The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-30
Capitalist Gets License to We'd
City Girl, Pursued Across u. S.
in Airbla11e and Train Race
Wedding of Mrs. Mcdonnell,
Clifton Springs (N. "
Man to Take Place Here.


The nationwide romance of Miss
Ruth Mcconnell, 27-year-old art
and music student and Kenneth B.
Coulter, 43, Clifton Springs, N. Y,
capitalist, was about to eliminate
today in marriage in Indianapolis.
The romance gained national pub
licity when Miss Mcconnell, just be-
fore Christmas, fed across country
pursued by Dr. d. o. Meeker.
Rochester, N Y, medical student, in
an airplane.
The couple was granted mar
riage license at the county clerks
Office at 5 p. m. Tuesday.
The couple was in seclusion today,
perhaps at the home of Miss Nc
Connell's father and step-mother,
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Earl McCon-
nell, 1923 Broadway.
1t is believed they will be married
at this residence some time Thurs
day. Miss Mcconnell told marriage
license clerks they planned to be
married Thursday and that they
had wanted to be married by "a
Rev. Roberts, who does not live
here"
Reporters Are Threatened
Reporters who called at the Nc
Connell residence finally diven off
with threats that police would be
called.
The chase which first attracted
attention to Miss Mcconnell and
Coulter, started about Dec. 20 when
Miss Mcconnell suddenly left a ho-
tel in Rochester, N. Y, where she
had been staying and took train
for San Francisco.
DR.. Meeker, friend of both the
girl and Coulter, started to chase her
by train but was so far behind that.
he chartered airplanes. The girl
won the race, because the doctors
plane was forced down in Nevada.
Conflicting Reports
Conflicting reports as to the rea-
son for the chase were given. It
was intimated that Coulter was the
girls uncle or guardian. The girl
denied this, asserting to a Pullman
conductor that she was going to
San Francisco to teach music be-
cause she did not want to marry
Coulter, according to dispatches.
Subsequently the girl was re-
ported to have come to Indianapolis
to spend the holidays with the par
ents, but the Mcconnell home was
closed and neighbors said Mr.. and
Mrs. Mcconnell had gone away for
the holidays. {
A few minutes before Tuesday
! afternoon a well-dressed man,
about 35, appeared at the license
bureau and asked how late the Of
flee would be open. He left when
told the closing hour was 5.
Makes Marriage Application
A few minutes later Miss McCon-
nell came in. She was beautifully
dressed, with a rich, light fur coat.
She appeared both healthy and
happy, clerks said.
With a sparkle in her eye she
asked H. Lineback, license clerk, for
an application blank.
what for, are you going to be
married?" Lineback asked.
YES" replied Miss Mcconnell,
smiling. "We wanted to get the
Rev. Roberts to perform the cere-
mony, but he doesn't live here. We
want to get married here the day
after tomorrow"
She started to fill out her blank.
Shortly the clerks noticed two
attendants, one of them the man
who had inquired about the Office
hours, pushing a plain, black wheel
| chair into the room. Coulter sat
in it, clad in a dark overcoat and
black derby hat. He was nervous,
the clerks said. He was described
as having very broad shoulders and
being dark. He ordered the party
about as if being used to exercising
authority, the clerks said.
With Coulter and his attendants
were Mr.. and Mrs. Mcconnell,
Both FIJI Out Blanks
Miss Mcconnell had filled out
her blank and handed one to Coul-
ter. One of the attendants asked
if he wanted him to write the an
swer for him, but Coulter answered
sharply;
mo, can do that myself
Coulter's handwriting was sIlaky.
Coulter turned to Miss AGcConnell,
who stood with an arm across the
back of his wheel chair, and askedl
well, what shall I put down as my
occupation?"
"You do have several, don't you.
Wouldn't you put down your rail-
way connections?' she snuggled.
Coulter wrote, Railroad treasurer"
License Is Issued
Then Coulter asked to see Miss
McConnell's application
Il want this filed out right. he
remarked.
Miss Mcconnell had written the
naLae of ner step-mother in place
of her own mother.
Coulter pointed this out and his
bride-to-be changed it to that of
her own mother