Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-12-05
EXPLANATION.

.fe.igfe .-r EXPLANATION. - - : w.
MEssRs. EDIrORs Having requested of the
Democrat the publication of the following, and
having been refused, except in an advertising way,
will you be just enough towards me to insert it
in a reading column.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES weeks since we pub
lished the marriage of Miss Helen NJ Pratt, daugh-
ter of II. p. Pratt, at st. Paul, Minnesota. We
have since received line from Miss Pratt, in ex-
planation of the subject, by which we learn that
the marriage mt the time was supposed and intend
ed by Miss Pratt, to be nothing but in sport, or,
in other words, ''mock marriage" 1t seems
that they get up West, what they call ''klssing
parties," and to vary the amusements OF the eve
ming, Unfortunately enter into the sports of be-
ing married in "fun." 1t seems that at one of
these parties AIr. Ward, who was partial toward
Miss Pratt, but which partiality was not returned
on her part, procured legal license, and was in
fact legally married. Afterwards he attempted
to enforce his claim upon her his wife, but shc
refused to acknowledge the relationship, and up
to the present time no adjustment has been made,
he refusing to yield her up, and she refusing to
see or live with him. Skorhegan Clarion. ''f
The above article whichis now going the rounds
of the newspapers, has tendency, it will be seen,
to do me much injury, and in order to do justice
to myself, and ward off censurc from those who
are unacquainte1 with the facts, have deemed
it necessary to give true statement of the whole
matter in as few words as it can be related; rk
Shortly after forming acquaintance with
Miss Pratt, invited her to accompany me in taking
course of lessons in dancing, which she az
cepted. On the evening of the fifth lesson, she
proposed our marriage; and after beng made
conv:nceu that all was reality on r part, asked
her when it should take place. She replied i'm
,nediately. We then left the room for the purpose
of going to the nearest minister's, but had not
gone far, before we were discovered by two of
our schoolmates, and in order to cause no suspi-
cion, returned immediately to the room. But,
during the evening, (WedDesday,) we laid plans
to carry the matter into effect on the next evening
(Friday,) of the school. Both appearing in the
school room ut early hour on Friday evening,
she proposed to have the matter sealed before the
opening of school. On our way to the minister's
(Mr. Kerns') the first time on Friday evening, she
asked me if l had procured license, as wes
agreed upon the Wednesday evening previous.
told her that l had made inquiries, and learned
that a license was not required, according to the
laws of the Territory, but that We could ascertain
this fact more fully on arriving at the minister's.
Finding the minister absent, (after leaving word
that We would be back aga in the course of an
hour. we returned again to the school ROOM
And, after a lapse Of an hour, she proposed to
start again, and this time to take company, which
agreed to. The company being chosen, and the
secret disclosed, we again proceeded to the minis
ter's; and finding him this time at home, our
GRAND was soon made known. We were then ex-
Al h. ;,,;e on oft
the interrogatives were put, to which we both an
swered in the affirmative, and were pronounced
man and wife. Before going back to the school
room again, she requested of the minister ccrtif
cate of our marriage, and was told that he would
prepare one for her the next day. .e4a.
1t being thought advisable to keep the matter q
secret until We could take passage for below,
(Which we calculated on doing the next evening,)
escorted her to her parental home. What has
been the result, all here are conversant with, and
do not deem it proper to relate. But in order
to show that &c mockery' could have been in
tended on her part, is represented above, give
below copy of note which l received from her,
together with a locket, on the forenoon Of the
followin. day: rst".H
My DEAR JOHN DO not fear, kGm not dead,
am yours alone, and as yours must be, all in all
or nothing to you. We are1narried, and think
it best by all means to let the people know it. l
think that Father will not be ve:y angry, for he
told me this morning that You were good young
man-that he would trust you anywhere.
Please get of MIR. Kerns. proof OF our mar
riage, and give it to me, dearest, as am your
wife. Let me live with you. shall be happier
with Won than here shall
see you tonight, and until then do nothing make
no confdcnts, and please do not read this in the
presence OF any one. NELLY WARD. la
The following is copy of the certificate of
our marriage: t .
TERRITORY MiN.,l lal-l afi
Co. OF RAMSEY. BE it remembered, that on
the 23d day of June, in the year Of our Lord,
1854, /, the undcrssne minister of the gospel,
resident in said County of Ramsey, did join in the
holy bonds of matrimonv, accord ng to the rights
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the laws
of the Territory, John Q. A. Ward, of st. Paul,
and HELEN NJ. Pratt, of the same, after having
examined both of the parties on oath, by me ad-
mns:ered and becoming satisfied that there was
no legal impedimcnt thereto. ~ao
Done in thepresence of Caroline Sincx, OF New
Albany, Indiana, and Ellen Kerns, of St. Paul,
witnesses. JOHN KERNS, Minister.
In publishing tie above statement, do not
wish to be understood as trying to do injury to
ncr WHOM Have sWorh 10 IcspeCt, IOr sucn lS not
my intention, but in self-defence only. And in
conclusion will say ths-that It will ever be my
honest opinion, that had she not fallen into foul
hands, and had there not been powerful infu-
encc brought to bear against me, the matter never
could have terminated so unharpilv.
01i" ~ H JOHN z. A. WARD.
ca The famous Brigham Young, the Cover
nor Of Utah, and Grand High Priest of the Nor