OCR Text |
Show IS UNDER LEGAL AGE .With long, dark curls down her back, her rosy cheeks flushed with embarrassment embar-rassment and leaning on the arm of the man she hoped to marry, pretty Edna McGowen, looking to be about 12 years of age, appeared before County Clerk James Saturday morning and asked for a license to wed Ralph Dawson. Mr. James was fearful of the age of the girl, which was given as 14, and refused re-fused her a license, although she had the consent of the mother. He questioned ques-tioned her closely and found that she will not be 14 until Christmas. The couple came here from Silver Bow county, Montana, as It was impossible impos-sible for them to secure a license there under the State laws. When the license li-cense was refused here Dawson, who claims to be -'4 years old. and looks 25, became very abusive and threatened dire things to Mr. James, who replied by quoting the statutes forbidding the marriage- of a girl under the age ot 14. Dawson stated that he had consulted a firm of attorneys here before coming to Salt Lake and that they had assured him that he could be married here. He and Miss McGowen left the Clerk's office promising to return In the afternoon. Both admitted In the office that the father had withheld his consent to the marriage, but as the girl had the consent con-sent of her mother this would not be needed were she the required age. Mr. James stated that under no circumstances cir-cumstances would he Issue a license to the couple. |