked up to Mr.. Baker
How do you do. Mr.. Bakerl Don't you re-
member met I'm Annie. Annie Jones'"
Mr.. Baker remembered Annie at once. He
was delighted to see her, and they decided to
get married at once. Vreeland Parsells read
the regular marriage service for them. and the
bride and bridegroom made the necessary re-
sponses.
A few minutes after the mock marriage
young Wilson slipped out of the room, removed
the hat and shawl, and then returned. Mr..
Baker, after q time. began to wonder at the
continued absence of his supposed wife. He
by her relatives, they fearing that he had mar.
ricd her only for her money. He would have
them know. he said, that he was worth much
more than $l5 600, and that the match was q
love match pure and simple. II was supposed
that he would have forgotten all about the oc.
currence in the morning. Such, was not the
case, however. As soon as he had taken break
fast on Tuesday morning he insisted upon visit
lug Squire Council and telling the story to
him. In this he was humOrod. and the Justice
of the Peace promised to find the lost wife.
HThat satisfied Mr.. Baker and he returned
home. Yesterday, morning Just after he had
arisen he beard the sonnd of women's voices
down stairs. He grew excited in a moment and
insisted that annie had returned. Before tho
person who was assisting him to dress realized
1t The old man had rushed from the room and
was h%urrying down stairs. His shoes had not
been laced. and when near the bottom of the
stairs he tripped on one of the laces and fell
hcadlong to the floor. When picked up it was
found that his head, Just above tho left eye.
had been severely cut and the eye was soon
completely shut.
A physician was summoned and the old
mans wounds were dressed and he was put to
bed. He said that as soon rs he could make u
prcscntable appearance he was going to Lodi.
and then he and his wife" would go on their
honeymoon.