Edward Browning Wants to Marry 15-Year-Old Frances Heenan, March 31, 1926

Man Who Tried to Adopt Poor Little Girl Wants to Marry Now. . . Edward Browning, Elderly and Wealthy New York Real Estate Operator Who Tried to Play Fairy Godfather to Mary Louise Spas, Now Plans to Marry 15-Year-Old Girl Who Was Attacked by Unknown Acid Fiend

New York, March 31 (AP)—Edward W. Browning, elderly and wealthy real estate operator, has again assumed a role in a “Cinderella” tale. This time, however, he is playing the part of the Prince, following his disastrous attempt to be fairy godfather to Mary Louise Spas last year. His secretary today confirmed reports that his engagement to Frances Heenan, formerly of Columbus, O., 15-year-old daughter of a trained nurse, will be announced this coming June when the new Cinderella reaches her 16th birthday.

Frances is suffering from burns on her face, the work, according to Mr. Browning, of “some fiend” who entered her bed room while she slept and threw acid on her. Eight detectives are searching for the malefactor and four nurses are attending the girl.

He refused to confirm his secretary’s admission of the engagement plans, saying “it is a question I can’t talk about at present.” He added that Frances was “a lovely girl—very refined.” Her mother, Mrs. William Heenan, expressed no surprise at the reports of a romance.

The physician, who attended Frances after the mysterious acid throwing, said the burns would not be serious and probably would leave no permanent scars. Mr. Browning said the matter of the scars is “unimportant anyway,” so far as his regard for his new Cinderella is concerned.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Thursday morning, April 1, 1926

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Reading this made me feel uncomfortable, so I decided to look for more information. How old was the “elderly” Edward Browning? He was 51, which I wouldn’t say was elderly, but would be too old for a 15-year-old.

What about the person who snuck into her bedroom and threw acid on her face? Did those private detectives ever find the person. No.

So did he ever marry her? Yes, and he didn’t wait for a wedding announcement on her 16th birthday either. Edward W. “Daddy” Browning, 51, married Frances “Peaches” Heenan, 15, on June 23, 1926. The marriage didn’t work and they separated within months.

Divorce wasn’t quick and easy in 1926. The divorce trial in 1927 was widely covered with the child bride accusing her husband of bizarre behavior, emotional manipulation and inappropriate conduct.

Before his present wife, Browning had tried to adopt a 14-year-old. He described wanting a “companion” who was “young, cheerful, and lively.” He gave expensive gifts to teenage girls. And he openly said he preferred the company of “young girls” to adult women.

If you’re a parent, how would you feel about someone like this wanting to date or marry your 14- or 15-year-old daughter? If you’re a young person, what would you think about a 51-year-old man who approached you like this?

If you’d like more information, you can read about Edward Browning on Wikipedia. There’s a section on his marriage to Frances Heenan and his the divorce trial. The Library of Congress’s Chronicling America project has articles on “Peaches Browning”:

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/search/pages/results/?andtext=Peaches+Browning (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov in Bing)

J.W. Bell Found Still, Both Eyes Shot Out, Left to Die, March 31, 1926

Raider Is Not Able to Stand Result of Wounds. .. Free Lance Dry Raider in New Hanover County Succumbs to Injuries

Wilmington, March 31—J.W. Bell, free lance dry raider of Wilmington, died in a local hospital shortly after noon today from gunshot wounds which he suffered while investigating the location of a whiskey still which he had discovered in a swamp seven miles from the city.

Bell was found lying in the swamp by Sheriff G.C. Jackson yesterday afternoon with both eyes shot out and his face horribly powder burned. He had been missing from his home fo over 24 hours when a search was instituted.

He is believed to have been shot down Monday afternoon while creeping up upon the still which showed evidence of having been in operation recently. He lay in the swamp unconscious in a drizzle of rain until yesterday afternoon. His automobile was found at Oleander, a fashionable suburb three miles from the still site, by searchers early yesterday. He is believed to have parked it out of the danger zone since his tires have been cut off in recent weeks by persons who are supposed to oppose the Volstead law.

I.W. Harrellson, deputy United States marshal missing from his office since Monday and believed to have accompanied Bell on the raid, showed up last night. He frequently worked with the raider. He said he had been home since Monday and did not know Bell was raiding.

Search for the missing man was not begun until yesterday morning. Mrs. Bell advised the sheriff at that time that she was worried. Nearly a half hundred persons joined in the search.

County and city officers working jointly in the matter are without any thing of a tangible nature to proceed on and with the exception of one or two slight clues have nothing to work on.

From page 2 of the Goldsboro News, Thursday morning, April 1, 1926

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Charlotte Chief of Police Ferguson Demoted to Patrolman, March 31, 1926

Charlotte Police Chief Is Reduced

Charlotte, March 31 (AP)—Aleck West was acting chief of police Wednesday and former Chief Ferguson was reduced to the rank of patrolman following a probe of charges against the erstwhile chief. Announcement was made Tuesday night that the accusation of unbecoming conduct had not been substantiated in any degree, but that the demotion was made because of lack of executive ability on the part of Ferguson.

The rank-reducing was not halted with the former chief, however, for along with it came the reduction of Chief of Detectives Dan Bradley, to plain clothesman, because of his “failure to keep down jealousies and rivalries” in his department. Approximately 50 witnesses were heard by the city commission before decision was reached.

Mr. Ferguson refused to comment on the decision or his plans.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Thursday morning, April 1, 1926

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G.F. Jones, RR Switchman, Loses Leg, March 31, 1926

Loses His Leg in Railroad Accident

Wilmington, March 31—G.F. Jones of 313 North Second street, switchman on the Seaboard Air Line railroad, had his left leg severed from his body late this afternoon when attempting to make a coupling between two cars. Mr. Jones was rushed to James Walker Memorial Hospital.

The accident occurred on the Hilton yards, and it is believed that Mr. Jones lost his balance after making the connection. One car passed over his limb.

Mr. Jones is about 29 years of age. He recently came to this city. No further details of the accident could be learned.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Thursday morning, April 1, 1926

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Dare Devil Charlie Vee Promises Free Show, April 1, 1926

Vee Will Give an Exhibition Next Saturday. . . Daring Young Man Will Flirt with Death in Perilous Jump from Speeding Car

Dare Devil Charlie Vee, who on Monday afternoon at 4 o’clock concluded a drive of 100 hours in a Chevrolet stock car, under the direction of the A.H. Handley Motor Company will on Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock attempt two stunts for the edification of Goldsboro people which are even more daring and grueling than his long drive.

The first event on the program which Vee will attempt will be to jump from the rear of an automobile on a city street, the car speeding at a rate of 60 miles an hour. This stunt has been featured on race tracks where the “victim” has the opportunity of landing on a dirt track but never before has it been attempted on a paved street.

If he lives to tell the story, Mr. Vee will engage in a tug of war with two automobiles, one on each side of him. Providing Vee isn’t all messed up after his jump from the speeding car, he says that he is willing to wager that he can hold the two automobiles pulling in opposite directions at full speed.

The stunt which will take place at the corner of Ash and John street, will be free to the public, no contribution being taken or no charge in any way. Mr. Vee, declaring that he never charges for any of his exhibitions and that he is delighted to take a chance on breaking his neck for the edification of the public.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Thursday morning, April 1, 1926

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Easter Egg Hunt in Park Avenue Circle, April 1, 1926

Easter Egg Hunt to be Held Today

This afternoon at 3:30 o’clock the Park Avenue Circle of the Goldsboro Woman’s Club will hold an Easter egg hunt at Herman Park. This event gives promise of being most interesting and will probably be largely attended.

From page 3 of the Goldsboro News, Thursday morning, April 1, 1926

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State Supreme Court Says New Bern Failed to Protect Public, March 31, 1926

City of New Bern Must Pay Big Sum for Failure to Protect the Public

Raleigh, March 31 (AP)—The city of New Bern must pay $8,000 for the death of Mitchell Willis, who drove a Ford off Craven street into the Trent river. The supreme court today held that cities must provide adequate barriers at street terminals into rivers for the protection of automobilists.

In the case of D.H. Willis, administrator, against the city of New Bern, Justice Brodgen holds that a city must maintain both the streets and their terminal in a safe condition. In the case at bar, Mitchill Willis drove the car into Trent river and drowned both himself and Clyde Gray, a youth riding in the car with him.

Justice Brogden reduces the question to four proportions:

First: The street terminus was dangerous.

Second: The city should have erected barriers or provided a red light or some danger signal.

Third: Long existences of dangerous situations was legal notice to the city of the danger.

Fourth: Under a proper charge from the judge, the jury found the deceased was using due care.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Thursday morning, April 1, 1926

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