The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-03
ELOpES here
Freehold Farm Hand Tries
to Marry Fifteen
Year Old Girl.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE REFUSES
ohild's Father Says He Will
Have Marriage, If Con-
tracted, Annulled.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE REFUSES

| Alfred Van Dorm, twenty-eight years
| old, farm hand of Freehold, and Flora
| Willet, the ffteen-year-old daughter of
| Harry Willet farmer of Marlboro, near
| Freehold eloped yesterday. This elope-
| ment was preceded by a years courtship
| that was filled with difficulties.
They came here at eight O'Clock in the
evening. They went to Justice of the
Peace John Duffy, at his office at No. q
Montgomery street, and asked him to
marry them. Justice Duffy refused to
perform the ceremony because of the
youth of the girl and they left the city,
going to New York City.
When Justice Duffy saw the country
looking man in store clothes who wanted
to marry the childish girl he offered them
some wholesome advice instead of a GER
tiicate The girl wept and the man
begged the Justice to marry them, but
Duffy was obdurate and they left.
The police of all cities in this State and
in New York were notified by Sheriff
Davis of Freehold to watch out for Van
Dorm and arrest him, a warrant having
been sworn out for him by Mr.. Willet on
a charge of abduction.
Last month Mr. Willet had Van Dorm
arrested upon a charge of attempting 20
entice his daughter away. There was
very spicy hearing before Justice Hulse
in Freehold Mr.. Wilett testified that he
did not consider Van Dorm a fit man for
his daughter to marry. and that she was
too young anyway. He said he had warn
ed Van Dorm to cease his attentions, but
the man would not listen to him.
One day-while Van Dorm was present
Flora became saucy to her mother. Mr..
Willet interfered and told her he would
spank her if she did not stop her impiI-
dence. mo. you WON'T said Van Dorm:
mot while Tn here More was said, and
finally Mr.. Willet did whip Flora ana
right in Van Dorn's presence. too. Final
ly Flora had to xse locked up In a room by
herself to be kept away from Van Dorm.
After Van Dorm was discharged he would
write her letters. endeavoring to arrange
clandestine meetings, and finally openly
boasted his intention of taking the CIR.
away. Before Justice Hulse Van Dorm
saia he loved Flora more than he could
relate and that her parents i'll treated her
He frankly admitted that he had tried to
get her to leave them.
tT mean to take her and marry her
when she is twenty-one." he said while
on the stand. Tt was. shown that Van
Dorm had followed Flora when she was
sent away on visit to her grandmother
at Morganville. SO strong was Mr.. Will
let's case that Justice Hulse placed Van
Dorm under 5000 bonds to keep the peace.
James Hayward went his surety, and can
now be compelled to pay the bond.
After being placed under bond Van
Dorm did not cease his attentions to the
~irl. Justice Hu1se heard on Saturday
that Van Dorm was saying he would
marry the girl as soon as she was six
teen, which will be in about four months.
TheaJustice wrote Van Dorm that he must
stopShis threats. Mr. Willet says that
Van Dorm also quickly resumed sending
notes to Flora.
Van Dorm was born near Marlboro, and
he continued working for the farmers in
that vicinity after leaving Mr.. Willet
He appears to be of sound mind and the
'~irl appears BRIGHT for her years Mr..
willet declares if the two get married in
View York before they are caught he will
have the marriage annulled.