Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-18
WIFE WORKS FOR
DEFENSE MONEY
Mrs. ]. A. Woodbury., Formerly a
School Teacher, to Lose
All to Save Husband
HAS PLACE IN MAIN ST. STORE
Declares Cause of Mans Arrest a
misunderstanding Con-
Cerning Account

"I love my husband and will stand
by him to the last. Every cent 1 can
earn will go to free him."
Mrs. James A. Woodbury., girl bride,
whose husband is a prisoner In the
city Jail and is alleged to be ]. e. Mar
cell, notorious swindler, expressed her
loyalty yesterday in the first interview
she has given since he was arrested:
Woodbury. will appear for his pre-
liminary arraignment in police court
this morning. Mrs. Woodbury., in an
exclusive interview given The Herald
yesterday, related the story of her
meeting with Woodbury., and of their
brief courtship, which eliminated In
marriage January of this year, in
the parlor of the Hotel Hayward. The
Rev Charles E. Locke officiated at the
marriage.
PATHETIC STORY
Mrs. Woodbury's story Is one full
of pathos, and her appearance indi-
Gated the mental suffering caused by
the arrest of her husband shortly after
their marriage. Despite her grief, the
young wife asserted her belief that
her husband is not MARCEL, who is
alleged to have looted a bank at High
land, Kan, of thousands of dollars,
defrauded L. Degginger, merchant of
that place, out of $4,000, and to have
served a penitentiary term for en-
bezzlement in Chicago.
The young bride, in tremulous tones,
denied that Woodbury. is the MARCEL
said to have q wife and three
children in the Kansas town. She
frankly admitted she did not know
the record of Woodbury., but stated
that since their meeting in the little
town of Clifton, Ariz., where she was
employed as a school teacher, he has
been a faithful friend and husband.
That she knew but little of his bus
mess transactions she admitted, sim
ply stating he was always we'll sup
piled with money. She resented the
Inference that her husband might be
q bigamist.
Behind the courtship and marriage
of the couple lies a romantic story.
Mrs. Woodburys one great worry is
fear that her aged mother in Clifton
may hear of the trouble.
MET IN CLIFTON
= Although refusing to answer direct
ly, her talk intimated that her mar
riage to Woodbury. was without the
teaching school when Woodbury. ar
rived in Clifton to seek rest and
health. They met occasionally and
friendship soon ripened into love. In
December woodbury. came to Los An
geles, telling her he had to look after
business interests here. few weeks
later she received dispatch stating
her intended husband was ill. She
resigned her position as school teacher
and came to Los Angeles. Woodbury.
recovered rapidly from his illness, and
January the couple were married.
Their life, according to Mrs. Wood
bury. was one of happiness until her
husband was arrested.
at was prostrated," said Mrs. Wood
bury, when 1 realized my husband
had been taken from me and cast in
Jail. I knew nothing of law and
thought his arrest meant conviction.
cat the time of his arrest he had
some money, which I decided should
be spent for legal advice to free him
from the charges. He does not know
that I am working, for I have money
enough to live on, but every cent I
earn will go to free my husband, who
I love and will stand by to the last.
'It is simply a case of mistaken
identity, and I have learned his at
torneys are now on the trail of the
real MARCEL and will prove my hus-
band is not the criminal he has been
branded.
MISUNDERSTANDING
geles was a misunderstanding which
will be easily explained. AS 1 under
stand it, he was given to understand
by the Hollywood bank that his credit
was good, but when the check he gave
to the Whitley Jewelry company was
forwarded to the bank 1t would not
honor it.
"I only hope my mother, who is i'll
in Clifton. does not hear of this
INA
but 1 love Mr.. Woodbury. and will do
all in my power to have him released.
His health is poor and the confine-
ment will result doubtless in a COM
plete breakdown.
'I will appear in court this morn
ing to testify in my husbands behalf,
although I dread the ordeal, as I
never was in a court room before.
have made up my mind to sacrifice
everything, for 1 know my husband
loves me, and 1 love him. But this
strain and the separation has made
me a nervous wreck"
Mrs. Woodbury's dark eyes flashed
when she was asked her maiden name.
She would not answer the question,
for. she said, mother would then
surely know what had happened"
In concluding she said, MAKE it as
strong as possible that he is not Mar
cell or the man wanted in Chicago for
forgery"
Mrs. Woodbury. is working in store
in South Main street, but to patrons
of the place she is not known by that
name. She successfully avoided all in
terviews until yesterday.
Alone and friendless she is working
to obtain money to eXpend in the de-
fense of her husband. If Woodbury.
has a criminal record he certainly has
not told it to the young school teacher
who left her home and position to
come to Los Angeles and nurse him
during his Illness and then became
his wife.