CHILDREN WHO ELOPED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 9

CHILDREN WHO ELOPED

CONTRACTED A SECRET_MARRIAGE

The theory advanced by Dr Thomas Morgan Botch, professor at. Harvard University (U.S.A.) that mere years mean nothing when science endeavours to ascertain the real age of a boy or a girl, received a curious illustration last month in tho elopement in America of Milton Hahn, aged fifteen, and Paula Osterman. aged fourteen. The latter received permission to stay overnight with a schoolgirl friend whose parents were giving a ball. She took with her all her jewellery, worths about £SO, and £4O in caeh, but failed to appear at tho ball. She subsequently telegraphed to her mother from Boston : “DON’T WORRY; HAVE MARRIED MILTON.” Hahn’s parents were favoured with a similar message from him, and it -is stated that wnen he loft home. he took £»0 belonging to his father. Milton exemplifies Dr Rotch’e statement that “some children are far older at fifteen than those who are in years their seniors.” He is nearly six • feet high, weighs 12st, and might easily pass for twenty-one. When reporters visited Mr Hahn’s residence at Long Island they found the two mothers mingling their tears. The bridegroom’s father announced that he had' asked the police to arrest Milton lor theft.