The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-03

Drake appeared III Iue county ClGIk
office TO state that he was 10 years of
age, that his mother was dead, that
his father lived in Arkansas, and that
he wished to be married. He eX-
planned that he had been earning his
own living for several years, and that
he did not wish to wait until his
fathers consent to the marriage might
he secured.
Gets Lawyer and Guardian.
The obliging attaches of the clerk
office explained that it would be neces-
Sary to secure q guardian VINO would
consent to the match. and advised the
boy to consult a lawyer Drake asked
to be directed to the nearest lawyer.
The nearest lawyer was Harry S.
Harper, court reporter of the DeseTet
News, who is a member of the bar.
Mr.. Harper was in the room at the
time and was called over. The situa-
ton was explained to him and he vol
unteered his services Immediately. re-
marking that he had been young once
himself and had a strong dash of SEN
timent in his system yet.
The next step was to find a, guard
|ian. Walter ]. Sloan, court reporter of
the Telegram came along and Harper
grabbed him. Sloan proved to be sen
tiInental, also, and expressed a will
ingness to be guardian. The trio, fol-
lowed by several persons who had
learned of the negotiations. proceeded
to Judge George G.. Armstrong; court
room. Judge Armstrong had just sent
a jury out and was able to hear the
petition at once. After the necessary
explanations had been made to the
court, Judge Armstrong, in cOnsidera-
ton of brakes. statements that he had
been earning his own living apart from
his father for several years, granted
the petition.
Guardian Sloan led the procession
back to the clerks Office. They
marched to the press room. where
Sloan assumed a dignif1ed and pater-
nal manner and directed Drake TO
fetch on the bride"
Judge, attorney and guardian had
not seen the bride up to this time. All
those present expected to meet a timid
maid about brakes age.
Drake returned in 2 few noin,Itas
with the bride, whose name was not
learned She proved to be an attrac-
tive blonde, but she was undenfabIv
several years brakes senior.
Guardian Withdraws Consent.
Guardian Sloan directed that the
room be cleared of all but principals
attorneys, guardians and members of
the press.
I'VE will now go into executive Sos
siOn,' he announced.
During the executive session. tbe
bride stated that she was % wears of
age, that she was a widow, and that
she had two children, the older one !
years old.
Hum" remarked the guardian
you are sure you Want a maria &c
license, are you, young man? You are
not thinking Of adoption proceedings
are your
Drake protested that he desired r.
wed. 'N ~
The guardian conferred with the cou-
pie separately and together, and fber,
went into ultra-eXecutive session with
the legal adviser.
Dash it, don't try to put it I'D n
me! the legal adviser was heard t0
mutter I'm only the attorney in this
case you're the guardian. Chop your
Yes. but you got me into this Won
fatheadi" retorted the guardian.
L did mott You butted into If and
now you can butt out your own wayI
you're always hanging around me try
ing to grab off something, anyway
The guardian mounted the throne
again. Wv
This here wedding is off, he stated.
briefly to the horror of the prospective
high contracting parties. IT Withhold
my consent
The bride withdrew, evidently i'm the
belief and hope that Drake would kin
Sloan.
Drake proved to be a sensible Young
chap, however. He discussed the mat
ter calmly, insisting that he had been
a man to all intents and purposes for
several years and that he knew his
own mind. Sloan proved .obdurate and.
aided by the legal adviser, Iavished
sage counsel on the young man. Drake
left, after assuring the pair, that he en-
tertained no hard feelings toward them
and believed they We're doing what thew
believed WAS the right thing The two
contributed their services gratis. so
that brakes financial loss was merely
the cost Of filing the guardianship pa
pers.
Formal Statement Issued.
There is nothing funny about this
affair" declared Sloan, in a formal
statement issued late in the afternoon
1t is serious matter and should not
be treated as q. jest. With the respon-
sibility for the future welfare of this
young. man on my shoulders, 1 was
obliged to view the situation seriously.
Marriage is a grave step, and I did not
care to assume the responsibility Of this
boys union to a woman who Is by her
own admission four years older than he
is, and who is not younger than she adz
mits, in my private opinion. I think
every parent in Salt Lake City and