Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-23
SWEARS TO MARRY
MAN SHE LOVES
ANITA PELT0N REFUSES T0|
OBEY FATHER
Second Complaint Charges Seventeen
Year-oId Girl With Being Incor-
rigibIe-UnwIlIlng to Wed
Los Angeles Suitor

at will marry that man If it takes me
a hundred years to do it," said pretty
Anita Pelton, as she prepared to take
the witness stand in the juvenile de-
partment of the superior court yester-
day and calmly uttered her defiance
against the wishes of her aged parent
Anita is the 17-year-old daughter of
John Pelton, the first school master of
California. Miss Pelton's mother died
many years ago and Anita has taken
Several months ago she went to San
Francisco and there met j. S. Knighton,
with whom she fell in love, and the
couple planned to marry. The wishes
Of the lovers were discovered by friends
of the family, who interfered on the
ground that Knighton's wife had been
granted an interlocutory decree of
divorce July 8, 1904. The application
for a license on the part of the young
people was on a date prior to July 8,
1905, and as an interlocutory decree
does not release the contracting parties
for a year after 1t Is issued, a marriage
at that time would have been invalid.
Besides the friends of the young woman
decided that Knighton, the proposed
husband, would not be a fit companion
for the young girl, while she was IL
years of age, while her intended hus-
band was 30.
Say AIimony Was Not Paid
1t was further alleged that Knighton
was likely to have trouble because he
had not paid alimony for the support
of his two sons.
Miss Pelton declared yesterday her
father did not want her to marry
Knighton because Knighton was not a
Catholic. She further declared her aged
relative was trying to insist on a mar
riage between her and a Los Angeles
man whom she declared she did not
like.
Yesterday the trial of the case started
with a storm and ended with one. AS
soon as the young woman entered the
court room she became hysterical and
sobbed during the half hour before her
case was called. Her father spent the
time in walking up and down the cor
ridor, talking to himself and chewing
cigar.
Pelton was called to the stand first.
He told the court the only trouble he
had ever had with the girl was when
she deserted him and went to the de-
tention home for protection.
Neighbors then took the stand in be-
half of the girl. They testified that
Pelton did not treat his children prop
erly. One neighbor even alleged that
the children were fed soup three times
day. Another neighbor went one bet
ter and said the soup was made of the
leavings of steak which Pelton would
it into the soup kettle.
Pelton Indignantly denied that he had
accorded his children such treatment,
but Johnny the boy, over whose treat
ment the most of the trouble has
started, substantiated reports and the
lad was sent to the detention home for
week until some arrangement for his
care can be made.
Miss Pelton then took the stand AMI
refused to be ordered about. AS she is
over 16 years of age the juvenile act
does not apply to her case, and Judga
Wilbur issued a complaint against her
alleging incorrigibility. The girl was
terror stricken when 1t was read to
her, but announced her intention of
fighting it.