Smyrna times., 1900-09-05
DOVER ELOPERS OFF FOR TEXAS.
Miss Packard Leaves Her Friends in Darby
and Joins Dr. Howard M. Wilkinson at
the Imperial Hotel, Philadelphia.

and Joins DR.. Howard M. Wilkinson at
the Imperial Hotel, Philadelphia.
The second elopement of DIR. II. NJ.
Wilkinson and Miss Josephine Pack
ard, his sister-in-law, who left Phila-
delphia together Thursday, presum-
ably for Texas, caused little surprise
at Dover, the home of the couple, when
the fact became known. although Will
kinson declared that he and the young
woman would again meet despite the
efforts of her parents to keep them
separated.
Elbert G.. Packard, father of the girl,
said that in one sense he was not much
surprised at the second elopement, al
though his daughter had given them
so many assurances that he hardly
thought she would repeat the act. He
said he was not prepared to say whether
the runaways would again be per-
sued
1t is very probable that the authori-
ties will take no further action in the
matter. State Detective McVey does
not think anything will be done. Will
kinson is now under 5000 bail for his
appearance at the October term of
Kent county court on charge of de-
serting his wife. If convicted the
punishment is a nominal fine. 1t does
not seem that there is any other charge
to be brought against Wilkinson. The
report that the eloping couple are head
ing for Texas is doubted by Mr.. Pack
ard, who is under the impression that
they have gone to some Western
State, where Wilkinson will try to get
a divorce so that he can wed Jose
phine.
The Girl Seeks Her Lover.
: Wilkinson has been in Philadelphia
apparently searching for the girl whose
mad infatuation for him has made her
/, notorious throughout the country.
! The man failed, but the woman sought
him, and the pair met and united their
destinies once more.
After Miss Packard was separated
:, from Wilkinson and taken to Philadel-
phia by her mother every appeal was
made to her to abandon her sister s
> husband, but Josephine was obdurate.
: She compromised so tar as to agree not
to see Wilkinson for a week, and in the
, meantime to go to the home of friend
;, of the family, Mrs. M. o. Morrison, on
Springfield avenue, Darby, a suburb
. of Philadelphia. Here Josephine
was placed under as close surveillance
. and constraint as were possible. The
papers were kept away from her, anC
she knew nothing of Wilkinson
- whereabouts. She secured a news
: paper, however, and learned that he
j. was at the Hotel Imperial, Eleventh
y y and Filbert streets. She set her brai1
to work to escape from the MorrisOns
, To make sure that no clandestin
/, meetings should be held the cir wa
" never allowed to leave her retreat with
out the company of an attendant
- - Generally Mrs. Morrison's hired gir
, went along whenever Josephine whise
to go out.
Miss Packard Plans Her Escape.
DIS With the most seeming innocenc
III Josephine started away from her ten
y porary home about o'clock, and, q
Ite usual, the servant girl went along
u She said she was going to NEE
mamma. On the way to the post
u Office, where she expected some le
u ters, Josephine began to display ht
. fine femme strategy, and develop IL
'e' little plan which she had been forml
~ lating. Her first move was to get ri
.n' of the servant girl, and this she accon
49, plished by sending the latter baC
home with letter, which she sal
er' Mrs. Morrison should see. She wou
er' see the servant latter, "when she m
ry' mamma at the Broad Street Station
H. The servant left her and then Josephir
went to find mamma"
Eleven o'clock saw the girl at IL
Imperial. She did not disclose h
identity to any one. but simply ask
rips to see Mr.. Wilkinson. The clerk sci
for him while she waited at the table
the ladies' restaurant. There were !
"o other persons in the restaurant at Il
~ time, but fearful of recognition or
-. - possible pursuit from Darby, Wiki
-" s son and Miss Packard got into coul
O'S and went for long drive. 1t was aft
.@' m dark when they returned to the hot
"a for Wilkinson's baggage. From the
-"N perial they direct went to one of the ra
's~ "~' road stations, where they embarked
% % the long journey to the Southwest.
ses, RECENT PuI.ING FOR HACKS.