Jeannett-Perkins Marriage 1904

JEANNETT, PERKINS

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 1/25/2012 at 08:50:19

From Pen to Paradise

JEANNETT-PERKINS

Though he was confined behind the dark walls of the State's prison at Fort Madison for nearly four years, Lucy E. Perkins of Bonaparte remained true to Emill Jeannett and became his bride when he was liberated at the expiration of his term Tuesday.

The home of Chaplain Jessup in Fort Madison was the scene of a quiet little wedding last Tuesday evening, a wedding with more than the usual tinge of romance in it, for the groom had just finished serving a term in the penitentary for the crime of forgery and the bride had met him upon his release to follow him to the alter. The man and woman were married and will leave this country for the husband's old home in Switzerland, and both are leaving behind them unhapy memories to find peace and happiness in a little home in the old country.

Jeannett was at one time a resident and merchant of Bonaparte, and while there met Mrs. Lucy E. Perkins. He befriended her when she was in trouble. Her married life was not happy and she learned to love the young Swiss.

Trouble came to Jeannett about this time. It was fiancial trouble. He forged a check, was apprehended, convicted and sentenced to serve four years in the State's prison at Fort Madison.

But Mrs. Perkins did not forget him, and her love for him remained true. She secured a divorce from her husband and then waited for Jeannett's release from prison.

He was libertated Tuesday evening, and she was the first to greet him as he came out into the world again a free man.

A marriage license was procured, with the assistance of the county attorney, T. H. Johnson, and the prison chaplain performed the ceremony making them man and wife. -- Gate City.

The above article from the Gate City is interesting to those who knew Mr. Jeannett and Mrs. Perkins. The Swiss lived here about one year five years ago and was a baker, painter, porter, etc. He was placed in the penitentiary for forging a check and presenting same for payment of board at McElroys in Ottumwa. Mrs. Perkins was then the wife of Ira Perkins who is now deceased.

Source: Entler Scrapbooks Collection, Vol. 3, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA

- - -

A PRISON ROMANCE

OTTUMWA COURT DECREE
MAKES COURSE OF TRUE
LOVE HARD

[hand written on article is "Feb 9 - 04"]

Emil O. Jeanette, Convicted of Passing
Forged Check at McElroy Restaurant
in 1900, Weds Mrs. Lucy E
Perkins After Delay of Four years.

The swinging open of the Fr. Madison gates behind which Emil O. Jeanette, a native of Switzerland, has been held for the past three years by an unrelenting decree of the Ottumwa court, has started a new chapter in the life history and the love story of this many and a women formerly Mrs. Lucy E Perkins of Bonaparte, but now Mrs. Lucy E Jeanette, of Fort Madison.

Emil O. Jeanette was the proprietor of a bakery in Fort Madison till about 1898, when he moved to Bonaparte, where he became acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Ira Perkins.

In several domestic difficulties which ensued between Mr. and Mrs. Perkins, Mr. Jeanette was instrumental in helping the wife, and a few months after at Ottumwa, aided her in procuring a divorce from her husband who was an habitual drinker and cocaine user.

Became Lovers.

Mr. Jeanette and Mrs. Perkins became great friends in Ottumwa and their friendship ripened into love until, finally, they mutually pledged themselves to each other.

Forged Check.

Before the marriage ceremony was performed, however, Mr. Jeanette's room rent at the McElroy restaurant where he was stopping [staying?] became due. Funds which Jeanette later claimed were coming to him did not arrive and to tide over his depleted financial condition he wrote out a bank check on the Ottumwa Savings bank, for $22, signed the name of C. Nelson and presented it to the late R. N. McElroy, Mr. McElroy questioned him closely but in the end cashed the check, giving Jeanette $18.50 and allowing the balance on the room rent due.

Mr. McElroy deposited the check in the Iowa National bank. It went to the Savings bank and was declared a forgery, and the hunt for Jeanette began. He was arrested by Officer H. C. Williams and it was soon learned that he had attempted to pass the same check and others on several Ottumwa business men.

A True Bill.

The grand jury under the foremanship of A. C. Davis returned a true bill and on November 3, 1900, after a vigorous prosecution by A. W. Enoch, then county attorney, Judge Eichelburger pronounced a four-year sentence upon him. He was taken to prison immediately, and his fiancee began her long and unsuccessful conquest to win his freedom.

All her efforts were of no avail, and even after leaving for the far east where she could maker her home with relatives, Mrs. Perkins continually made efforts to the governor of Iowa and hired intercedence to make her lover's incarceration as short as possible.

Divorced Husband Dies.

Ira Perkins, the divorced husband, upon being parted from his wife, went to the state of Washington where he has since died, and nothing stood in the way of the expectant couple except the insurmountable decree of the courts.

During the holidays Mrs. Perkins returned to Ft. Madison from New Freesport, accompanied by her little son Roy, a bright lad of nine years, and she has remained there since that time awaiting the discharge of Mr. Jeanette from prison.

Prison Doors Open.

Tuesday afternoon the prison doors swung open, a marriage license was procured and at 5 o'clock the happy couple were married at the residence of Rev. A. H. Jessup, chaplain of the penitentiary. It is stated that they will settle in Fort Madison for a time and will then go to Noraigue, Canton Neuchatel, Switzerland, where Mr. Jeanette's parents reside.

Source: Entler Scrapbooks Collection, Vol. 3, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA