Thirty-two-year-old mountaineer Homer Peel kisses his bride Geneva on the courthouse steps at Madisonville, Tenn., June 25, 1937, after he was told by the court that he could keep his 12-year-old wife. Peel testified he married the child after his efforts to get her into an orphanage proved unavailing. (AP Photo) Ref #: PA.8669053 Date: 25/06/1937

Thirty-four-year-old mountaineer Homer Peel kisses his bride Geneva on the courthouse steps at Madisonville, Tenn., June 25, 1937, after he was told by the court that he could keep his 12-year-old wife. Peel testified he married the child after his efforts to get her into an orphanage proved unavailing. (AP Photo)
Ref #: PA.8669053. Date: 25/06/1937

 

On April 19, 1937, The Pittsburgh Press had news on Homer Peel, 32, and his 12-year old bride, Geneva. They married when she was 10.

 

Homer Peel


 

The moutaineer testified he tried to ‘”get her in an orphanage”. But failed. It was then that he married her, he said

“But I thinks a powerful lot of her and I got a mule and can make her a tolerable living,” he added. “If you take her away she won’t hve no place to go.”

Geneva followed him to the stand. Frightened, she could only sob, “I love him and he’s going to build me a house.”

 

Who was the blame?

 

Homer Peel 2