Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-22
MISSOURI VANES
HAS SAD HISTORY
WRONGED GIRL MARRIED AT
THIRTEEN
Ran Away from Husband Six Months
Later-Effort Made to Have
Case Against Marcher
Dismissed

Further investigation made yesterday
into the case of Ralph Marcher, who is
accused of statutory offense against
Missouri Vanes, 14-year-old girl, de-
veloped the surprising fact that the girl,
though still child, already has been
married, the marriage subsequently hav-
ing been annulled.
According to Mrs. Vanes story, as re-
lated to Chief of Police Foster Of Ocean
Park, her daughter was married to a
cigar salesman of Cleveland, Ohio, when
she was only 10 years old. The man,
Mrs Vanes said, had boarded in her
house and had been much attracted by
little. Missouri from the time he first
met her Affairs progressed rapidly, the
substantially as follows:
Had Plenty of Money
''The man had plenty of money and
other. One day he. came to me and
begged that 1 permit Missouri to marry
him. At first 1 refused, but afterward
/ thought that l might regret my refusal
some day. If anything should happen to
the girl, and so when he repeated his
request and Missouri Joined her entreaties
to his, / consented.
81 got the marriage license for them
myself and they were married by JUS
tice of the peace. Then they went to
New York and Missouris husband Law
ished money on his wife. He gave her
everything she asked for.
after they went east 1 came to the
coast for my health. Some time after
arrived here and when they had been
telegram telling me to come to cleveland
Immediately and authorizing me to draw
for money to pay expenses OF the TRIP
Deserts Her Husband
"I went and found that Missouri had
run away from her husband and was
with her grandmother in LCleveland. Her
husband followed her and we talked the
matter over he finally agreeing that the
best thing to do was to have. the mar
riage annulled. This we did and ]
brought Missouri out here with with me, m o,neI ner
up his business and follow us later.
Meanwhile he sent money every week
for Missouris support"
The young girl, who is said by the po-
lice to have been made the victim not
only of Ralph Marcher but of two OF MS
friends as well. was taken before Judge
Wilbur in Juvenile court yesterdday hd aL,ee- ione
confidential talk, interrupted. only When
Missouri's feelings overcame her and sne
burst into tears. The formal nearing OF
her case was postponed until later and
she was sent back to the detention home.
The case against young Marcher was
set for trial. despite efforts made to nave
it dismissed.
Try to Have Case Dismissed
According to Chief of Police Foster
the boys father succeeded In winning
the district attorney declined to acqui-
esce and insisted that the young man
be brought to trial. Foster says tnat
Mrs. Vanes was seen riding in an auto
mobile yesterday with d. l.. Marcner
the father of the young man VINO stanos
accused of having betrayed her daugnter
What inducement, if any, was oHereo
her to agree to dismissal OF Lne
charges he did not know but said tnal
he understood such a disposition OF tne
case had been suggested to the qlstTlc'
attorney both by Marcher and Mrs
If is said to be this same automobile
that Young Marcher used to take MIS-.
souri, on the rides which were the firs'
step. so it is claimed, in her downfall.
IT is not alleged that Ralph MarcheI
used force in accomplishing his desires
though the youth of his victim makes his
action a severe crime in the eyes OF the
law. o..s :,
Police Foster produced gold chaln ano
locket which belonged to Missouri and
which she sold to an Ocean Park 1eWele1
for $125 after Ralph had left her to
await his return in hotel at ocean
Park, as she explains, with only oo cents
in her pocket.
According to the girls story, that was
on Thursday the boy promising to see
her again the following. Sunday. On Fri,
day another youth, said to be frieno
of Ralph's, appeared on the scene. and
on on saturday third came, Each of these
latter two are said also to have commit
ted the offense for which their alleged
friend is now in Jail awaiting trial.