The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-03
HE'S ABIGAIL INFANT.
That's Why Annulment Of Edward
Ayers Marriage Is Sought
by His Father.
When the Boy Was but 16, He Mar
ried Girl Four Years
His Senior.

The rude awakening from loves young
dream Is seldom accompanied with more
narrowing details than that Of certain
l9-year-old school boy Of this city who,
after having lived less than two years
with the fair one of his choice is now. in
court asking that he be freed from the
union into which he recently plunged
with such youthful enthusiasm. An irate
father appears as the plaintiff and as the
regularly appointed guardian ad Item of
the youth asks relief at the hands of the
law.
The young man who has thus tried and
found unsatisfactory the matrimonial Ven
ture is Edward Ayers. His wife, several
years his senior, bore the name Of Alice
Heath previous to her marriage. She de-
MES the right of plaintiff to an annul~
ment of the marriage vows on the ground
that the young man gave her every rea-
son to believe he was Of age at the time
OF their marriage and that she is more
over dependent upon her husband for
support, married him in good faith and
should not be deprived of him now
through no fault of her own. She has set
up claim for alimony pending the set
tlement Of the present action. Judge Ell
liot yesterday ordered that she be paid
SIS before the time of taking up the case
next term and that the plaintiff also pay
SIS as her attorneys fees.
Nearly three years ago the youthful hus-
band was student at Hamline univer-
sity. He was then but 16 years old and
was living on a small stipend derived
from the ownership of a newspaper route,
augmented by the donations of his father.
At this time he became acquainted with
the fair charmer who later appears in the
role of the young wife. This maid had
some 20 summers to her credit. Miss
Heath also had mother who is described
in the affidavit Of the plaintiff as being
largely instrumental in the Joining Of the
two young people. 1t is alleged that
meetings were arranged and that with
a certain end in view the young man was.
without the knowledge or consent Of his
parents, induced to pay visit extending
over several days, to the Heath home.
What influences were used upon the youth
during this visit are left to be guessed,
but as direct result Of the several days
stay, it is alleged that young Ayers
walked with the utmost docility to the
hymeneal altar.
Welded bliss thus auspiciously COM
menced is said to have continued for
nearly two years or until just before the
young man had reached his eighteenth
birthday. Then he is alleged to have left
his fair wife to her own resources and
gone back to his parental roof III
true prodigal son fashion. His wife
thus deserted has endeavored to support
herself while the young husband has con-
tinued his education and is now at the
University Of North Dakota, paying his
own way and entirely, so it is alleged,
unable and unwilling to assist in the sup
port of the deserted helpmate. go.
The claim Of the plaintiff in the pending
action is that the youth was under age
at the time of his marriage, that he was
induced in divers improper ways to marry
the girl and that not having lived with
her since he was IS he is entitled to have
the marriage annulled as it is entirely il
legal.
The defendant, on IT, other hand, de-
MES the allegations in regard to the young
mans being induced to marry her, states
that she was informed and believed him to
be over Is years of age at the time, and
that he has lived with her since he was Of
the legal age and is bound by all the laws
of wedlock. She further alleges that she is
in ill health at the present time and unable
to Si1ODOrt herself ..-.