Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-12-29
STRATEGY AND GUNS
WON BRIDEGROOM
People Of GAINESVILLE are Very
Much Excited Over chand-
IeP.E|an Case.
LEADING PRINCIPALS TALK FREELY
Great Excitement In meoklenbers
County, When the Clans Gathered at
cIarksviIle to Attend the Trial Of
the Younger Chandler Who ls
Charged With kidnapping ELAN.


| CLARKSVILLE, VA. Dec. 2S.--All
day long Clarksyille has been In such
state OF excitement as probably Il
has never before felt. Upon every
corner In every public place nothing
Is being discussed but the Chandler.
Clam affair. The case, however, jus.
| titles every atom Of interest It ia
such as probably has never happened
IN virginia. The excitement Is large.
| ~ suppressed, but, that. instead OF
detacting from 1t, intensifles the feel
ing.
Last Saturday night as Daily Press
readers know, Richard Elan was
forced to marry Miss Bessie Chandler
at the point Of gun. The gun was
In the hands of r. u. Chandler, her
father, and beside him stood his ne,
phew and business partner, r. A.
| Chandler.
Before the ceremony Elam's father.
cne,armed man, attempted to pre-.
vent II. but he, too. was driven away
| with revolver. Young Elnm shortly
after the ceremony. wished to leave
the home OF his bride. but was pre-
vented. In the meantime his father,
by means of the country telephone
and by messenger, collected n mum.
per OF friends. Rnd driving to the
chandler residence, rescued tho
groom
All in Three Miles Radius.
The two families live about three
miles apart and three miles from this
town. Those I'm tho rescue party all
live within the radius.
After ELAN was taken from the
house he had r. A. Chandler arrest.
ed, charged with kidnapping him and
forcing the marriage
| The case was set for trial before
| Captain John S Wood. In Clarksville,
today. 1t was rumored early this
morning that 1t was to he held fur.
| tner ont in the country, but shortly
afterwards r. A Chandler reached
town. He was followed few minutes
later by the ELAN family-Rlchard
i'lam, his father, and his two broth.
ers The crowd then turned toward
inc county courthouse. r. e. CranL-
/ ler' the father of the young lady, was
not present. He is In bad health and
crippled, 1t Is said. and the warrant
Tor kidnapping young ELAN Is against
r. A. Chandler. first cousin of the
bride.
Young Chandler Talks Frankly.
Young Chandler said this morning
that he had no hesitancy In explain.
ing his connection with the case.
Mr.. Chandler" he said. ois nv
uncle. He came to mo last FRIDAY
| and told ME that his daughter, who
Is also my cousin, was in q delicate
condition and that Richard Elan was
responsible. l intend to make him
marry my daughter he said, will Won
help me?'
"Mr. Chandler is my uncle. INV
partner In the horse trading business.
and my friend. did go with him and
the ceremony was performed. | can.
not say that young ELAN showed any
great resistance"
Ages Of the Principals.
Mr.. Chandler is about thirty.fiye
years old, young ELAN is about TWEEN.
fy-three. Mrs. ELAN is said to be a
pretty and attractive young woman.
She Is slightly above the medium
height and has clear features and
beautiful brown hair. Her condition.
It is said, has existed for six months.
The young woman for several months
has been regarded as the sweetheart
Of young Elan.
ELAN Talks Frankly.
In speaking to reporter of the
marriage, Mr.. ELAN, tho groom, said
that 1t was forced. and candldly added
that his purpose in leaving the house
was to have the ceremony annulled.
He alleged grave charges against the
young womans character.
Il was In my place of business Sat.
nrday." said Mr.. ELAN, when Messrs.
Chandler came in, between S and 6
o'clock. They told me they wished to
buy pair of horses from me. for
man In Henderson, NJ C. i went out
with them. and, as we got out of sight
OF everybody. they told me their pur.
pose. and showed the weapons. I
went with them, and was forced into
marriage"
The Minister'S Statement.
Rev. Mr.. Thrift the GAINESVILLE cler.
gyman, who performed the ceremony,
said he had no reason to suspect any.
thing wrong.
I received note Saturday night"
he said today. "about o'clock. signed
by Miss Chandeliers father, which ask,
ed me to come to their residence i'm.
mediately. went. was there no.
fore the marriage, but saw nothing