The Rock Island Argus

A SAD STORY.
A Mother and Unmarried--A Coroner's Inquest.

Saturday evening Coroner Hawes was called to Rapids City to hold an inquest on the remains of an infant that had died suddenly. The coroner impanelled a jury composed of: H. S. Shurtleff, foreman; H. B. E. Adams, P. F. Morgart, Lyman W. McLouth, Albert Lindstrom and J. A. Y. Paddock. The jury after listening to the evidence returned a verdict that the unnamed female baby there lying dead came to its death by congestion of the lungs, and no blame was attached to anyone for said death. The circumstances of this case are sad. A year or more ago a young man of Port Byron whose name we have been unable to learn met and fell in love with Ruth J. Chase, of Rapids City. The young fellow was only nineteen years old and the young lady but seventeen years of age. They loved each other devotedly, and finally the young girl forgot herself and yielded up all that is dear to woman to her lover. Three weeks ago the young fellow, who appears to have been perfectly honest and reliable, came down to this city and applied for a marriage license. He was asked his age and the age of his intended wife, as is customary in such cases. He told the truth, saying that he was but nineteen and the girl only seventeen years old. He had no father, mother nor guardian to give their consent to his marriage with Miss Chase, therefore a license was refused him. He was much dejected and asked how it would be if a fellow was compelled to marry a girl. He was told that that fact would make no difference. He must bring some one who could vouch for him being qualified to receive a marriage license. This the young man was unable to do and he returned to his home in Port Byron. About the first of the present month Miss Chase swore out a warrant for his arrest before Justice Shurtleff, of Rapids City, charging him with bastardy. This was done by the advice of friends. The young lady was given the warrant and she proceeded to Port Byron and finding her lover showed him the document. He did not know what to do. Getting on the train he accompanied her to Rapids City and on the way he explained to her the efforts he had made to secure a license to marry her. The girl's heart melted toward him and when they got to Rapids City she would not have him arrested. It seems that the young fellow consulted with some friends in Rapids City, and they advised him to "skip." This he foolishly did, deserting the girl who had trusted him to her sorrow. Where he went to has not been learned. On November 5th Miss Chase gave birth to a fine healthy female child, and on the 6th it died suddenly, hence the inquest. It died, it is said, of suffocation, although the jury returned a verdict that death was caused by congestion. The young lady is getting along very nicely, but the whereabouts of her seducer is at present unknown. Those who know him well say that he will return sometime and redeem his pledge to the girl he has wronged.