New Britain herald., 1914-08-21
POLICE SPOIL WELL
 PLANNED ELOPENENT
Factory Thief Was To Take Pretty
 kenSiIgten C,rl Away.
GIRLS MOTHER HELPED IN SCHEME
William Ragsdale of This City Wanted to Take Miss Marion Anderson to Attached by Factory.

Attached by Factory.
 Denied the hand of the girl he loved only to be thwarted in a plan to elope with her, William Ragsdale of this city. was obliged to disappoint his bride-to-be as she awaited him on a lonely road in Kensington Wednesday night and hurriedly skip town to avoid capture by the police, who were on his trail with a warrant for his ar rest on a charge of theft from Lan- ders, Frary and Clark's factory. The authorities believe that he Is still in this immediate vicinity and that he can be apprehended soon.
 Father Says "No.'
 Ragsdale. who had enjoyed the ac- quaintance of Miss Marion Anderson, pretty Kensington girl. for about three weeks, surprised her father, Charles Anderson, a Kensington store- keeper. when he called early wednes- day evening to ask if he might take her away to California as his bride. He stated his intentions of going to San Francisco for the purpose of set
 
 leave that very night on the long trip. Considering the short time that the young man had known his daughter, who is but twenty years old. the par ent answered in the negative.
 Mother Helps Elopers.
 Determined in his purpose, Rags dale then went to the girls home and pleaded with her mother that she give her consent to their marriage. It is said that she sympathized with him, and promised her help to a scheme for elopement. Accordingly, the prospective bride hurriedly packed her suit case and hastened down to spot near the railroad dam In Ken sington, while her groom-to-be came back to New Britain to get autom obile accommodation. He was to meet her there in very short time and they were to go away together. without the knowledge or consent of MT. An derson.
 Couldn't Get Auto.
 Ragsdale evidently had difficulty in getting an automobile in this city for he is said to have gone about Ken sington for some time in an endeavor to hire a vehicle lFate was against him. however, and probably learning that the police were ready to nab him. he decided to abandon the whole project.
 After waiting quite while, Miss Anderson despaired of his ever com ing to meet her and returned to be consoled by her mother. Her father became aware of the attempt yester- 1 called at his place for information about Ragsdale.
 He was told that the young man who wanted to marry his daughter had stolen cutlery from the Returned Goods department at Landers', where he was employed.
 It Is understood that Ragsdale called up Miss Anderson on the long distance telephone from Waterbury yesterday. explaining his inability to Anderson learned of the fact and notified the police immediately.
 Girl on Stage Once.
 Miss Anderson took up her resi- dence in kensington several months ago when her parents moved there from Hartford. She is quite pretty and took a musical part in New York Stock company some time ago.
 Ragsdale, who is about twenty-two years old. last reported for work at factory on Wednesday. His employ CTS attached an automobile which belonged to him, yesterday and found in it some of the goods which had been stolen from them.