FLASHBACK: Bristolian Refused To Wed & Was Arrested

A regular feature looking back at what was being printed more than 100 years ago in the former Bucks County Gazette. This week’s entry comes from the April 1, 1910 edition of the newspaper.

Bristolian Refused To Wed & Was Arrested

Philip Lassen, a shoemaker from 543 Bath Street, was arrested last Thursday evening upon advice from Superintendent Timothy O’Leary, of Philadelphia, by Officers McLaughlin and Bloodgood.

The warrant for Lassen’s arrest issued upon the affidavit of Rebecca Balkery, 1115 South Sixth Street, Philadelphia, who alleged that Lassen had received $100 from her on the condition that he would marry her and that he refused to carry out his promise.

After Lassen’s arrest, Chief Saxton telephoned the central station in the city that he had the prisoner, and Friday Detective Doyle came to Bristol at one o’clock and he departed he 1:33 train for Philadelphia with the prisoner. There was no basis whatever for the sensational story which appeared in the city paper about Detective Doyle’s exciting chase. The prisoner was safe in custody when the detective arrived here.

The warrant on which the arrest was made charged Lassen with claiming from Miss Balkery $100 by false and fraudulent pretenses.

The promise to marry the prosecutrix on condition that she advance him cash lo help start a shoe store in Bristol. was admitted by all concerned to be a purely commercial transaction, all thoughts of love being eliminated. In fact, it was declared that the young man and woman did not meet until after the cash advance made and the marriage arranged. The detectives stated that Miss Balkery had two brothers in Bristol, and that they were acquainted with Lassen, who lived in the same town. Lassen said be was anxious to open a shoe store, but did not have enough money. They inquired how much he needed and were told $100 would do. They told him they had a sister in Philadelphia who had money, and who wanted a husband, and to the man who would promise to marry her she would advance sufficient money to start a store.

According to the story told by the detectives, Lassen at first said he would like to see the young woman before he agreed to marry her, but, he was anxious to close the deal for a store, he agreed with the brothers to marry their sister if they got him the $100. This they agreed to do, and Lassen admitted that he got the money and that it enabled him start the store. The following Sunday he came to Philadelphia, and young couple were introduced and a date was set for the marriage. Miss Balkery declared that the accused visit her every Sunday for the past weeks, but that he had not carried out his promise and had failed make her his wife as agreed. Lassen insisted that the time had not arrived for him to carry out his promise to wed. He claimed that the marriage was to take place later and he was ready and willing to marry the young woman on the day.