To Outwit an Angry Father Lanphere Courted Sweet
Bertha from the Boughs of an Apple Tree
Eloped by the Ladder Way
Distanced Pursuing Parent, but Was Captured,
to face Abduction Charge, for She is only Fifteen
New York Herald, September 1, 1897
Middletown, N.Y.: Love may laugh at locksmiths, but when Dan Cupid crosses the path of an angry father, he sometimes comes to grief, as gallant Myron Lanphere, a young farmer of White's Store, near here, will testify. [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY]
Myron, smitten with the charms of pretty fifteen-year-old Bertha Barr, a neighbor's daughter, induced her to leave her prison chamber by the ladder route, and although his steed distanced the Rosinante of the stern parent last night, he was arrested this morning to face the ugly charge of abduction.
Myron and Bertha have been sweet hearts for many months, but the course of their true love has not been smooth, because Frank Barr, the girl's father, believing that Bertha was o'er young to marry, angrily forbade the union.
Mr. Barr did more. He told his daughter that she must not meet her chosen sweetheart. The young couple eluded his vigilance until about two weeks ago, when he ordered her not to leave her room, on the second floor of the Barr homestead, in the evening, under pain of incurring his great displeasure.
Love is resourceful. Near Miss Bertha's window was a wide spreading apple tree, and when worthy Mr. Barr snored away in peace, gallant Myron, perched for hours among the topmost boughs, would breathe passionate vows of undying love. The romantic young girl, touched by her sweetheart's perilous position and his palpable devotion, at last consented to elope. That was on Sunday night.
When the good farmer was asleep last night Myron placed a long ladder against Bertha's window and hastily ascended. Taking his sweet heart in his arms, he carried her to the ground. A carriage was in waiting. The noise of its wheels bearing the couple away awoke Mr. Barr. Glancing out of the window he saw the telltale ladder.
The father, scantily attired, rushed for his stable, hitched up his best horse and started in hot pursuit. Lashing it to topmost speed, he at length came within hailing distance of the elopers. Then he shouted:--"Myron Lanphere, halt and give me back my daughter of I'll have you jailed." The bridegroom to be for answer applied the whip to his horse. Mr. Barr's beast tired, dropped behind and the young couple drove on several miles further, and after a vain search for a parson, registered at an inn as Mr. and Mrs. Myron Hoag, of White's Store. At daybreak they started again to hunt up a minister, but on the way met a Sheriff's deputy and the girl's grandfather. The officer arrested Myron on a charge of abduction The grandfather took Bertha to her home.
Norwich Elopement
Utica Semi-Weekly Herald, September 3, 1897
Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]: Frank Lanphere, 19 years old, and Bertha Barr, a girl of 15 years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Barr of Whitestore, arrived at the Palmer house after 1 o'clock on Sunday morning and registered as "Mr. and Mrs. Myron Hoag, Whitestore." They were assigned to a room and remained at the hotel until 10 o'clock Sunday morning, when they started to walk to Clarks Hollow, near North Norwich, where Lanphere has a sister living. Soon after the young man and his female companion left the hotel, J.R. Whitman, grandfather of the girl, arrived and solicited the aid of Sheriff Payne to capture the runaway boy and girl. The sheriff started after them and overtook them on the road, and they were brought back to Norwich, where Lanphere was locked up in jail and the girl was given into the custody of her grandfather. The girl's father arrived in town this morning, and consulted with counsel as to the advisability of making a charge of abduction against Lanphere. It is learned that the young lover had been paying attention to the girl for some time past and that the parents, not pleased with the outlook, forbid Lanphere coming to their house. But he was not to be prevented from seeing Bertha by stern parents, and he found a way to meet and court her by climbing a tree close by her bedroom window, all unknown to papa and mamma, and they planned an elopement. Cupid always provides someone privy to the transaction and a horse and wagon were provided to take the lovers to Norwich. Unfortunately they had no considerable amount of money, and after paying their hotel bill the prospective Benedict was minus cash, and attempted to sell an overcoat, but was unsuccessful. It was their intention after spending last night at Lanphere's sister's in Clarks Hollow, to go to Sherburne today and be married and then go hop picking to replenish their purses. Bertha Barr is refined in appearance and a very comely and well developed girl and the idol of her parents. By the death of a relative recently she fell heir to about $1,000, which is held in trust until she comes of age.
Another chapter in the Whitestore elopement case was added today, and instead of a forgiving papa, a blushing bride and a happy son-in-law, a much different aspect than first supposed is chronicled. Frank Barr, the father of Bertha Barr, who attempted to elope with Myron Lanphere, was in town today, and the examination of Lanphere was held before justice Hyde. The prisoner did not seem to realize his position , and in fact it is said that he is not over and above brilliant. Mr. Barr was stern and unforgiving and pressed hard the charge of abduction against Lanphere, and he was committed to jail without bail to await the action of the grand jury.
Rome Daily Sentinel, September 1, 1897
Myron Lanphere, the young man who ran away with Bertha Barr, has been held in Norwich to await the action of the grand jury on a charge of abduction. The liveryman, Beldin, who let the young man have the horse, has been arrested on a charge of aiding in the abduction, and his examination is set down for Sept. 2. The young lady maintains that she still loves the young man, and will yet marry him.
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