Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-07-11
BRIDE GOES HOME
Wedding IS OFF
"Uncle' of Girl Was "Busi-
ness Man," But Pine
Bluffian Baked.
HE DEMANDED $4,000
]. w. klien Believes He Had Narrow
Escape Stewart TO
the Rescue

For once in the history of Pine
! Bluff, Dan Cupid was rudely shocked
and sadly thwarted in his mission by
/ the almighty dollar yesterday after
noon, causing the prospective bride
to take her departure for Chicago on
Cotton Belt train, while the near
groom is Retrospective meditating
on the frailties OF mankind and con-
graduating himself upon his narrow
escape.
The bride-to-be, Miss Minnie Gelb-
haus, whose home is in Chicago, ac-
companied by her uncle" Harry
Kirschel, arrived in the city
Tuesday afternoon, il response to
letter from J. w. Klien. of No. 1l3
East Fourth avenue, the prospective
groom, but their arrival marked the
beginning of the ending.
1t appears that Mr.. Klien. who hasl
reached the half-century mark or
beyond, while in Chicago recently
| buying goods, was introduced to
professional matchmaker" who in
troduced him to a charming young
widow, but unfortunately the young
widow was encountered with hus-
band, who strenously objected to her
| marrying Mr.. Klien, just at the pres
ent time at least Mr.. Klien waived all
rights and titles in the premises and
| returned to this city. Soon after
his arrival he received a letter from
the matchmaker, bearing the good
news that young lady. Miss Geld
haus, aged 10, was anxious to cor
respond with him, to the end that
| they might be married. A letter fol-
| lowed soon after, and after receiving
photograph OF the lady. Mr.. Klien
| invited her and her mother to come
| to Pine Bluff, and if all conditions
were found to be satisfactory, iproms-
ed the ceremony would be performed
| at once. Since the mother was ill,
Miss Gelbhaus wrote that she would
! be accompanied by her uncle" and
the couple arrived promptly on the
tickets furnished by Klien.
Immediately on their arrival in
this city, the uncle" told conflicting
stories of the relationship, and de-
manded the sum of $4,000 before per-
hitting the loving couple to be wed.
| If size could be considered as desIr>
| able in a transaction of this sort,
| the price was below the market quo
| tation, as the young lady tipped the
scales at 800. Mr.. Klien countered by
offering to pay the amount demanded
If, after the ceremony, his bride liv-
ed with him for a period of one year.
Mr.. Kirschen, the uncle" demurred
to this and offered as a compromise a
note for $4,000 to be signed by Mr..
Klien, after which the wedding might
proceed. BY this time Mr.. Kliea decid-
ed that the course of true love" was
not running just as smoothly as 1t
should so he declined to sign the
note.
! Then it was that Uncle" showed
his hand. He accused Klien of at
tempting to violate the Mann white
slave" act, and threatened legal pro-
ceedings, going so far as to call on
Judge Philpot. Here Chief of Police
Stewart entered the case-and very
promptly put a stop to new and
rather refined form of black-mail, by
informing uncle that he would wire
the Chief of Police at Chicago, asking
for information as to the relation
ship of uncle" and the young lady
and other questions pertinent to the
case. 1t was just at this time that
uncle" manifested an anxiety to re-
turn at once to Chicago, and under
the circumstances Chief Stewart
thought this the best solution of the
trouble.
The couple left yesterday afternoon
for Chicago, Mr.. Klien furnishing the
ticket for Miss Gelbhaus, but Kisch-
Ell was forced to buy his own ticket.
Mr.. Klien, while not confined to
his room by grief at the loss of his
bride. is suffering somewhat from
shock and will no doubt be very eau
tious in his next "affair OF the heart"