Evening star., 1901-07-13
PAPA WIRES A PROTEST
But HE HAD NOT PROPER UNDER
STANDING OF LAW.
Intellectual Efforts to Prevent Mar
ringe of Virginia Complexities
Gardner, Mr.. Blackwell.

Mary Gardner and Price Blackwell the
! former eighteen and the latter twenty-one
years old. reached here this morning from
Charlottesville. Va. having come on mat
rimonial errand Mary did not have papa
consent and papa did what he could to
prevent the marriage, but he was not sue
cessfu1. Captain Boardman received word
from Mr. Gardner to detain his daughter.
but unfortunately for the father the law
here is different from that in Virginia, and
when Mary reaches home she will be Mrs
Blackwell.
stop my daughter from marrying. Left
here on train 16 Detain her and wire me.
fSigned) "B NJ GARDNER
Such was the message received by Cap
tain Boardman shortly before O'Clock this
morning. Detective Watson was sent out
to find the young woman. He hurried to
the clerks office, reaching there just in
time to see a couple starting out in search
of a person duly authorized to tie the
nuptial knot.
rs this Miss Gardner?' the detective in
quired of the young lady
The latter was taken completely by sur
prise. although she was evidently ready to
expect almost anything. She admitted she
band seemed little worried and wanted
to know If he was to be taken to police
headquarters before he had had time to
get his breakfast.
And will | be locked up?" he anXiouSiy
inquired.
Certainly not" Miss Gardner quickly re-
piled. Il suppose papa has done this
When the detective admitted the receipt
of telegram from the father of the young
lady. the latter suggested that it was doubt
less paterS desire to have the ceremony de-
iayed until he could get here to witness it;
ont Blackwell could not believe that such
was his motive. His idea was that the ia
ther wanted indefinite postponement of
the event In a few minutes the couple
reached police headquarters and confronted
Captain Boardman.
Il was eighteen in May last" said Miss
Gardner. when questioned about her age
and the young man said he was twenty
one.
This Is just a case of papa not under
standing the law" the prospective bride
said. 'In Virginia parental consent Is nee
essary until girl Is twenty-one; but 1t Is
not so in this city"
Course OF True Love.
Price Blackwell lived about twenty-five
miles from Charlottesville and a few years
ago he was given employment on Mr. Gard
ner's farm. He had become as one Of the
family. Captain Boardman was informed.
and when he and Mary concluded to join
hands for life the consent of the father
was deemed unnecessary. Last night Mary
and Price met at the railroad station. The
latter purchased tickets and then the couple
got on the north-bound train. confident no
BODY had seen them leave. In some way
the girls father learned where the couple
mad gone and sent the message given
Captain Boardman was convinced that the
girl had given her correct age and told her
she would not be detained. Price was then
anxious to go to the nearest MAGISTRATE and
get married but the young lady objected.
and the couple started off in search of a
Baptist minister
1t Is understood the minister was quickly
found. the matrimonial knot was tied and
that the bride and groom boldly awaited
the coming of the paternal parent, conf
dent of ultimately receiving his blessing