Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-11-09
MARRIED At MIDNIGHT.
Topeka Railroad Mans Sensational
Coup to Escape Former
Wife's Clutches.

TOPEKA, Nov. S.-W. I. Allen. until re-
centiy assistant general manager OF the
ROCK Island. and Miss Josephine DIETRICH.
or this city. were married a few minutes
before midnight last night at the home of
the sister of the bride at 6a5 Harrison
street by Probate Judge Dolman a few
minutes later Mr.. Aliens first wife, from
whom he was divorced last May, and
their young daughter. Byrd. stepped off a
Santa F'e train. They had come from Chi
cago to prevent the marriage All the ar
ransements had been completed to have
the ceremony performed at Grace cathe-
dral at noon to-day. When Mrs. Allen
learned this morning that she had arrived
too late she said: The fact that Mr. Allen
Is married Will make no difference so far
as the legal proceedings are concerned. /
Intend To press the suit to have the divorce
set aside, for l was coerced into signing
the petition and did not know what / was
doing when l appeared In court when the
divorce was granted. l was then suffering
ircm the effects OF drug that was given
To me TO quiet my nerves.
For three years Mr.. Allen urged me to
not want divorce. l came back from Col
orado last November and was taken sick
q short time afterward and was compelled
70 submit to a serious surgical operation.
1 was continually urged to agree to a dt-
vorce and l was given notice to understand
that unless l did SO my daughters would
position offered him in Cuba
was told that If signed the petition l
would not need to consent to the> divorce
and that it could not be granted without
my presence. 1 signed the petition on Nav
q and was given to understand that it was
simply preliminary to carry through a
business deal. Five days after they came
for me to go to the courtroom. 1 was then
In bed and very weak. 1 was urged to get
up, but could not do SO. l was given some
whisky, but that had no effect. Some kind
a qi fo for
nerves and ! was taken to the courtroom
was placed on the stand, they saw, and
was asked where l lived and my name and
nothing else. and was then taken home.
dream and did not then know that had
been at the courtroom or what had been
tbat aSne' .hs i knew a1 then from what was told
Mr.. Allen told his daughter last Fri
day OF his approaching marriage and that
Is the first day any of us knew about it. I
came to Topeka as soon as could to pre-
vent 1t and believe that Mr.. Allen had
detectives watching me and was notified
when We reached Kansas City"
There was a scene in Chicago last Sun
day between Mr.. Allen and his divorced
officer played an important part.
Mrs. Allen went to her husbands room
to demonstrate with him against his mar
riage with Miss DIETRICH: There was
Mr.: Allen ran out and returned with a
policeman. A revolver was lying near
Mrs. Allen and he claimed that she had
attempted to kill him. Mrs. Allen says
that the revolver did not belong to her
but to Mr.. Allen and that she knew moth
ing about II.
Mr.. Allen was seen at the home of A.
W. Lacey, 625 Harrison street. where the
marriage ceremony took place last night
statements made by Mrs. Allen He re-
fused to state his side of the case.