The Washington times., 1922-11-03
SIX CHILDREN
ENMESHEO BY
WEDDING NET
Seven Other Couples May Be
Victims in Trial Marriages
Devastating School.
Copyright. I922, by International
News ServiCeD

News serviceD
LAFAYETTE, Ind, Nov. g.
Mary Alice Morehouse, sixteen
and pretty, one of the principals
in the Lafayette puppy love" trial
marriage circle, which already has
involved six school children IN
elopements and which is declared
to involve others, today told her
own story of the affair.
Mrry Alice has returned home
to the farm; her "ideal romance"
is shattered; "her man" has been
sent away.
Three Couples In Net.
Those already involved in the un-
usual burst of romance include:
Levan Cunningham, nineteen, ana
Alice Morehouse, sixteen, arrested
in a hotel in Bloomington Ill.
Glen Cunningham, seventeen
brother of Levan, and May ZufaN'
fifteen, cousin Of Alice Morchousa,
arrested in st. Louis, and to be
brought back to Lafayette.
Leonard Johnston, sixteen, arrest
ed in Kansas City. Mo, and Mabel
Cartwright, fourteen, arrested in ST.
Louis, with Glen Cunningham and
May ZufaI.
Seven Others Involved.
1t was reported in Lafayette today
that seven other couples, believing
Lafayette too tame" were in the
agreement to elOpe.
Mary Alice, back home, her hair
down, and wearing gingham
apron, told the story of the triple
romance in these words:
MARY Frances Zufall, who is my
cousin, and !, go to jefferson
school together. We Chummed with
Glen and Levan Cunningham,
with Levan. and Mary Frances with
Glen. We had decided TO get mar
ried and so we started 70 Kansas
City. The boys had jobs waiting
as clerks in a hotel
"Al four of us were to 90, but
Glen and Mary Frances backed out
at the last minute. And so on
until Tuesday afternoon. About
o'clock Levan and | left for Bloom
ington. We thought we'd get mar
ried there and then go on to Kan
sas City.
Four First I'm Scheme.
"At first there was to be no one
in the plan but the four OF us.
don't know how Leonard Johnson
and Mabel Cartwright Joined in.
We girls didn't know either OF them
very well. But / guess Glenn and
Leonard We're friends.
"Anyway, Mary Frances and Glen
evidently decided to risk 1t after all
We didn't expect TO meet them w
Bloomington at all. But we ana
rather think we'd see them in Kan
sas City" .,,.
Nary's mother interrupts: 1T
must have been that Cunningham
boys impetuosity. 1t was wasA I
It, Mary Alice?'
Carried Her Away"
"He just carried me away;
have only known him about
month" Mary replied.
Mrs. Morchouse sOhs Historically.
ct can't bear it; | cant bear 1t.
Mary Alice comfortcd her. She
looks like a grave-faved baby.
That's all there is TO It, she
said. I'VE signed the marriaC" con
tract that we'd live together for six
months and then get a divorce If We
wanted 10. and rcgistedcd At the
hotel in bloomington. And now I'm
back. Levan went to Kansas City
from Bloomington. And if he makes
And Mary Alice's eyes took on
dreamy look-and she seemed
strangely grown up.
In Pact Some Time
The remarkable pact, in which the
couples were pledged to trial mar
rage. was made some time ago, ac-
cording to the girls. If the idea
didn't pan out-well, they'd just go
back to school.
When, on Wednesday morning, 1t
was found that six were missing,
mothers and fathers began making
a frcnzied search and, finally. CON.
municated with the police. Word
was flashed to nearby towns to
watch for the young couples. The
arrests resulted.
Several other couples, who agreed
to the pact. backed down at the last
minute, il was said.
1t was reported that James Sting
ley, another school boy, was origi-
nally Mabel Cartwright's partner.
His father, according to the story
told here, went hunting for him
Tuesday night, found him and or.
Aar,1 him most haGtn N bod