The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-22 00:00:00

MR. BEY WOOD'S MARRIAGE BILL.

The following is the bill of Mr. Heywood to amend
the law as to marriage with a deceased wife's sister or a
deceased wife's niece :

[Note.—The words printed in italics are proposed to
be inserted in committee.]
Whereas it is expedient to amend the law as to mar-
riage with a deceased wife's sister or a deceased wife's
niece : Be it enacted by the Qaeen's Most Excellent
Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this
present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of
the same, as follows :
I. So much of any Act or Acts of Parliament as ren-
ders void or voidable any marriage celebrated between a
man and his deceased wife's sister or deceased wife's niece
is hereby repaaled.
11. Ne marriage which has been or shall be celebrated,
at any time or place whatever, between a man and his
deceased wife's sister or deceased wife's niece, shall here-
after he void or voidable by reason only of the affinity
of the parties thereto, or on account of any canoni-
cal or other objection or impediment (founded only on
such affinity as aforesaid) to the validity of such mar-
riage, or to the celebration thereof, or to the valid:ty
of any licence or certify ate under which the same may
have been celebrated.

111. Provided always, that nothing bereinbefore
contained shall render valid or affect any marriage
or any ceremony of marriage where before the passing of
this act the same has been annulled or pronounced void
by legal decision, cr where either of the parties tircr3-
0 has subsequently, but before the passipg of this ac',
intermarried with any atticr person, or where, by
verdict, judgment, decree, or sentence in some action.
suit, or proceeding, civil, or criminal, either in the eccls-
astical courts or any of her Majesty's superior courts,
the husband shall in the lifetime of his said deceaseJ
wife have been found or pronounced guilty of adultery
with the other party to such marriage or ceremony of
marriage, but in every such case the marriage or cere-
mony of marriage shill be absolutely null and void to
all intents and purposes wh..bo'ver.
IV. Provided also, that nothing herein contained
shall invalidate, alter, or affect any right to any title of
honour, or any right or interest to or in any estate or ef-
fects, real or personal, which title, estate, or effects may
before the passing of this act have become, by reason of
the invalidity of any marriage between a man and his
deceased wife's sister or deceased wife's niece, vested in
enjoyment or possession in any person or persons whom-
soever, nor shall anything herein contained invalidate,
alter, or affect any act or thing done before the passing
of this Act, under the authority of any court, or in the
administration of any estate of effects, real or personal,
or in the execution of any will, or iu the performance of
any trust. _ _

V. Neither of the parties to any marriage between a
man and his deceased wife's sister or deceased wife's
niece, nor any person celebrating, or granting a Heel C 3
or certificate for celebrating any such marriage, shall,
by reason of the affinity between the parties thereto, be
liable to any action, suit, censure, or punishment.
VI. No person refusing to celebrate or grant a licence
or certificate for celebrating any marriage between a
man and a deceased wife's sister or deceased wife's neice
shall, by reason of such reatsal, be liable to any action,
suit, censure, or punishment.
VII, This act shall not extend to Scotland.