Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-20
CUPID WINS.
Vera Sheffield EIoped to
Marry Actor Lover.
Held Up in St. Louis and Re-
lease Is Secured.
Pair Are Now Welded and Happy
How It Happened.

St. Louis, Feb. 19.-After many ao-
ventures, Miss Vera Sheffield or "o
cester, Mass, who was arrested at 'iie
Union station, Friday night, was
leased, Saturday morning, and withili
half an hour was the bride OF IAN
Carlton, an actor, to marry whom sue
ran away from her home in NorceS-
ter.
Her release followed a fearful night
gpent in the detention room at the roui
courts. 1t was followed by an alec-
tomato meeting with her fiance ana
hurried trip to the City hall for IL
cense. then to the office of Justice Cro-
rim. where the flnOt was ted.
The romance of the girl and the ac-
tor began two years ago when ne
played with a company appearing III
Worcester and on the last day OF lhe
engagement a mutual friend liitio-
drced them. Then Miss Shefheld nlaue
a trim to Boston to see Carlton on the
stage and fell in love with him. ihey
mot again during the Boston engage
ment Of the company. during the t"o
wears since they have not seen each
other. but kept up an ardent cores
pondence. .
Her father, Frank Sheffield, cloth
IN, merchant. knew of her actor adj
mirer and did not approve of her mar
ryinp him There was a wealthy young
man of Worcester who wanted to mar
nv Miss Sheffield and ne enjoyed the
favor of her parents.
The other man knew OF the at
tachment between Miss Sheffield and
the actor and did all that he could tc
hreak if ND. writing letters to Carlton,
intimatipg a desire to fight duel, stat
ing that he was an ex-soldier ana
man of nerve and serving notice that
If the actor married Miss Shefteld IL
would have to be over his dead BODY.
Miss Sheffield became of age seven
months ago and she and Carlton oesan
to plan in earnest for their marriage.
The actor had hoped to be able 10 go
70 Worcester for her, but founo thdl
he would not be able to do so for some
time, The fact that his company was
to make a jump from st. Louis 10 san
Francisco decided them to bring tneir
plans to focus.
Takin. nothing with her but couple
of photographers of Carlton. Miss Shelf
concealed herself at the home of girl
friend until she could board a tram
for the west AS she was speeding
toward st. Louis tel eSram passed her
from the Worcester police to the 81
Louis police, asking them to arrest her
on her arrival and hold her for instruc-
tions.
Detectives Smith and James were as
signed to watch the union station Tor
a girl with black hair and big black
ewes I'm a brown suit and a tan cravan-
cite. They saw her before two other
men. who were standing little further
hack. These two men were Carlton and
T.. G.. Davidson, the manager OF MS
company.
AS the detectives stopped and asked
her name she saw Carlton coming to-
ward her through the crowd. He saw
the two men stop her and knew what
it meant. He placed 4 warning finger to
his lips as a sign that she should not
talk. but she was frightened and told
the detectives her name.
Prompted by Davidson, Carlton dis
appeared. Davidson told the detectives
who he was and pleaded with them to
permit Miss Sheffield TO be taken to a
hotel under guard, but they told MN
they had no discretion.
Davidson accompanied them to the
Four courts on a street car. and re-
newed his entreaties to night chief Gill
lespie, offering to pay all the expenses
Of having her guarded at the hotel, bu'
was told that she would have to be
kept in the detention room, and the
girl crying bitterly. was turned orel
to the matron.
Carlton and Davidson secured tbs
services of an attorney last night, ane
this morning effected her release. INT
.x,o,11fno uy,ick1y followed