The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-04
FREED By
ADVENT OF.
THE ST0RK
County Clerk Farrell
Refuses to Prosecute
Mrs. Laurisch
HAD TRIED TO
DESTROY RECORDS
Wanted knowledge of
Former Marriage
Kept From Husband


The stork hovered near the prose
cutor's ofice. Thursday morning.
II ancient tradition is TO Be be-
lieved, he carried In his bill the
first born Of family-and In this
case, 1t was family torn with dis
sension and petty jealousy.
Mrs. Trnestine LAurtsch had
spent the night In the women"s de-
tention station. on Canfield-Ave., be-
cause, in q desperate desire to keep
her mate by her side when their
first child came, she had gone to
the ONCE of County Clerk Thomas
Farrell. Thursday afternoon, and
had ripped from a record book the
page that told Of an earlier mar.
rage.
On this page, she believed. rested
the fate OF her home and her child.
for lawyers had come to Dstroit
from Lansing. to gain evidence
against her. The evidence was to
be used. they said, as foundation
for proceeding to annul her mar
riage to Otto Laurisch. She blames
the parents of her husband. who
live in Lansing, for the attempt 70
tear him from her.
She had lived through what II
known In books ~ . past" II
you would hear Mrs. LAurisch, with
her ebony hair and sad brown eyes,
tell about 1t.
81 was only II years old" she
said. MY mother wanted me to
marry man, because lN would
mean one less to feed. I did not
know--I knew. nothifhs of what III
means to be married. They said I
was II. and on that they drove me
from my homo to b the WIFE, OF .
man I did not like. When grew
old enough to learn what life II.
got q divorce. / wanted 70 forget
II. l married Oscar Laurisch. and
we were happy, until others came
in and made trouble. 1t was case
OF relatives interfering with US.
IL knew the lawyers had come to
look at that book. What would my
life be--and wha twould the life Of
my baby be-if they took the writ
ing on that one page. and because
OF that writing. took my husband
from me? II they would let him
alone, we could get along all right.
No. they must try to take him away.
I got the record. and while pre-
tended to read 1t. I stuck holes into
the paper Just below II, with .
pencil. When I had made holes all
the way across the page, tore Il
out and ran. got out Of the coun-
ty building, but the detectives came
later to my house at No. 10 VIII
kins.st.. and, they arrested not only
me but my husband
Laurisch was held az a witness.
Assistant Prosecutor Speed, who
heard the young wife's story, sum-
moned County Clerk Farrell to his
Office. II would DO necessary for
the county clerk to sign the COM
plant against the young woman.
Mutila ting a public record is a fen
only punishable by IA years i'm
prisonment
Better bring the husband over
too" said Speed.
Farrell and Laurisch came In al
most at the same time.
A hysterical cry came from the
lips Of the woman. who had stood
hack in the corner She swayed FOR
ward as her husband entered, and
fell Into his arms. Piufully, she
mumbled words Of endearment, as
she laid her head on his shoulder.
Laurisch held her close TO him.
You'll have to sign this COM
plant, II we prosecute her." said Mr..
Speed.
The silver-headed county clerk
looked UP at the ceiling. Perhaps
he had a vision OF tapping white
wings and precious little bundle.
He shook his head. and a. he
walked out, he said. mo, not III
wouldn't lend my name to a PROPOSE
,ion to send either one Of them to
a cell"
IL you want to know the truth.
fhe assistant prosecutor was quite
elated over this technical. yet merci-
ful neglect OF duty. He smiled at
the husband who held his wife to
him. and told both to 70 home, keep
prying relatives out Of their personal
family affairs, and live In happiness
for the sake Of the home they have
builded for themselves-and for the
little cne. who can be thanked for
their freedom when ne comes to
gladden. that home.