Happy Birthday: The Evelino Bernardara Story
Evelino Bernardara worked at the Ford Motor Company plant in Detroit, Michigan. In 1931, Evelino asked Sindone Melotti's parents permission to marry their fifteen-year-old daughter. When her parents refused, the couple eloped.
Unbeknownst to her parents, Evelino (29) and Sindone obtained a marriage license in Ohio on April 23. On their application, Sindone lied about her age. After marrying in Toldeo, the couple returned to Detriot to pick up Sindone's belongings. They then moved to Southwick, Massachusetts, to live with Evelino's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Augustino Bernardara.
Back in Detroit, Sindone's parents reported her missing, and police there arrested three men on April 29 in connection with her disappearance. They continued their search for Evelino, who was wanted for kidnapping.
Armed with a warrant, a Massachusetts state detective out of Springfield and a Massachusetts State Police officer from the Agawam barracks went to Evelino's parents' home on May 1, where they arrested him for being a fugitive from justice from Detroit.
Massachusetts State Police notified their counterparts in Detroit about Evelino's arrest, and the three men arrested on April 29 were released.
At his arraignment, Evelino failed to produce marriage papers. He pleaded not guilty to being a fugitive from justice, and the case was continued. The judge set bail at $200, and he was released.
After Governor Ely signed extradition papers, the Commonwealth turned Evelino over to Detroit authorities on May 8 to face kidnapping charges. Sindone, accompanied by officers to Detroit, was placed in a juvenile detention home before being released to her parents.
Authorities in Michigan changed the charge from kidnapping to enticing a minor to leave home and enter into marriage without parental consent.
A jury acquitted Evelino on May 28, 1931.
In June, Evelino filed a petition with the court claiming that Sindone's parents were keeping her at their home against her will. The judge ordered her parents to present her to the court.
On October 9, 1931, a judge annulled Evelino's marriage to Sindone.
Sindone wed again on June 22, 1935. This time to Louis Rudolph Martinsek. Evelino married Francesca C. Zambelli on May 30, 1936. The couple moved to California in 1957.
Evelino died in the Golden State on December 11, 1989.
Edited Out/Author's Additional Research Notes
Evelino's arrest may have been May 2, but May 1 appears correct.
Evelino Marino Bernardara: 4/23/1902 - 12/11/1989.
Sindone (Melotti) Martinsek: 5/15/1915 - 2/16/1990.
Louis Rudolph Martinsek: 6/18/1911 - 6/23/1987.
Francesca Carlo (Zambelli) Bernardara: 3/13/1914 - 11/15/1989.
(some sources list Sindone's DOB as 5/4/1915, but May 15, 1915, appears correct. Some list Francesca as being born in 1913 and 1892, but 1914 appears to be correct)
Evelino lived down the road from Sindone's parents.
Sindone was born in Italy. She married Louis Mertineck in Detroit on June 22, 1935. He was an autoworker (Ford); she was a dressmaker.
Evelino arrived in the United States from Italy aboard the Dante Alighieri in New York Harbor on July 2, 1920. Sometimes his middle name is listed as Mario but Marino is believed correct.
Evelino was an autoworker (metal finisher). He worked for Lincoln-Mercury in the 1950s.
Evelino reportedly told authorities that they married on April 15, but April 23 is correct.
Guiseppe and Florence Menietti signed a petition for Evelino's citizenship in 1923, saying he was a "person of good moral character."
Sindone's parents were Ernest and Mary Melotti.
Evelino may have been laid off from Ford when the Great Depression hit. Detroit's unemployment rate was about 30% in 1930-1.
Working titles: Happy Birthday!, 23, Have you Driven a Ford Lately?
If you enjoyed this story, please click the appropriate button below, as this helps me gauge the type of content readers like when developing future story ideas.
As an Amazon Associate, the Southwick Time Machine may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.