The Detroit times., 1910-10-24
MARRIED FILIPINO
+, GIRL TO sAvEL|FE,
SOLDIER SAYS
spaaiard Who Fought Against
Dewey at Manila, Than Joined
American Army, Tells Dramatic
Story Of Wedding.
: Never Lived With Bride and Court
After Hearing Tale Grants An
Annulment.

An intensely interesting tale OF the
eourtship and marriage OF Thomas
! moraIeS q Spaniard who fought IN
the spanish navy against Dewey n,
Manila bay, and later Joined The
american army and helped drive the
spanish out OF the Philippines. was
told In Judge Rohnert's court, Satur.
day morning. when he appeared 10
have his marriage with Julia Lorenzo
Morales was born In Malaga. Spain,
ana At az early age joined the Span.
Ism navy He was assigned to yes.
pei IN the heet at Manila. and was On
one or the Inflated vessels anchored
IN the harbor when Dewey sailed in.
Morales was captured, and held az a
prisoner OF war. On his promise to
join the American army he was re-
leased, and fought throughout the bal
ance OF the war against his fellow.
countrymen. he says. He was trans.
fsrred to Fort Wayne with his regi.
ment, the 26th Infantry. in July, 1909.
and has been In Detroit since that
time.
Morales says that, In common with
the rest Of the soldiers. he paid at.
tention to Filipino girl, AMI spent O
great deal OF his spare time In her
home. This, he said. was known and
permitted by her mother without re-
monstrance, but he says nothing was
ever said about marriage. He went
TO see the girl as usual one beautiful
evening In June, 1908, and along about
Eaidnight, when he was entertaining
her with tales OF his prowess on the
battlefield. the door was burst open,
and In rushed the girls mother armed
with club. her brother carrying a
bolo. and her brother-in-law flashing
a large pair Of shears The bolo, Mo-
ia,es explained, Is q long-bladed knife
with which the natives do great exc
cation IN battle.
The men seized me-" Morales de-
clared dramatically. "and told me that
unless married the girl Mt dayhreaK
they would kill me. was sick with
fear because l knew they would do II.
Fiiipinos think nothing OF piungins
those knives into a mans back. ana
tc save my life / promised 10 marry
her at daybreak. The next morning
VIC were taken to the church aud were
roarried, but l never lived with her
afterward. They also made me- sign
paper giving to my wife part OF my
wages from the government, but after
the officers had investigated the case
they took II away from her"
II understand those Filipinos are
pretty girls" Judge Rohnert said ban
80 $1,000 ere. mol. y the little
soldier EXCLAIMED excitedlx They
are not a. nice az our Detroit girls.
I intend TO make this my home ana
get married here"
II suppose you Spanish soldiers
cheered when Dewey came into
ManilaT :,
mo we didn't, We fought as hard
an we could. but Il did no good"
Two companions Of Morales told
what they knew OF the marriage.
They were not present at the cere-
mouy. but both remembered that on
the morning following the threats,
Morales came into . the barracks
trembling with fear, and told what
had happened.
Judge Rohnet granted the petition
and annulled the marriage on the
ground that II was brought about by
threats.
Other DEGREES granted were TO Der.
tram We. George Johnston. cruelty;
Antoinette ys. William ID. Rumsey. de-
sertion; Lillian va. Emil Hirt, deser-
ton: Mary Va. James Ash, drunken
ness and nonsupport; William W..