The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-03
Man Who Would Be Father OF
Unborn, Thwarts Judge.
Carries Adams Girl Away to
HOItOn and WedS Her.
FAMILIES ARE CONTENTED NOW
No More Efforts to Make Boy
Marry Unfortunate.
Assault Case Against Read and
Adams Is Ended.

William Wood made good. When
he offered to square everything up
between the Adams and Read families
by wedding 16-year-old Mary Adams,
thereby giving a name to her un-
born child, Hugh MacFarland, judge
of the probate court, said no. He re-
fused to issue a license. But little
thing like that did not deter Wood.
He simply took Mary and went to Hol-
ton where the probate judge of Jack
son county joined them in the holy
bonds of matrimony October y.
Wood is a sort of modern Damon
but the identity of his Pythias has not
been disclosed Mary Adams tried to
make a "Pythias" of young Eugene
Read. but he wasn't interested. Even
when his father. Repps Read, and
Mary Adams's father went TO the trou-
BILE of buying marriage license Tor
him and Mary he held back. AS they
continued to be urgent, using revol-
yer as the principal urge, he arose to
the full height of his 16 years and told
Father Read and Father Adams where
to get off
Mary Adams said Eugene Read was
responsible for her condition. Eu-
gene said Mary was anything but
truthful girl. Repps Read said Eu-
gene was responsible. Eugene told
the county attorney that his father
was responsible for Mary's CONDITION
and was trying to LAY it onto him.
He swore to a complaint charging his
father and William Adams. father of
the girl, with assaulting him.
Cuffs and Kicks.
Eugene declared Read and Adams
hunted hir1 up one dark night about
two weeks ago. and with cuffs and
kicks and a revolver they drove and
led him over to Oakland before j. p
Williams, justice of the peace He
declared they had Mary Adams and a
marriage license and that they threat
ened him with various things if he
failed to stand up with Mary and per-
nit Justice Williams to perform the
ceremony. The boy baked and when
Justice Williams learned of the cir
cumstances he refused to give his
services
That ended proceedings that night
but the next day the boy hunted up
an aunt and uncle and reported at the
court house. He presented his case
to the county attorney and an investi-
cation disclosed that the marriage Ii
cense had been issue by the probate
judge.
Wood Dropped In.
Then the mysterious Wood put in
his appearance No one appears to
know from whence he came. He just
dropped casually into the probate
judges office and offered to be the
goat.
IF it will straighten this matter
out" he said to Judge MacFarland.
III marry this Adams girl. ] haven't
any particular interest in the case but
there is no sense in all this trouble
Judge MacFarland tried to find out
more about him but learned only that
he had worked during the summer
IN Usage county and later up around
Wamego or st. Marys
Are you responsible for this girls
condition." asked the judge.
Not on your life" replied Wood.
Seven months ago 1 was working in
Usage county. 1 was there before
and after that"
well, what's the answer" said the
Judge. '1 '''e
He didn't get the answer and Wood
didn't get the license. Judge Mac
Farland Inquired that if Wood married
the girl that would end the case and
the guilty person would not be pun
ished.
Already Married.
Wood went away. The assault case
against Repps Read and William
Adams was set for hearing today in
the court of Topeka Robert Carver
was over In North Topeka looking up
witnesses and met Mary Adams
Say. Mary said Carver. Il wish
you would tell me why that man
Wood wanted to marry you"
Why, we are married." she replied.
What, said Carver, Il thought the
judge refused the license"
Without answering Mary went into
the house and brought out a highly
embellished wedding certificate, which
told its own story. It showed that
William Wood and Mary Adams were
married by the probate judge of Jack
son county October 81, at Holton.
Kan.
Il guess that settles it," said Carver
Wood was married once before and
is probably 25 years of age.