The Detroit times., 1910-06-13
BECOMES EXILE TO
WED Sham OFFICER
Hartford Girl Marries on Condition
That She and Her Husband
Leave City Forever.

HARTFORD. June i..-Nevermore
may Miss Annie Louise Behner enter
the city OF Hartford. where she was
born and grew TO young womanhood.
She became an exile for love. and for
ever shut herself out OF the place as
ISOLATED with the happiest memories
OF her life. when she was married
today TO John NJ Shew. alias Lieu
tenant Coke" u, s. n.
Only on the grim condition that she
and her husband should depart from
| Hartford Immediately and never re-
turn again would her foster-father,
Louis Behner. a prominent insurance
man. consent TO their marriage. As
| she Is minor. the consent OF Mr..
Behner was required before the cere-
mony could be performed.
With the prospect OF criminal
prosecution for the alleged abduction
OF Miss Behner three years ago, Shew
consented to the proposal OF Danish
ment from Hartford. Miss Behner also
accepted the agreement.
The marriage was the conclusion Of
an elopensent in 1907. No sooner had
ner began a search for them. which
covered the nation.
Eiude Police Of so citIes.
He declared that Shew would In all
probability abandon the girl and that
he was determined that he should sui
fer for his acts. Fleeing from place to
place, the young pair outwitted the
police of fifty cities and towns, and
remained at liberty until about three
months ago. when Shew was arrested.
Miss Behner was taken back home.
and despite the attitude OF her STEP
father, still continued loyal to Shew.
Mr. Behner was determined that they
should never marry. and continued in
that frame Of mind until today. when
he decided TO cast the girl out Of his
life IL she still insisted on q marriage.
The story of Shew and Miss Behner
Is as strange az fiction. About four
years ago Shew, who has been q
soldier OF fortune. arrived In Hart
ford. He was rather q dashing sort
OF man. and readily made friends. He
did not appear to work hard. but al
ways had sufficient money for his
needs. and attended many receptions
and balls.
At one of the affairs he met Miss
Rehner. Her family was of some social
prestige, and the attentions Of the
young man to Miss Behner were op-
posed by her father, who said that
he was not equal TO her In social
station and that she should not en-
courage his attentions.
shew's Wonderful Tales.
To help his suit. Shew had posed
States Navy and went under the
name of Coke. He said he had partici
pated In revolutions In Hayti. had
been q spy In Spain. and his life had
been filled with as many adventures
as that of Othello. His tales OF wal
and conquest won the heart Of Miss
| Behner.
1.-The idea OF posing as a naval lieu
tenant" said Shew yesterday, FIRST
came to me In Boston. I had served in
the Naval Reserve during the Span
ish war and served on the vicksburg.
One day, after the war was over.
made a bet with friend that could
impersonate q naval ofncer without
detection.
After I had procured a uniform
went aboard the United States ship
Missouri My former service In the
navy enabled me to use the names of
! officers fuently enough to uphold the
sham. and I won the bet. I went un.
der the name OF Lieutenant Coke. and
whenever l paraded as a naval officer
after that | used the same title and
name"
Just before Shew left Hartford.
three years ago. the police got after
him, and IL was for that reason he
fed He was accused Of forgeries and
misrepresentation OF various kinds.
The authorities at Salem, Mass.
said he had once served q prison term
there and that he had also posed as
Lieutenant Arthur p. Capehart and
Lieutenant A. 8. Grimshaw. OF the
navy.
The charge OF abduction on which
Shrew was being held was nolled yes
terday by States Attorney Alcron
and after the wedding the couple left
Immediately for Montreal. where
Shew says he will run roof garden
II was In Montreal that they were
captured q few months ago.