Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-14
Court Denies Urn OF
HabeaS Corpus in Prultt
Marriage C0mpAcatl0n

Judge John D. HUMPHREYS, Oh the
Fulton superior court, on Tuesday
took a hand in the tangled matri-
monial affairs of Mrs. Johnny Pearl
Pruitt Mains Davidson, the eighteen
year-old principal in one Of the
strangest situations that ever came
to light in Atlanta. Last Tuesday
she married Paul G. Mains, Of Miami,
Fla, after an elopement to Deca-
tur from her home at SO Mcdaniel
street On Wednesday she married
George B. Davidson, Of Atlanta,
life long sweetheart whose suit had
the favor Of the young 1ady's parents.
Shortly after the second ceremony
the bride was taken to the Fulton
county tower by deputy sheriffs who
served a habeas corpus writ. She
was released the next morning on an
order from Judge George L. Bell, to
whom the strange case was referred
for preliminary disposition.
So on Tuesday morning the much
married bride, her parents and Mr..
Mains appeared before Judge Hum
phries for a hearing On the habeaS
corpus proceedings taken out by
Mains in an effort to obtain possess
sion of his Ewife. He declared that
denied that he had a wife from whom
he had not been divorced, and
charged that his brides parents were
restraining her from joining him. His
attorney, Robert E. Church, was also
on hand, as was Attorney Ernest G.
Buchanan, representing Mr. and Mrs.
Pruitt, Sr.
The upshot of the whole thing was
that Judge HUMPHREYS denied the
application for a writ of habeas
corpus, remanded the young lady to-
the custody Of her parents and in
Fulton county until the whole matri-
monial tangle could be Strengthened
out.
Mrs Pruitt Mains Davidson, how
ever, declared emphatically that she
would not live with Mains as his
wife, refused to accompany him back
to his home in Miami and insisted
that she loved Davidson. She as
serted that she married Mains after
persuasion which overbalanced her
better judgment.
81 don't want to go to Florida
and live with Mr.. Mains" she de-
clared. 81 married him when
didn't know my own mind"
Steps will be taken Immediately toI
annul the marriage to Davidson, 1t
was stated by the young lady's par
ents, and then divorce proceedings
monial bonds forged at the Pruitt-
Mains Wedding. The marriage to-
Mains was legal and valid, Judge
HUMPHREYS ruled. although he indi-
Gated that he did not wish to be
placed in the attitude of prosecutor
on a charge of bigamy against any
of the parties involved.
prosecution for bigamy comes
within the jurisdiction of the solicit
tor general" said the Judge, "and if
anybody takes action in the matter,
he is the one to do it."
marriages have been dissolved, Miss
Pruitt says she will marry Davidson
all over again.
------~.- Mains Statement
In statement explaining his po-
sition in the dual marriage, Mr..
Mains said Tuesday: II first met
Miss Johnnie Pearl Pruitt on January
ing on the street in front of drug
store when she entered with a girl
friend She smiled to me and L made
a remark that 1 would like to meet
her. Later that night did meet
her at a dance, and 1 asked her if
copied and after the dance 1 accom-
panied her to the home of Mrs.
Hewitt, where she was staying.
"Following that night we met ev-
cry night except one. She never went
with any other young man in Miami.
On February II she was to leave for
her home in Atlanta on the 2:30
o'clock train in the morning. I called
for her with an automobile at 8
o'clock to go to a dance and she
suggested that we ride around, as
she said it would be the last night
we would be alone together. We
rode out into a suburb called Bilt-
more and stopped. She told me then
that she had dreaded the time when
she must return to Atlanta. She said
she loved me and wanted to be with
me. told her would marry her the
next morning if she wanted to stay.
She said she did not love Davidson,
but she wanted me, and said she
would stay.
1T gave her all the opportunity
she wanted to leave, taking her to
meet the 4:40, $40 and $50 trains
that morning. Each time she refused