The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-12 00:00:00

CARLISLE ASSIZES, MARCH ft.

ORETNA.GREEN MARRIAGE.
Robert Myers, a sweep, aged 29, was indicted fee having, on
the 2d November, 1823, feloniously married Mary Johnston spin.
ster, in the parish of St. Mary, Carlisle, he having previoasly, on
the 29th of July, lien, married Isabella Dixon, spinster. in
Gretna, in the county of Dumfries, in t.cotlaid, his first wife being
'alive at the time of such second marriage. The prisoner pleaded
not guilty.
The marriage at Gretna-mem was proved by several wit:news;
the principal one gave the of evidence :
Or,trge Graham was examined, and he stated as follows t--It a
weaver living in Carlisle; knows the prisoner and Isabella Dixon:
is married to a sister of hers, previous to the month of July, non.
Myers came three years last Easter Sunday to go to Gretna oat
him, that Robert Myers and Isabella Dixon should be married; r
consented, but did not go; my wile would not ler me. He said
upon this that it might be put off to the races following, and they
would go then ; I did not go then.
By the Cotter —Wi not?—He did not ask me. Myers rm.
guently afterwards asked me to, but I woutd not consent. Oa
go
Sunday, the 28th of July, 1822 (witness intended going to Almeria'
next day), I went from Carlisle to the new iron bridge, ask-bridge,
where we met the prisoner, who had appointed thy Sunday to
I meet us there. There was John Graham, Edward Ridley, and
myself, who were going to America. James Dixon, rg!chard
Johnston Prince, Daniel Hanclifle, and Isabella Dixon, an menu
the iron-bridge. We went on to George Irving's to a public-heave,
where we had two shillings' worth of liquor, some bread, and other
refl.( shments. As we were walking oar, I said to Myers.... yo,,
I have barn often asking me to go to arenas, and as dila is the last
time I shall be here. you had best get married cow, perhaTs you
will not see me again." He consented. He said be was agrerabk
if Isabella was agreeable. Isabella said that she was to
be monied. When I had this conversation some of the party
i were two or three yards off, and some nigher. Can't say if any of
Ithem heard it. When we got to Gretna, we saw a youcg man et
the name of Wilson. I called to him, in the presence of the pmt.
imner, who was near enough to hear, and I asked him if he knew
where Mr. Lang, the parson, lived ? He replied, "Vt." I then
I desired him to tell Lang to come, as we were going aflame a MU-
riage. He went, and Lang came, and asked which was the couple
that was going to be married. Robert Myers and Isabella were
pointed out to hint. Lang asked them if they were single, and
they both said " Yes." Ilepulledout a pocket-book from his breast,
and wrote upon a small slip of paper, which he returned into the
book, and put into his pocket again. The first thing he said was,
to ask if they were single. lie then commenced the marriage
I cannot exactly recollect the words. He said something about
taking her for better and worse." kA laugh.) Myers and Ise.
bells were sitting clan beside Mr. Leta; sod, attar he had gate
through half the ceretrony, he ordered us to kited down and pray;
and, after praying, he then performed the other part of the cere-
mony. He bid Isabella Dixon and Robert .Myers take hold
of each other's hands. They did take hold of each other's
bands. lie then asked the prisoner if he took Isabella Dimas
to be his lawful wife. Prisoner said, "Yes." lie then inked
Isabella Dixon if she took prisoner to be her lawful husband,
and she said, "Yes." After the marriage ceremony was finished,
he asked who were going to sign the marriage lines.
By the Corar —Whotn did he ask ?—Daniel /lancliffe. Hold
liana& then said he would sign them. The prisoner heard him,
and I signed the lines as witness for Isabella Dixon. I then gave
the pen to Robert Myers, and he signed for himself. After they
had done signing, Mr. Lang took them in his hand, and gave than
to Isabella Dixon ; and be said it was customary for the bride to
make him a present. She said she had no money ; and she mks*
me to lend her a shilling, which I did% and she gave It to Mr.
Mr. Lang told the prisoner to take the bride tound the neck
s Jute her. lie did so. They then sat down. Lang did not
any thing more, but said he wanted whiskey.
By the CoulT.—Who said so?—The old parson. We that
had a gill of whiskey, which Lang took the first pullout*: No.
time elapsed between our entrance and the commencement of sly
ceremony. Myers said he wished the marriage to be kept caret
on account of his father being poorly, for fear he might " cut lila
out with a shilling," which, he said, would be very hard, as he
was the man that helped to make it. During all this time the
prisoner was sober.
This witness underwent a long erne-examination by Mr. At.
utesost, is which be prevaricated occasionally.
After several other witnesses had been heard,
Alr. James Little, a writer to the Signet at Annan, was WA&
He deposed he had had occasion to inquire into the law of Seed**
respecting marriages. A writer's business in Scotland Is the same
as en attorney's. To comallute a valid marriage is Setillandr it *
celebrated various ways. Knows what a Gretna-green =travois.
If a man asks a woman to be his wife, and she consents, sad sobs
him to be her husband; if they both agree, and it takes plat*
before witnesses, or is reduced to writing, it is a valid
If the parties give mutual assurance that they take each other
husband and wife, or they do take each other for husband and wife,
and provided it is uot done as a frolic, and provided the intend*
of the parties to live together is unequivocal. I beg to exphns
that the man who officiates on such occasions is, in tbe eye et the
law of Scotland, merely a witness. If the parties are micas st
time,
the and evince no disposition for frolic, or show so krityst
the time, though they do not subsequently live together. If they
are serious at the time, that is sufficient, though they may not Ifni
together. There is no particular form of words necessary: any
words, distinctly expressive of the intention of the parties to live
1;1"as man and wife we stallelant.
u:eases were then milled, the obJect of whose examination was
to show that the parties were drunk at the time—st least that the
bridegroom and the parson were; and that the bridegroom had,
both before and afterwards, called it a joke.
The parson was not called as a witness.
The Jury gave the preference to the testimony for the defendant,
and returned a verdict of Not Gadfly.