Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-30
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An OHIO GIRL MARRIES THE son
OF A UNITED STATES
SENATOR
That She Might Visit the Paris Ex-
posftion-Never Entered Into Con
jugal Relations With Him and
Now Wants q DivOrce-Remark
able Case of nm UnsOphisticated
Ohio Girl.

w 6I91l41N1 AOkN II. ", f1ot3QOI EJ.-1n
a petition filed in the Supreme Court of
the District of Columbia to-day by a
young woman, who halls from Xenia,
Ohio, is told one of the most remark
able stories ever related in document
of that character. 1t is a story of an
apparently unsophisticated maiden, who
married the son of United States
Senator for the sole purpose of going
to Paris to enjoy the sights and de-
lights of the exposition, with the under
standing that the marriage, which was
to be merely formal matter. should
be annulled when the primary object
was attained.
Mrs. Walter P. Turner is the petit
toner. She is the wife of the son of
Senator Turner, of the State of Wash
ington, who, by the way, was once
telegrapher. Before her marriage she
was Miss Vennie Knowles, member
OF well known, Xenia family. From
her petition it appears that, although
wife. she is still maid. She says
that, being very young and having
lived a very secluded life in the shelter
OF her parents home, in a small town,
she was unacquainted with the world
and its ways. Knowing nothing of the
laws of marriage, nor of the Importance
and gravity of the married relation, she
entered into wedlock without reflect
ing
Upon It's Seriousness.
Two years ago Miss Knowles, for she
was single then, came to Washington
from her home in Ohio, and until last
April was employed as clerk in the
Postoffle Department. She is twenty
two years OF age, she says, and those
who know her testify to her progresses
ing appearance. Her petition sets forth
that life in all its meaning and the
ways of the world were new to her,
and, being away from her parents, she
had no one to advise her and correct
her youthful errors Of Judgment.
She had heard much OF Paris and its
delights, and longed to go there. and
finally conceived the idea of securing
an appointment with the United States
commission to the exposition. The
plan, she says, appealed with undue at
Effectiveness to her youthful fancy and
immature judgment, and the more she
thought of it the more enticing it SEEM
ed to her. She used all the means at
her command and appealed to friends
to help her, but met only with discour-
agement. The United States commits
sioner was unwilling to employ young
and unmarried women for service in
Paris. She was given to understand,
however, she AYERS, that if she were
married it would not he difficult for her
husband to secure place, and he cCuld
take her to Paris to live during the ex-
position.
The young woman says she had
known young Turner for several
months, but had regarded him merely
as an acquaintance, with never
A Thought of Marriage.
So far as she knew he, too, had no
thought or desire of marrying her.
She met him on March 6 last, and
told him of her ambition and likewise
her troubles, remarking that she
guessed she would have to get married
and secure the place for her husband.
Thereupon, she declares, Turner vol
unteered to marry her, explaining there
would be no necessity for their assum-
ing conjugal relations, and when their
visit to Paris ended the marital bonds
could be dissolved. She says that at
first she would not consent to such
marriage, but her ignorance having led
her to accept Turner's representations
as true, and desiring above all things
else, to go to Paris, she finally agreed
to his proposition.
The next day they were married in
Alexandria, Va, by the Rev. DR.. Be
velles, a Methodist Episcopal minister.
Immediately after the ceremony they
returned to Washington and went to
their separate homes, and at no time
since, she declares, have they assumed
the relations Of husband and wife. Act
ing upon the advice of her friends, who
told her it was out of the question for
them to go abroad and maintain the
relations they had agreed upon, she
says she gave UP the idea of visiting
Paris. AS the reasons that led her into
becoming Turner's wife no longer exist
she asks that the marriage contract be
declared null and void.