People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-09-01
:. sne Robbed.

| rHr .,'. lea from Fri
d. ..ring's Ni"-.tA H3lcon, is
behaved TO re- /. ,Lc Mrs. Kelly
VIA ''rnnIly 30 "re. Mrs Kelly
mev.I - VIM 10 a.vuL three weeks
a!s:
N"w<jrk, o. :, any. 26.-Clayton
E. Smith ami %rs Margaret Kelly.
beth OF Wioheid. K L.. were married
in this city Wednesday afternoon.
10 les, than AL hpur after the mar.
rage ceremony had taken place the
groom had stolen $40 from the bride
and had flown for parts unknown.
From the statement OF Mrs. Smith,
the deserted bride, the following facts
are CLEANED.
Sh. ".s been living Winfield, en-.
gagged in boarding house.
AmCng her bOarders was young man
named Clayton E. Smith, who came
frsm Wichita. Apparently the two
became enamoured, and at the end OF
a months acquaintance determined
upon forming a matrimonial partner.
ship, and with that end 10 view, came
to this city. As the fruits OF her
frngality, and her pension derived as
a soldiers widow, Mrs. Kelly had
managed 20 save about one hundred
and fifty dollars, which she had on
deposit in a Winfield bank. Smith
induced her to draw this money out Of
the bank and bring it with her to this
city, he having no stipend Of his own.
Arriving in this city he borrowed FIVE
dollars from her with which to pay
for the marriage license aud cere-
mOny. After handing him the Ave
dollars, Mrs. Kelly stepped from the
room a moment, and during her alb
sencs Smith stole her pOcketbOOk
containing the $40.
Smith procured the license, and
they were married. Shortly after the
wedding ceremony had been perform.
ed, he left the hotel and has not been
seen since. Early this morning the
deserted bride was In consultation
with the sheriff and county attorney,
a complaint was sworn out and war
rant issued out Of the probate court
fJr the arrest OF Smith, charging him
with grand larceny The bride is Of
the opinion that her absconding hub
by has gone to Wichita, as she under.
stands his father lives in that city.
At the time Smith was preparing
fer the marriage ceremony, yesterday,
he stated TO a gentleman that he was
preparing for the foreclosure Of a
mortgage, and that he personally was
the mortgaged property. In explana-
ton he said that few weeks ago he
borrowed about three hundred dollars
from Mrs. Kelley, and when he men.
toned security to her she replied that
she would hold him for security, and
in case he failed to pay the debt when
due she would take him and marry
him, and consider the debt cancelled.
To this contract he agreed, and as the
amount fell due day or two since,
and he hadn't the money with which
to pay of the obligation, Mrs. Kelley,
like Shylock Of old, claimed her pound
Of flesh.
According to Smiths story, theIs
was nothing he could do but abide by |
the terms Of the contract, hence he
permitted his landlady and financial
hacker to fOreclOse her mortgage upon |
him and lead him to the altar. II
Smiths story is true, he doubtless
thought the marriage ceremony can.
celled the obligation and that he was
at liberty to fee from hi, benefactress,
but il captured he will have to explain
toa cold and unsympathetic jury why
lie decamped with Margaret's one
hundred and forty hard earned dol.
lars.