The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-10-22
MARRIED At
PISTOL POINT
Judge Mcmahon Throws
Light on Chicago Murder
Matrimony Mystery.
TALE OF QUEER MIX-UP
Alveda Wanted Charles for Her
Very Own, and Now He
Is Dead

The mysterious death Of Attorney
Charles II. stevenson Of Chicago early
last Friday morning is. from evidence
gained thus far by detectives, linked
with his marriage IN Hammond before
City Judge w w. Mcmahon on Feb. 81,
1905
The marriage Of Stevenson to Miss
Aveda Marsland. a divorcee, whose
former husband, f. f. Thul, is now in
New York, was, according to news
paper interview by Judge Mcmahon, ac-
companied by drastic measures as well
as dramatic incidents. Judge McMah
on said this morning that he told the
newspapers the Gods truth" He had
known Stevenson previous to the mar
riage as the latter had been in Ham
mond on legal business repeatedly
Judge Mcmahon absolutely refused to
discuss the marriage and the death this
morning He admitted that he remem-
bered the marriage very distinctly be-
cause of the incidents in connection
with it.
In an earlier interview with the news
papers lie Is made authority for the
story that early in February of last
year Stevenson came to him and asked
him to draw up a fake marriage cer-
tificate for himself and Miss Aveda
Marsiand. Judge Mcmahon refused to
comply with his wishes and dismissed
the incident until on the 21st of the
same month Stevenson appeared again
in company with a pretty brunette,
whom he said he wanted to marry.
When about to perform the ceremony
the attorney baked again, saying that
he had no sealed certificate, and with
his bride-to- be, Stevenson left the
judge. They returned again within
two hours and Stevenson still refused
The story continues that the woman
drew a gun on the attorney and threat
ened him with death if he did not
marry her instantly, and at the same
time made him confess that he owed
her five hundred dollars
'sWtn Your" He Had To.
When Judge Mcmahon asked steven
son: "Wlu you take this woman to be
your lawful wife?" the attorney hesi-
tated, and finally burst out: My God.
how can u" He did take her as his
lawful wife. however, and when the
him about the victory she had won.
Stevenson became SO enraged at her
that he almost forgot himself and
raised his hand to strike her.
From a story that Mrs. Stevenson
told yesterday it was learned that she
became acquainted with Stevenson
when the latter acted as her divorce
lawyer At the time he was engaged
TO a prominent Chicago girl. protege
OF Dr. Sarah Haekett Stevenson, his
cousin.
Had Distinguished Connections.
The late Mr.. Stevenson is said to be
a distant relative of former Vice -Presi-
dent Adlai T.. Stevenson. and is a Ken
tuckian by birth Until his death last
Friday his marriage was a secret TO his
law partners, and even to his most in
innate friends. He was known to be
a proud man. used to the luxuries of
llfe bat unable TO support himself and
his wife in a way which he thought
was proper for a man Of his standing,
and by some it is thought that he con-
seq6ently preferred to keep his mar
riage a secret until he would be in bet
ter financial circumstances. Others
however, think that although he was
legally married to hts wife he did not
want TO acknowledge her as such be-
fore the world.
Three theories are advanced as to the
cause Of his death, the strongest one
now being premeditated murder. Others
explain it as suicide, while the police
are inclined to think that he met an
accidental death while intoxicated.