The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-17
GIRL, II, BLAMES
RIDES FOR RUIN
Gorge Ridge Has Ruined
Me-" Pretty 17-Year-0Id
Girl Declares.
AUTO RIDES THE CAUSE
Emma White, st. Elmo, Tells
of Fall, and Wedding to
Another Man.

george RldSe ruined my lie,
confessed pretty Emma White, of st.
Elmo, to Mrs. Rachel Marshal, police
matron, Wednesday morning.
The girl was picked up Tuesday
evening by Detectives Scott Swafford
and Tom Gillespie after warrant
had been sworn out for her arrest
She was registered on the police blot
ter, Hold for lewdness."
j. L. Gordy, a young man who re-
sides near st. Elmo, was also regis
tered at headquarters by Patrolman
Espy and Swafford and Gillespie on
| a charge of bigamy. Gordy gave
himself up.
Sensational circumstances sur
round the detention of Emma White
and Gordy.
The detectives are informed that
Gordy was forced to drink liquor un-
til he became intoxicated to the ex-
tent that he had little recollection of
what he was doing; that he was then
taken to Rossville by George Ridge
and others and married to the White
girl on a license which Ridge seI
cured, it is claimed
Not only is Ridge being sought, but
it was .intimated Wednesday morning
that several othefS arrests viii be
made in an effort to clear up the
circumstances.
The case is one Of the most sordid
that has yet come to the attention
of tho detectives, Atty,-Gen. George
w. Chamlee, Mrs. Marshal, and other
authorities.
George Ridge, who appears to be
the main factor in the plot to ruin
a girls life, has figured in other es-
capades iwth young women. Much
damaging evidence will be in the
hands of prosecutors when he is
brought to trial.
Mrs. Marshal questioned Emma
White at length and the girl finally
broke down and made confession.
She hung her head as she told her
story and sighed as if she were in
great distress.
Auto Rides Again.
She admitted that he had been TAX
ing her on automobile rides for about
a year and that she had had improper
relations with him on more than one
occasion.
She had been warned to stay away
from him, she said. At his door was
laid the sole cause for her downfall.
She told Mrs. Marshal her mother
had been good to her and wanted her
to live right, but that she felt her
mother was too strict on her. She
spoke Of her love for her mother.
Miss White charged that Ridge
made the proposal of her marriage to
Gordy.
George Ridge is not stranger to
the police by any means He has been
in police court on numerous occa-
sions, charged with violating the auto
mobile ordinances. He was prohib-
tied by Judge Martin Fleming more
than once from even running an auto
mobile on the streets.
Other Ridge Escapades.
A few years ago according to Mrs.
Marshal and others, Ridge figured in
another escapade with a we'll known
young girl.
Mrs. Marshall recalled that he went
with this girl and acknowledged that
he was the father of a child which
was born to her at the Crttenton home.
At that time the home was located on
shall related, accused Ridge Of being
the first person to wrong her and
charged that he made love to her and
promised to marry her, The kind
neafteu matrOn, VINO mas neaIu lne pa
thetc stories of many wayward girls.
took Ridges victim to the Crittenton
home. She said Ridge acknowledged
to her that he was the cause OF the
girls trouble. She was informed to-
day that Ridge was later forced to
marry the girl. but that later a divorce
decree ended the unhappy situation.
Other information is that second
divorce suit. with Ridge as one of the
principals, is now pending.
Aackett to Probe Well.
Chief w. H. Hackett gave the assur-
ance that the whole unfortlpate mat
ter will be thoroughly Investigated.
He said Miss Whites mother wanted
her detained for fear she might be
taken away again.
Atty. Harry F. Newton. who has been
engaged to defend Miss White. and who
is also the attorney for Ridge. stated
Wednesday morning in the Office of
Mrs. Marshall that he was informed
the girls people had not been good to
her.
From another source, it was learned
thhat she claimed she married to spite
her mother.
NJ. n. Whitaker, former attorney
general of Hamilton county, will pros
ecute Ridge, having been engaged by
the White family.
Mrs White was in consultation with
Atty. Gen. Chamlee for some time Mon
day afternoon and remarked that she |
intended to have the matter investi-
gated to the very bottom.
The preliminary hearing OF Gordy and
Emma White is set for Friday morning
in police court. Gordy's father. c. Z. |
Gordy, conferred with Judge Fleming
after Wednesdays session of the city |
court.
Later. Mr.. Gordy, who appeared to he |
considerably aGitated over his sons |
predicament said that Leonard came to |
Mrs Gordy a few nights ag oand told |
her to give him dollar as he was |
coming uptown to try to get out of |
trouble. Mr.. Gordv explained that he |
= sked his son to tell him the truth and |
the rnnnr man snid snnne Nn,inr, mn,