Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-11-29
SPEND HONEYMOON IN JAIL.
Young Rocky Ford Girl Has Trou-
blous Start in Married Life.

Sundays Pueblo Chieftain contain
ed the following sensational story un-
der a Rocky Ford date line OF Satur-
day:
An elopemcnt and marriage this af-
ternoon caused an arrest this evening
and for time considerable excite
ment was created in one OF the well
known families OF the city. The
parties to the elopcment were Jewel,
the sixtccn-ycar-old daughter of s.
S. Sellers. and Charles Sparkes OF
Manhattan, Kansas.
A year ago the girl left home. and
for a time was in Manhattan, where
she met Sparkes.Y who is twenty-five
years old, and since her return a cor
respondence has been carried on be-
tween the couple. but without the
knowledge of the girls parents. To,
day by arrangement Sparkes arrived
here and little later in company with
Miss Sellers they went to La Junta.
where they were married by Justice
of the Peace George +. McCauley.
The age of the girl was given as six
teen. After the ceremony the happy
couple returned to Rocky Ford and
ut once went to the home of the
brides parents where the girl intro
duced her husband and stated that
she had come for her clothes. Her
folks, however. refused not only to
recognize the marriage. as they claim
ed it was illegal. hut also refused to
allow her to take anything from the
house. The couple then aplied to
Judge Fenlason and Officer E. Strong
was sent to the house with them
where he learned the girls age. and
LII Al. e. ~ al -
proposed an annulment of the mar
riage.
On the strength of the information
and at the, request of the brides par
ents the young man was placed under
arrest while the couple were at the
station. Sparkes protested that he
did not know that the girl was not
telling the truth regarding her age
and the girl still declared that she was
eighteen, proof to the contrary.
Through the efforts of the officers
who TOOK an interest in the young
man. an armistice was finally arrang-
ed and after consultation it was
agreed by the parents OF the girl that
if the young man could furnish proof
of his good charcter they would not
press the suit against him and they
would allow the marriage to stand
WITHOUT IuTtnCI interference.
Accordingly kilograms have been
sent to the mayor and sheriff at Man
haitian with whom Sparkes claims to
be well acquainted. and il they vouch
for his good charcter the couple will
receive the blessings OF the old folks
and will go on their way rejoicing.
But the first night will be never-to-
be-forgotten one in the mind of the
groom for it was spent in the Jail at
La Junta awaiting the answers to the
kilograms and the ride was taken to
her home Notwithstanding the fact
that she much preferred to accom-
pany her husband to Jail. q
S. M. Sellers. father Of the le-year.old
bride of Charles Sparks. visited La Junta
Monday and had talk with Deputy Dis
triet Attorney Wallis and before return
ing to Rocky Ford he swore out an in
formation against his son-in- law. the
charge being that he swore to the fact
that tine girl was l8. and asked that the
case be heard this Friday.
Much sympathy is expressed for the
young man from the fact that every one
who is acquainted with the case thinks
that he did believe that his wife was l8.
While she looks that old. the mother and
sister Of the girl declare that she is but
l6
While the telegram received from the
sheriff at Manhattan did not speak in the
highest terms OF the groom, it did not
state that he was any different from a
hundred young men in every town. who
when married have made the best Of hus
bands. He has never been arrested or in
any trouble.