The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-11-27
.::1ARDON BOARD TO
INVESTIGATE arrest
Of BOY HUSBAND

VI WI SBOVOSuSU
WIN. McBAIN, 20-YEAR-OLD LAD,
SAID TO HAVE BEEN RAIL-
RoADED TO THE PENITENTI-
AIRY THRU EFFORTS OF BLAKE
Bismarck, N. D., Nov. "a. = The
state pardon board will probably hold
an emergency meeting early this
week to try and undo the travesty Of
Justice that branded William McBain,
20, criminal for seeking in the only
way he knew to shield the honor Of
his child bride, Margaret McBain, 16.
Seldom has a town ever been arous-
ed over a criminal case as is Fessen-
den over what it's citizens term the
fragrant injustice visited upon the boy
McBain. and his pathetic little girl
wife.
McBain met and fell in love with
the girl who afterwards became his
wife in Saskatoon, Canada, two years
ago. Late last summer, her parents
refusing to consent to the marriage,
claiming that the daughter was too
young, the two eloped and went to
Fessenden. There McBain's relatives
refused to sanction the marriage on
the ground that he was too young. The
two lovers then went to Moorhead,
Mimi, but were refused marriage Ii
cense there.
In despair McBain, it is said, secur-
ed drugs to avert the disgrace that
was threatening his wife. A few
weeks later the pair went to Crooks
ton, Mimi, where license was obtain
ed and they were married last Octo-
Der. After the wedding McBain and
his wife made their home with Henry
McBain, the husbands brother.
Their happiness was short lived.
Blake heard of the case and swore out
warrant for the boy husbands ar
rest.
Wednesday, with the sheriff of the
county, he went to the McBain home.
The weeping little girl was taken into
custody first by Blake himself. Then
the sheriff arrested McBain, who was
working in nearby field. The hus-
band was hustled into the front seat
of the waiting automobile with the
sheriff while Blake sat with the wife
in the rear. The two, it is said, were
not allowed to speak to each other.
McBain was not even permitted to
comfort his wife, who was sobbing
and pleading with the officers not to
take away the man she loved and with
him all the happiness she had in the
morld.
At Darlington, McBain was hurried
away to Jail without, it is said, being
allowed even to kiss the broken-heart-
ed girl goodbye. From Darlington he
was taken to Valley City. 1t is said
that he was told by Blake not to en-
ploy an attorney and to answer with
out attempt at defense all the ques-
tions that were asked him. McBain,
a poor farm boy, ignorant of court
procedure and half distracted with
grief already, obeyed Blake without
question.
Judge Coffey was summoned to a
room at Valley City hotel where
McBain was held under guard and
there held a temporary court. The
district attorney read the complaint
aloud to McBain and he, needing
Blake's advice, it is said, made admis-
,sions that were construed into a plea
Of guilty and he was sentenced to an
indeterminate term in states prison.
The Blake turned his attention to
the grief stricken girl wife. No
attempt was made to show that she
had committed any offense. There
was not even the formality Of a court
trial. Blake, it is said, simply told
her that she must 60 back to Canada,
ordered her deportation and she was
taken from Darlington to Portal,
where, sick at heart, she waited to
hear from the boy husband that the
law at first refused to let her have and
later snatched from her arms to pris-
on without the opportunity for even a
farewell caress
The authorities have succeeded in
securing the return of the young girl
wife who had been tdeported to Cana
da, and she is now with her husbands
relatives at Fessenden.
Mrs. McBain has written a letter to
the governor in which she appeals for
y the return Of her husband.
There never has been a parallel
case in the history of the state, and