National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-31

Marriage In the Scottish fashion, which 1,
simply an agreement between tho contracting
parties 10 love, honor and obey, without the
assistance OF priest or service, seems often 10
be little more than respectable concubinafc,
and the recently-pubiished account Of one Of
these marriages. and its consequences goes to
show that their legality Ia not wholly I'M
Questioned on their native heath. Mfr.
George Wilson, Of Edinburgh, with an extern
siyc and lucrative business, was the father Of
eleven children, three Of whom were daugh-
tiers, all pretty, bnt the eldest, Miss Maggie,
especially go, An officer Of her Majestys
esd regiment, Major Stewart aon Of a wealthy
Scotch baronet, cav Maggie in her fathers
shop one day, In 1865, aud was 90 much at
tracted by her graces Of person and manner
that he commenced paying her special atten-
ton, and soon becomes Intimate with the
family, He was very devoted to Maggie,
taking her TO frequent rides, making her ele-
giant presents, and ere long took up hls quar-
tors with the Wilson's, becoming, ~ II were
a member Of tho family. II was generally
Understood that they were to DO married.
hut ~ the Major showed no disposition to
breach the subject, Magglc's father. at an
ensuing party given In honor Of the Majors
birthday, spoke TO him Of his anxiety CON
corning his rather protractcd Intimacy with
hla daughter, and urged him 10 marry her.
Major Stewart said he was too poor to
marry as beftted his station, but TO shut
peoples mouths" he would ut once marry
Maggie Gin the Scotch fashion" He then
knelt before her, placed a wedding ring upon
her finger, saying, Maggie, you arc my
wife before heaven, so help me God" She
put her arm around his neck, the two kissed
each other, and among all tho guests present
the marriage was regarded as duly solemn
izcd according TO Scotch law, which does not
require q clergyman. With this simple we'd
ding, which was none the less merry because
laaEaH ha Traditional ali
young couple commenced living together as
man and wife. About year after, In April,
1851 a son was born; the Major spoke Of this
child rs his young heir, and appeared very
fond Of II. In 1869 Major Stewart, who was
. very absolute man, and was suffering from
dellrium tremens, died, and his widow IN due
time married a second husband this time a
lieutenant. The baronot father Of the first
husband, also died, and his death was quickly
followed by that Of her Grst-born the Majors
sOn.
Just before the child's death, the widow had
entered suit against the second son Of the then
deceased Baronet, asking that her marriage
with Major Stewart might be declared lawful,
and that her son should be installed as heir
Of entail to the estates Of the family. After
the death Of the boy this action was continued
Tor the purpose Of securing the widows share
Of the property, and the other day It came up
Tor trial at Edinburgh. Numerous Witnesses
WtTc lnlTOuuCtu, WHO bWOfe 10 Ine luct OF tine
marriage, and others to show the Major had
introduced Maggie as his wife; at the close Of
the evidence for the plaintiff her claim seemed
established But the defence astOnlshed every
body by attempting TO prove that Major
Stewart had never regarded Maggie In any
light than that Of kept mistress. 4 Catholic
priest swOre that the Major had told him that
the Witnesses had tried to entrap him into
marriage, but he had foiled them, and he
spoke Of Maggie only as his mistress; the
priest had baptized the child, for Its own sake,
but had entered II as ilegitimate. Other wit
nesses supported this by affirming that the
Major had declared repeatedly, and In the
presence of tho witnesses, that be had never
married Maggie and never intended to; al
together, II appeared that their connection
was not sound morality. After prOtracted
trial. the case was decided In favor Of the
claimant, the Judge declaring the parties
really and truly married and their Issue legiti-
mate. The value Of the estates In which this
interesting young woman thus receives
widows interest Is very large.