Underaged Get Married

Walter Bastedo of Seymour Lake is to have a legal separation from his wife Myrtle Bastedo, and no divorce proceedings ere necessary either. Bastedo is 15 years of age and his wife, Myrtle DeMain, is but 13. They came here a week ago Monday to see the circus, at least that is what Bastedo's parents thought. Arrived here, however, Bastedo proceeded to the office of the county clerk and asked for a marriage license. He gave his age as 20 and that of his intended bride 18. When the clerk had finished making out the certificate, Bastedo sore that the contents were true to the best of his knowledge and belief. Armed with the marriage license, Bastedo joined Midd DeMain, and the two, accompanied by relatives of the bride, went to the office of Justice Linabury, where they were married. In the justice thought they were under age, he had no authority to state so as the couple had the necessary license. Mr and Mrs. Bastedo returned home and went to the residence of the bride, where they remained until Bastedo's father had made a complaint and Deputy Wellman arrested them. They were arraigned before Justice Snowdon, Monday, on the charge of unlawful intimacy, to which the plead guilty, and were bound over to the circuit court for trial. bastedo and Miss DeMain are probably the youngest couple ever married in this county. Bastedo is the son of a farmer at Seymour Lake, and lived at home. The bride is not so fortunate, her parents having been divorced and her mother married a second tim. The girl is alleged to have been left to shift for herself. She found a home with Mrs. Seeley of Seymour Lake, a daughter of Solomon Pratt of Orion. There is said to have been considerable ill feeling between the family to whom the girl made her home and Bastedo's parents, and that of the marriage was brought about by the Seeleys as a piece of spite work. He had been acquainted with her but three weeks. On the morning when he started for the circus, had but 75 cents, which was given him by his father as circus money. The rest of the funds necessary for the marriage and incidentals was supplied by the girls relatives.