At the age of 14, Gladys met John Newton ("Jasper" or "Jap") Baker, a businessman from Kentucky[17][18] who was a "violent drinker" that beat Gladys during their marriage.[19] He owned the apartment building that Della managed.[20][19] They were married on May 17, 1917, with her mother's permission and a signed affidavit that Gladys was 18.[17][18][19][a] Gladys gave birth to a son, Robert Kermit "Jackie", followed by a daughter, Berniece Inez Gladys.[17] As a child, Jackie fell out of the family car, suffering injuries that left him lame for the rest of his life.[19] After abusive incidents, Gladys filed for divorce from Jasper in 1921,[17] and was awarded custody of the children.[19] Jasper kidnapped the children and returned with them to his native Kentucky, where his mother helped raise them.
![At the age of 14, Gladys met John Newton ("Jasper" or "Jap") Baker, a businessman from Kentucky[17][18] who was a "violent drinker" that beat Gladys during their marriage.[19] He owned the apartment building that Della managed.[20][19] They were married on May 17, 1917, with her mother's permission and a signed affidavit that Gladys was 18.[17][18][19][a] Gladys gave birth to a son, Robert Kermit "Jackie", followed by a daughter, Berniece Inez Gladys.[17] As a child, Jackie fell out of the family car, suffering injuries that left him lame for the rest of his life.[19] After abusive incidents, Gladys filed for divorce from Jasper in 1921,[17] and was awarded custody of the children.[19] Jasper kidnapped the children and returned with them to his native Kentucky, where his mother helped raise them.](https://p.novaskin.me/20tuaqmbglx.png?class=thumbnail)
A woman in a patterned dress, a man in a white shirt and tie, and a woman in a floral dress with a belt and a necklace.
