Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-30
PERJURY IS
CHARGED.
Walter Davis, an Ottumwa
Colored Man, Under Arrest
On Ser2us Charge.
a$
TALE OF 5 sRsEcUTIoN.
Missouri Man Alles Chat Des Molnes
colored Man Enti s4is Daughter
Away From Homo. 1vis said to
Have Sworn Falsei

Have Sworn FaIssl.
Walter Davis, we'll known colored
man of this city, and John Scott Will
kinson, of Des Moines, also colored,
are under arrest in this city, the for
mer charged with perjury and the lat
ter with subornation of perjury. Incl
dentally, it is said that Wilkinson, in
the course of events may be taken to
Missouri, where he will have to an
swer to the charge of kidnapping, and
where, if the intentions of the father
of the girl Wilkinson married are car
ried out, there will be lot of trouble
Back of the story, which began with
the marriage of Wilkinson to Mary ].
Gordon, the daughter of an alleged col
ored woman and white man, there
is tale of persecution, according to
the story told by Wilkinson to Cou.
rier reporter today.
Married Here in August.
The marriage was consummated in
this city in August and Walter Davis,
who it is said, had been acquainted
with the parties for some time, swore
that he knew both of them and that
they were both of legal age, when they
applied to the clerk for a marriage H.
cense. The father of the girl, horse
buyer, of Chillicothe, Mo-, says that
the girl is under age and accuses Dav-
is of perjury. He also accuses his
son-in-law of subornation of perjury.
The couple were arraigned in police
cour this morning and this afternoon
time was set for their preliminary ex-
animation which will probably occur
Thursday. In the meantime Wilkin-
sons friends are on the ground and
will see him thru with his trouble.
Moines, who, during the minority of
Wilkinson and his brothers, acted as
guardian for them, is here and in the
presence of Wilkinson told the report
er the following story which smacks
persecution in regard to the girl sur
rendering her share of an estate in
Missouri.
Girl Came From Missouri.
Mr.. Hyde said, and Wilkinson acqui-
esced in the statements, that Mary J.
Gordon, is the daughter of l.. Gordon,
of Chillicothe, Mo-, and colored wo-
man who is now deceased. The girl
is said to be comely woman and has
been living with ansaunt in Des Moines
for over year. Subsequent to her
coming there she had lived with her
aunt in Omaha about three years. In
the meantime, 1t is said, the girl had
an interest in an estate in Missouri
which Mr.. Hyde claims has in some
mysterious manner been mortgaged to
the girls uncle and consists of about
1,700 acres of land near Chillicothe.
1t is claimed that the girls father is
endeavoring to get the girl to consent
to sale of the property in order that
the mortgage may be paid off and to
that end had at one time induced the
girl to again take up her residence
with him in his Missouri home. 1t is
claimed that he threatened her to the
extent that she was afraid for her per-
sonal safety and left, going to her aunt
in Des Moines. Since that time, it is
said, Gordon has endeavored to induce
his half caste daughter to live with
him, but she has always refused.
Davis Comes Into the Story.
In October, 1899, she met and be.
came acquainted with John S. Wilkin-
son, who became her husband in this
city last August. For reasons which
they do not care to state, the couple
came to Ottumwa from Des Moines
for the purpose of getting married.
Walter Davis, a well known Ottumwa
colored man, made the affidavit to Dep
uty Clerk Wing that he knew both
parties and knew they were of legal
age. The papers were given them
that would permit marriage ceremo-
ny being performed and Wilkinson
and Miss Gordon repaired to Rev.
Boyd, of this city where they were
married. The same day they left for
Des Moines where they took UP their
residence. A short time ago the faith.
er learned of what had happened and
according to the story of Wilkinson
and Hyde began system of persecu-
ton. He, it is alleged, employed a
Des Moines detective named Hardin,
to ferret out the manner in which they
were married and to ascertain all facts
connected Herewith. The detective. it
is said, came to Ottumwa and by d.
vers means induced Davis to sign
written statement that he did not
know the girl and did not know wheth-
er or not she was of age at the time he
made the affidavit. This document, it
is said, was placed in the hands of the
father and last Saturday he swore out
q warrant for the arrest of Davis and
also for his son-in-law, the latter being
In Des Moines. Wilkinson was placed
under arrest Saturday and brought to
this city. Mrs. Wilkinson nee Gordon,
together with her aunt, according to