Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-28
HYMENEAL KNOT
REMAINS TIED
STORY OF MURDER0US LOVE-
FAILS TO MOVE JUDGE
Woman Testlfes That Husband Had
Threatened to Kill Her If She
Refused to Wed, but Di-
vorce Is Denied

Entirely against her wishes and much
to her disapproval, Mrs. Caroline c
Smedley is today the same Caroline G
Smedley that she was yesterday al
though for more than three hours she
conducted legal warfare against hel
husband before Judge Wilbur of tbs
superior court, asking annulment OF
marriage on the ground that she had
been forced into the contract.
Mrs. Smedley, then Miss Rogers,
came to Los Angeles from Chester,
Penn. about a year ago for the bene-
fit of her health.
Upon her arrival here she was met
at the station by j. Frank Smedley,
and yesterday when Smedley's mother
testified the girl had said it was love
at first sight. Smedley peered from
behind his thick spectacles and nodded
approval.
At any rate, he took her to his
home on Maple avenue, where
the young woman had engaged rooms
and two weeks thereafter the wedding
service was performed by Rev. Robert
Mcintyre.
Says Wooing Was Strenuous
Just what occurred leading up to the
wedding is still a matter of conjecture,
and the court, after hearing the state
ments of both parties, decided not to
grant the decree, and much to the dis
pleasure of the little wife she will be
compelled to live with her husband or
live without him just as she pleases,
but she will remain his wife just the
same.
Upon my arrival in Los Angeles" >"
%, Il
after 1 had met Smedley he began to
insist that 1 marry him. L did not
want to marry him and did not care
for him, but he threatened to kill me
if / refused him, and at last we had it
out. We spent one entire night talk
ing the subject over, and when we had
finished and l had insisted that
wanted to remain true to the man in
the east to whom / was engaged he
put his hand back to his hip pocket
and told me that if l didn't marry him
right away he would finish me. The
next day, against my will, he took me
to the county courthouse and secured
the license and made me marry him
There was something in his face that
caused a peculiar feeling to come over
me whenever he looked at me and [
could not resist him when he compelled
me to marry him, but as soon as 1
had a chance ] deserted him and re-
fused to live any longer at his mothers S
home"
Husband Tells Different Story
Smedley made a vigorous contest of
the case. He testified that he had met
the young woman on her arrival and
that he had begun to pay her atten-
tions. He further testified that she
promptly forgot about her lover in the
East, and when her lover began to
telegraph, threatening terrible things
If she did not remain true to him,
Smedley alleged that the young woman
then suggested that the wedding be
Immediately celebrated in order to
thwart the threats of the easterner.
He also testified that his wife had
named the day of the wedding and had
helped him select a suitable ring. His
mother corroborated the testimony of
the young woman and testified that the
girl had talked frequently about the
marriage and seemed to take as much
pride in it as any girl would in her
coming nuptials
Judge Wilbur then ruled that the
allegations had not been sustained and
refused to grant the decree Of annul-
mput