Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-23
TAR HEEL ROMANCE.
Fourteen Year Old Bride Taken
From Her Husband.
After Fiye Hours of Married Life tho Indig-
nant Parents of tho Girl Snatch Her
From Her Husband in tho streets of
Durham Now In Suffolk.


who, after u few hours of wifehood,
was taken from her husband in the
streets of Durham, N. c., and carried
to the home of her parents, seven or
eight miles from town. She has been
with relatives ever since. She and her
husband are strangers now, though
he is anxious for a reunion.
ii. Eugene Massey, young soldier
bridegroom, is seeking to gain possess
sion of his girl-wife, pretty little bud
OF woman, to whom he was married
nearly four months ago, but with
whom he only passed a honeymoon of
five hours, when she was taken from
his side by indignant relatives.
The object of hsi solicitude is pretty,
innocent looking Servada Anne Bar
bee. whose home is near Durham. N.
c., but who is now in Suffolk under the
protection of her uncle and his wife,
MIR. and Mrs. A. L. Barbee. who keep
u fashionable millinery store at No. 80
Washington square.
MIR. Massey and u friend, Edward S.
Massey, were in Suffolk. last night
seeking TO get an interview with the
aid in the accomplishment of their
purpose. Failing in this, they went to
Norfolk early this morning to recon
slider the situation, but they have not
ton Of returning to Suffolk within
twenty-four hours was declared before
they left town.
The whole affair with sensational
details and uncertain results, has in
it the making OF u romance. 1t would
be good material for the second edi-
ton of Charlotte Braeme's Wife in
Name Only and even the only Laura
Jean Libbey would find it a good thing
If she did business down this way.
were reared on adjoining farms in Dur
ham county, n. G. They knew each
other since habyhood, or, rather since
the girls babyhood, for Gene is now
"a and Servada was only 10 in July.
Eugene loved Jackson Barbee's daugh
ter long before she threw short skirts
aside. Her parents objected to his at
tentions--in fact, they thought she was
too young to receive men company,
but they didn't mind the neighbors
coming over to hear the girls music.
Servada and her sister both sing
sweetly, and Servada is talented with
the violin
Despite parental objection the young
people managed to see each other.
Finally Eugene went off to the war
n corporal in Company X First North
Carolina Regiment. from Raleigh.
When he came home his ardor for Ser
vada had increased, and he got her TO
agree to an elopement knowing the
futility of securing parental consent.
On May 81. Sunday Servada and Eu
gene, had an appointment to meet ut
Berea Baptist Church, six miles from
Durham. After the services Servada
got in Eugene's buggy and they drove
rapidly to Durham where they were
married in forty-two minutes AFTER the
start. The young lady says Eugene
had 0 fast horse and they covered the
six miles in just thirty minutes.
Hurrying to see Squire Gunter, they
were married about / o'clock in the
residence of p. a. Brown.
| In the meantime Servada's father,
Jackson H. Barbee. and her uncle, A.
| l.. Barbec. had gotten wind OF the
| elopemcnt and they made haste to
| ovcrtakc the girl. They arrived Mt
Durham in due time and found the
couple walking down Carr street after
6 o'clock. The girl was taken from her
| husband and carried home. Eugene
| hasn't had an interview with his girl
wife since that day.
| a few weeks ago she came to visit
| Suffolk relatives Massey and his fam
| lily came to seek her, and they sought
| the aid of Mayor Brewer and Chief of
Police Ames. Nothing was accom-
| plished.
This afternoon your correspondent
obtained an interview with the young
| woman. She is Il comedy little person,
| With a round. cherub face, pink checks,
soft. hazel eyes and light brown hair.
| done in late style couture. She looks
| quite young, but is well developed for
| her age.
II have realized my mistake" she
said. and don't want to talk to Eu-
| gene and / don't want to live with him.
| My relatives have prevented him from
| seeing me in pursuance OF my wishes.
| They have promised to protect me and
1,a1tA
break II off now than to wait. Our
separation is inevitable.
fes | loved Eugene when we were
married. but I'm afraid I don't love
| him well enough now to be his wife.
| The dying of my love has been gradual.
| We were raised near each other. but
| since that day have found out things
lots of thingS-that | didn't know be-
| fore.
since my father took me away one
OF Eusene's friends came into our lot
and tried TO take me by force. He
rallied. All his attempts at an inter-
view have failed. It's better so. I
MADE great mistake in marrying him.
| was married ut fourteen. / was iif-
teen years old on July 6. 1 have writ
ten Eugene that wanted nothing fur
| ther to do with him. He wrote to me
soon after arriving in Suffolk. 1 threw
his letter down. and told the messen-
| ger there was no answer"
| ~. T. Barbee. with whom she is stop
ping, went to North Carolina when he
knew about the affair. and meant to
carry her to Massey il she wanted to
go. She didn't.
| Now" he said. you see she is I'M
der my protection and doesn't want to
| live with Massey. That being the case
there are not enough men in Suffolk
TO take her unless they walk over my
dead body"
Before leaving town the young
bridegroom said he loved his wife and
| believed that she loved him. He