Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-10
ARRESTED At ALTAR.
Startling interruption of
!. Marriage Ceremony.
DIR. +. B. MORSE ACCUSED
Charged With Obtaining $4o0 Under
False Pretenses.
PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE
Was About to Wed Miss Alice
O'Neill Of Baltimore When
9 HIS INNOCENCE
Was About to Wed Miss Alice
0'Neill Of Baltimore When
Detectives Appeared.


ing entered the house Of Joseph j. O'Nein
823 East Fort avenue. Baltimore, and
Interrupted q marriage ceremony that
was about to be performed by Rev.
Ephraim r. Tressel. pastor of St James
Evangelical Lutheran Church. DIR. Frank
lin B. Morse and Miss Alice O'Neiii were
the contracting parties.
: The detectives placed DIR. Morse i'm ar
rest. warrant having been sworn out
in this city yesterday afternoon by Will
liam N. Moore. a patent attorney. in the
Washington Loan and Trust Company
building. charging that Morse had OBJ
tanned $46O under false pretenses in con-
nection with the sale of a patent and
territorial rights Of dsnfectant.
Miss O'Neill thought the detectives were
friends OF her prospective husband and
rude intrusion. thinking they merely
wanted to speak to the groom.
i've got to go with them" said Morse
after brief conversation with the detec-
tives.
The Bride Faints.
Then the bride-elect tainted and her
mother screamed. Rev. Mr.. Tressel, who
was standing in front Of the couple with
his prayerbook open when the detectives
entered, closed his book and stepped back
and friends who had assembled to wit
ness the marriage ceremony pushed for
ward to demand an explanation Of the
conduct of the detectives.
Miss O'Neill was carried to an adjOin-
ing room and restoratives given. She re-
turned to the parlor and saw DIR. Morse.
He was willing and anxious that the
marriage should be performed, but Mrs
ONeill and her daughter were CRYING and
were in no condition to discuss the mat
ter. The mother was angry. charging
that the doctor had brought disgrace
upon the family, but the doctor asked
that she await the result Of his trial.
II am innocent" he shouted. This is
an outrage. Let me marry the girl; I
love her. and tomorrow you will know
am innocent"
Miss O'Neill. who was in an almost
daxen condition. hesitated when DR..
Morse asked that the ceremony be per-
formed, but finally she swooned and hal
to be carried to the dining room. DIR.
Morse had the detectives call taxicab
and take him to police headquarters,
seeming to be anxious to get away from
the curious throng outside as quickly as
possible.
Morse Protests Innocence.
In the cell at police headquarters In
Baltimore last night the physician was
visibly affected as he told how the de-
tectives had appeared at the O'NeilI
home and stopped the ceremony only
about three minutes before he would
have been married. He said:
II am not guilty Of the charge against
me and I will prove my innocence when
get to Washington. The whole thing is
the outgrowth Of Moore's misunderstand-
ing Of the contract. am sure that mat
tiers will be settled and that l will be
able to marry the girl
Miss O'Neill Is a delightful young
woman. and / am sorry she has to suffer
for mistake Of some one else. I am sure
they have confidence in me and that after
the whole matter has been sifted l will
be able to have the ceremony performed.
Our plans. will then be executed as they
were to have been tonight"
The courtship.
age. it was said in Baltimore last night,
first met Miss O'Neill. whose age is Civ
en- as nineteen years, in New York about
a year ago. The young lady was favor
ably impressed by his hearty laugh and
kind and persuasive manner and the two
became friends.
Miss O'Neill, who Is a woman of strik-
ing beauty. was taken automobiling by
DR.. Morse and shown the sights of the
city. and he had every appearance Of be-
ing man of wealth. When she returned
home the doctor followed shortly after
ward, registering at fashionable hotel
and paying frequent calls at the O'Neill
home.
Finally the question Of marriage was
discussed and settled. Extensive prepa-
rations for the event were made and the
couple had arranged for a trip west as
far as the Pacific coast. Trunks were
packed and sent to the station. Outside
the house last evening stood a beribboned
bridal carriage, while in the house the
guests had assembled, but the appearance
of the detectives caused an indefinite
postponement OF the event.
Moore's Charges.
Mr.. Moore went to Baltimore yesterday