Evening journal., 1909-12-30
ASKS DIVORCE
FROM RELATIVE
Mrs. c. 5. SChOfieId Who
Welded Cousin Alleges Cruelty
and Seeks Separation
SUIT IS SEQUEL
TO ELOPEMENT HERE

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. Dec. 30.-
On the unusual grounds that her hus-
band, Assistant City Solicitor Charles Sc
Vile schoheld and herself are first cousins
and that they eloped TO Wilmington, Del,
on April Is, 1906. 10 evade the act OF As
sembly Of 1901. which forblds the marriage |
of first cousins in this State, Mrs. Sarah |
Batty schoneld. a member Of a we'll /
known Roxborough family Of that name
and niece Of James Dobson. the manu- |
facturer. has begun suit for divorce.
Separated from her husband FOR the
past year Mrs. schohelds action is eX-
pected to raise an interesting point OF law
in the local courts, as lawyers are divided
as to whether marriage OF first cousins
in Delaware could be construed under the
act Of Assembly as being illegal in Penn
sylvanla.
Mr. schoheld, who in his capacity Of
Assistant city Solicitor is called upon
frequently TO frame opinions bearing upon
points Of law, declared last night that II
such a marriage took place in Delaware
however Il might be contrary TO the laws
OF this state It would be legal anywhere.
When Mrs. schoheld's suit comes up In
the local courts, this peculiar phase OF the
case is likely to be thoroughly gone into
although Mr.. Schoheld declined last night
TO state whether he proposed TO contest
his wife's action or not. Former Judge
James Gay Gordon, Mr.. schoheld's coun-
sci. was equally retlcent in the matter
Frederick A. Sobernheimer represents
Mrs. Schoheid.
The sehoaelds arc first cousins through
their relationship with the Dobsons, who
are among the first families OF RoXbor-
opsh When they we're married Mrs.
schoaeld was 25 years old and her hus-
band 3s Despite this disparity IN thelr
ages the romance that eliminated IN their
elopement had its inception when Mrs
schoneld was a school girl and her hus-
band was just beginning to practice law
As Mrs. schoheld budded into young
womanhood she became a social favorite
lin Roxborough and was noted for her
striking beauty and her wealth Of chest
nut hair. There were many who sought
her hand. although her father. Joshua
Rattv. was not like most Of the other
members of the family, wealthy, but sine
cared only for the attentions Of her cou-
sin. who. though thirteen years her sem
Tor had seen much Of her since she was
child.
Their elopement created a sensation In
Peterborough. They met at evening serv-
ices at a church in the suburb and Mr.
schofield expressed a wish that they
might be married without further delay.
II was Easter Sunday, and Mrs. Scho-
field smilingly remarked that they ought
TO be united before midnight.
..But how can we arrange it?" she ask
ed her cousin, and he replied that he had
antieipated her wish by making all the
arrangements in advance. They slipped
out OF the church together before the SER
vices were over and took a train for the
Reading Terminal. They were accom-
panied by Charles c. Cox, relative and
they drove to Broad street station in time
to catch an express train for Wilmington
MARRIED IN WILMINGTON.
TIpon their arrival there they were
driven to the office Of Magistrate Alton
G pyle. where they obtained a license
after a brief parley. Wilmington was ther
as much OF a "Gretna Green" for elopers
as IL is now and Magistrate Pyle directed
the young couple to the residence OF the
Rev. George i. Wolfe. who. on account
OF the great number OF marriages he per-
forms annually is known In the Delaware
CITY as the Marrying Parson."
It was not long after they took up theil
residence at No. 5i7 East Hermitage street
Roxborough. that reports became curren
In the suburb that their married life wa
unhappy. but not until a year ago did th'
couple separate. Mr.. schoheld claims tina
his wife left the Hermitage street hous
one morning without saying a word e
him. taking with her their little boy. VIII
was then two years old. She contends tina
she could not put up any longer with tn
cruel treatment she received at his hands
six months after Mrs. Schoneld separ
ated from her husband a girl was bor
20 her which Mr.. schoheld has never seer
and he intimated that he might contes
the right of his wife TO retain possession
Of their two children, although he was nc
certain as to what course he would puT
sue.
u Mrs. Schofeld is now living with he
children at her fathers house on Mtche
street, near Ridge avenue, Roxborougl
She was not Inclined 70 talk last nigh
although when Informed that her hui
bands friends believed that he would