Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-02-09
Love versus Iaw.


A young msn and maiden. not far
from Warren had ES.msd .x,rm al.
lent -each other and resolved
TO marry iu~medi0tsly They believed
that su Is in lore should not HE suits of
law be continued from term to term, for
ten long years, and then end where they
began. But thu maiden, (Susan we
call her. ss-no eighteen years Of age.
and her fond PARENT was strongly op
posed to her marriage with John, and
would not give his permission. By the
laws Of Ohio, the consent Of parents
must be had, when the lady is under
eighteen. Such being the facts how
was the marriage license to be obtained;
Here was tronble, Love with gall and
honey doth abound;-but Love is like
Daniel in the Lions den, he amt afraid
"The obstacles were great. but if she will.
she will-you may depend on it, and If
she wont. she wont-so there's an end
on it." Now it was said John had read
in the Family Register of the Family
Bible, that Susan was less than eighteen
years of age, but the maiden told John.
thai she was really eighteen years old
and John believed Susan a thou sand
times quicker thar he would the Bible,
The young man vas convinced, (not
against his will. that his betrothed was
Of ma,riagsble age. and straightway ne
goes before the Probate Judge. and
made oath accordingly. He Obtained the
marriage l~icvnce. and fastened 10 hi.
lady love. with the mighty docsment.
The father waxed wroth. and his coun
tenance Tell; e bad John arrested ami
b ought bsioTr the Ju.icr, ct Warren,
ras Friday. charged g'aa DeJ'r9 "I.h
having made oath7halai> dsuzn:e- :
eigh,rsn years of age, wien snr "as
young T by several mouths
Court opeaea, aud the tusi pre- e died:
The old gem swore that hl- daughter ~@>
under eighteen years Of Ha-ea
sHore that soc ,old jahu sic ~as e,s
fen. The moyDer OF Su>so DC e7-J
tost Susan wse nos eign'een years . ar
(aed as she vas proJ,dty p1esea' r So
sans birth. it IS likely. knows Something
about ~ Taen came the Lssyrs
speeches. Johns Attorney argued THAI
TO swear falsely about a person S ags. IN
order 10 get a marriage l@iseace. vas ri
perjury under the statute and taat
many a girl. when counting. o. ae'hs
courted, had deceivet her loveI about Der
age; and he remarked that his win,
during cour,ship. bad deceived him as 10
her age. by a month or two, and that ii
was no thing a! such times =
To this, the opposing counsel replied,
that Johns Attorney probably deceived
his wye IS to his age more than several
gears, At this, the dignity OF the Caur'
smiled, and the girls snickered. Batt:e
Attorney look it cooliy. he knew what he
was about. both in the past cour ing and
the present court ; and he won b7th suits
Several maidens were present al the
trial, to console John and his intended
and they wept TO think that John was in
danger of going to the penitenuary for
three long years, and that Susan mus
wait so long before getting marrlec :
This wos melancholy. and the girls SOB
bed and wiped their eyes. The Auur-
neys looked with sorrow upon the maiden,
and her companions. and thought CT the
delay. of the nuptial day, that maketh
the heart sick. One tall fellow, with red
whiskers, felt the water roll out of his
eyes. and said that he felt like a mud
turtle choked with a cod fish ball.
The jolly Prosecutor, he, who, when
he thinks a prisoner deservs punishment,
lashes him without mercy, and guards
vigilantly every loop hole of escape. and
who is the terror of evil doors, in this
county The felt like a funera! procession:
His opiicts moistened. and he alrost
caved ID; his usual lauging fun. poignant
wit. close argument, cutting sarcasms.
and suspender breaking jokes forsook
him, and his speech, las he says did
not amcnnt to a row of pins. The Court
thought that John had done srong, but
in consideration of the cause, told him
to go scquIt, and sin no more. The girls
rejoiced and dried their Tears; and Susan
up and smecked JohR with a hearty kiss.
right in the court room. The Couri ad-
journed, and the happy couple and girls
left in high glee.