The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-27
Man a. Drummer and the Girl a
Daughter of Innkeeper.
CENTRAL LISTENED IN
And Told Parents Conversation
She Heard Over Phone.
Irate Father Now Pursuing the
Lover on Perjury Charge.

| Meriden, Kan. March "a 17-year-
old daughter who tried to elope with a
travelling man against her parents con-
sent, has caused a long series of mis-
haps to William Hutchinson, proprietor
of the City hotel here. The would-b
son-in-law was successfully put to
flight and an attempt was made to Sc
cure a warrant for his arrest And on
| top of all this, the unhappy father re-
ceived injuries in his pursuit of the
groom-elect and is now prepared to sue
the Topeka street car company for
damages.
Hutchinson has two daughters. One
| is Is and the other is IT. 1t had never
occurred to the parent that either one
would ever fall in love, but one did. A
travelling man named John Anderson,
who makes MerideE on his trips from
Kansas City, stopped at the hotel for
the first time about one month ago. I'm
known to the father or mother, the
oldest daughter, Ethel. fell in love with
him. Last week they planned to elope.
week ago Anderson went to To-
peka and secured a marriage license.
He made an affidavit that his bride-to-
be was is years of age. Sunday he call
ed up from the Chesterfield hotel and
engaged the services of minister at
Meriden. He also talked with Ethel
Hutchinson telling her where to meet
The Hutchinsons had a needed friend
in the telephone central at Meriden who
had listened to the conversation over
the telephone when Ethel and the trav-
cling man were making their arrange
ments. The central girl who heard the
conversation went to Mrs. Hutchinson.
The mother went to the minister and
made him promise not to marry her
daughter. Then the information of the
intended elopement was conveyed to the
father.
Miss Ethel was placed under surveil-
lance with strict instructions not to
leave the hotel Monday, the Romeo"
came into town in big touring car, in
which they expected to escape. He had
q marriage license tucked away in his
coat pocket. Anderson went to the
preachers house to see If everything
was all right
When he reached there the minister
told him that he could not marry them.
Anderson was told what had occurred
and that the father was desirous of hav-
ing an immediate interview with his
prospective son-in-law.
This was enough for Anderson. Leav-
ing his automobile, he took the first
train north and the last heard from
him was in Nebraska. He still has the
marriage license issued by Judge
Schoch in Topeka.
But the father of the girl wanted re-
Venge. If the young man did not want
to see him he would go to the young
man. Tuesday he went to Topeka He
boarded a street car in North Topeka
and asked to get off at the Chester
field hotel from whence Anderson had
telephoned. Hutchinson says that the
conductor of the street car told him
that his car was late and that no stops
would be made between the depot and
up town.
But Hutchinson was determined to
get off at the Chesterfield. The car
stopped at the Rock Island crossing.
The gates flew open and the conductor
ran in front to see if there were any
trains coming. Hutchinson saw this
was his chance to egt off the car. But
unfortunately for him he stepped off
Just as the gates were swinging to-
gether He was struck across the face,
the force of the blow knocked him face
downward on the street. He slid
several feet along the pavement. When
he got to his feet the car had gone and
he found that most of the skin on one
side of his face was gone and deep
cut in his chin.
Hutchinson returned home. Friday
he came back to Topeka. He went to
the county attorneys office and asked