The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-31
FIGHT FOR A BRIDE
SteVens-Peters0n Contest Grows
i'm Interest.
Mother Files a Affidavit Reflect
ing on Daughter.
SHE LOCKED HER UP.
Following Divorce Sent Her to
House of Good Shepherd.
Says Couple Should Be in Re-
form Schools.
SHE LOCKED HER UP.

In a counter affidavit filed today
Mrs. Margaret A. Stevens urges the
court 10 send her misguided daughter,
Mrs Annie Peterson, to the industrial
school for girls and brands as a false
hood the sensat ationa1 charges made by
the child-bride against the mother
Following charge by Mrs. Stevens
divorced daughter that she had been
driven from the home of her birth, the
mother retaliates with the reply that
she consented TO her daughters pre-
mature marriage only to protect the
divorced husband from a statutory
charge. BY insinuation and innuendo.
the mother in her answer connects the
name of the daughter with that of
other men since the granting Of the
decree in Judge Dana's court
Mrs Stevens denied that she drove
the girl from her home. She denies
that she slept on the lawn. or in u c.ial
shed, or that she was told to seek
life of shame. Instead Mrs. Stevens
said the daughter was seen in the home
of other men on the nights in question
and that Annie left the home OF 1er
own motion
In referring to the Clarence Johnson
affair, Mrs Stevens admits that Mrs
Peterson received $50 from Johnson
with which to prosecute the divorce
proceedings against her b0y-husDand-
But Mrs Stevens denies any ~onnee-
tiOn with this transaction She denfeS
that she wrote the letter to Johnson,
promising him her daughters hand in
marriage If he would furnish the fun Is
with which to secure a divorce decrees-
In fact the mother says her daughter
has orrespOnded with Johnson for two
years and that Johnson may be able to
produce some of Annie's love messages
in court if she were subpoenaed- Mrs
Stevens admits she has even proceeded
so far as to ask Johnson to come to
Topeka and bring her own daughters
letters with him that they eulighte1
the court
The Oakland woman also takes a few
raps at young Peterson. her erstwhile |
in which she advises the |
slept until 10 and II O'Clock |
in the mornings and refused to work. /
There is abundant strong language in |
Mrs. Stevens reply TO the daughters |
story She denies she interferei in the /
domestic affairs of the daughter and /
5or-in-latv Or advised. Annie TO sue for /
divorce.
'.Affiant has read the affidavit of |
plaintiff of August 30" reads q portion
# the affidavit. that the same are a /
mass of falsehoods- It is true that |
Johnson sent to affiant the sum of $50, |
hat same was sent at the solici alton /
IF plaintiff and contrary TO wishes Of /
affiant. 1t is untrue when plaintiff /
states that she never wanted A divorce |
rom defendant. Affiant says that /
lverment in defendants affidavit rela- /
i've to marry plaintiff to said Clarence |
Johnson is a lie out of the whole cloth /
"On account of plaintiff being incor- |
igible. she took her to Kansas City, |
md placed her in the Home of the
food Shepherd in that city. That af- |
liant kept plaintiff there until intimida- /
r-=- !
iuaiutances of defendant, that unless /
he took the girl out of the home. af- I
liant would either lose her life or she /
would go TO the penitentiary and that I
$50 was put up to get her out and /
her 10 defendant.
1T is untrue that affiant turned I
1aintif out Of her home on the even
ng of August 2s, or that she told her
lever to come back, or that she told
er to make her living by immoral
ra actfces Affiant denies that plaintiff
lad TO stay in the yard all night and
Informed that she stayed at the home
f enc Unterberger or Hunteroerger,
hat the Informant was plaintiff her
elf. affiant AYERS that plaintiff did not
tay in a coal house the second night.
hat early in the morning following
he second night affiant is informed that
laintiff was seen at the home of de-
endant's father arrayed in a white
vrapper- Affiant is further informed
hat plaintiff admitted TO the county
OF Shawnee county that ner
fidavit was untrue in that respect
s to her staying out two nights
Plaintiff is still a minor and afflant
rilI not consent the decree being set
side. that it viii be more TO the in
crest and benefit of both plaintiff and
efendant if the one was sent to the
Industrial school for girls and the 9TH
7 to the reformatory. That atlantis S
onsent to the marriage was given in
ne first instance rather than prefer
ing a statutory charge against the
defendant. That prior to commencing
he divorce proceedings plaintift had
f7ant go to the county attorney with
.er to see what could be done with
defendant as he would not work
When the counter AFFIDAVIT was pre-
ented TO Judge Whitcomb this morn
ng, he consented that If an agreement
vas reached BY the attorneys that the
ase would be passed until Judge Dana
eturns from his vacation The for
aer hearing was held in Judge Dana s
ol1rt ana the complication of counter
harges in the case presents a tangled
iroblern for the courts to solve
n