The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-24
A SENSATIONAL EL0PEMENT
FIT -YEAR-OLD ZELLA NJ
MASSE MARRIES STEWART.
80 YEARS OF AGE.
Couple Left City Yesterday Afternoon
Father Is in Pursuit-Groom
Prominent Musician.

dizzy little wOOing terminated late
yesterday afternoon in pretty 15-year-
old leila Masse daughter of H. B.
Masse, a wealthy retired farmer resii-
ing at 342 South Fourth street, clipping
with Henry c. Stewart erstwhile pro-
prietor of the Northwestern Music
company in the Ransom building. De-
tails of the pretty little romance, which
may terminate in Mr.. Masses new SON.
in-law being prosecuted on a charge
Of subornation of perjury, only leaked
out last night when Mr.. Masse solicit
ed the aid of Sheriff Painter in over
hauling his fleeing daughter and her
husband, who left on the $3.50 o. r. &
N. train for Pendleton after being
married by Rev. Austin Rice at mis-
residence in East Sumach street.
At 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon
Stewart, accompanied by a stranger
giving the name of Ross Leslie, APP
peared at the auditors office and
asked for a marriage license. The
bride to be did not put in an appear.
ance but Mr.. Leslie willingly made af i
fidavit that the young lady was Of legal
age. The license was then duly issued
to Henry c. Stewart and leila NJ
Masse, whose residence was given as
MenOmonee, Wisconsin. After leaving
the auditors office the movements of
Stewart and the young girl are rather
hazy, but it was learned from a cab
driver who had been engaged for the
occasion that Miss Masse accompanied
Stewart to his room in the Bee Hive
lodging house at First and Main
streets, where she changed her short
schoolgirl dress for a travelling suit.
From the lodging house they were
driven rapidly to the residence of Rev.
Austin Rice where the marriage cere-
mony was performed. Stewart stated
that he and his bride We're leaving on
the $3.50 train and requested that the
marriage certificate be forwarded to
him at Salt Lake.
Immediately after the ceremony
Stewart and his bride entered the hack
which had been kept waiting and were
driven to the O. r. & n. depot where
they boarded the g.: 80 train for Pen
dleton.
Father in Pursuit.
Miss Masse, the young bride receiv-
ed permission from her mother yester-
friend down town, but when several
hours had elapsed and she had not re-
turned home Mrs Masse notified her
husband. Mr.. Masses suspicious were
aroused and later confirmed when he
learned that a license had been issued
and that his daughter and Stewart had
been married by Rev. Austin Rice. Mr..
Masse solicited the aid of Sheriff
Painter and officers at PendletOn ana
other towns on the supposed route of
the fleeing couple were sent out. Mr..
Masse left on the 10:15 train for Una
tilla last night and it is said vowed
that he would follow the couple until
he overlook them. Mr.. Masse had not
returned home this morning and it is
supposed that he is on his way to Salt
Lake, the supposed destination Of
Stewart and his bride.
Mother Refuses to Discuss Matter.
Mrs. Masse is very mucn broken up
over the marriage and flight of her
daughter and refused to be interviewed
this morning, sending out word that
she did not wish to discuss the mat
ter. A daughter, who acted as inter-
mediary between her mother and the
reporters, also refused to discuss her
sisters flight, saying that it did not
concern the public.
Planned for Several Days.
That Stewart and Miss Masse mad
laid their plans to elope several days
ago is evidenced by the fact that
Stewart gave up his rooms in the Ran
som building Thursday. He told At
torney Marvin Evans, who looks after
the building, that business was rather
slack and that he thought that he
would go to Denver for the summer,
expecting to return to Walla Walla
this fall and open up the musical in
stitute again.
Stewart came to Walla Walla about
eight months ago and assumed the
Management of the Northwestern
Musical company. The plan of secur-
ing business was successful and in
financial way the business was paying
until the last month. Stewart, who is
about 80 years of age, presents a good
appearance. For several months he
has roomed at the Masse residence and
in this way met his bride quite often.
They played at concerts frequently,
Miss Masse being quite a pianist.