The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-02-04
Special Correspondence for the Democrat.
FROM COLUMBUS.
Marriage in tie Penitentiary.
Mr.. TooLE.

COLUMBUS, o., Feb. l, 1875.
Yesterday was lively time in the
Ohio States Prison, a rare feast for the
convicts and an amusing scene for the
spectators, such as has never oc-
cured in the history of that prison;
and in a thousand years may not occur
again. The marriage of two convicts was
the occasion of attracting thousands of
people there, 1t had been known for
about ten days that the wedding would
take place on the 3lst of January, the day
that both sentences of the bride and
bridegroom expired, and long ere the
time expired it was apparent to Colonel
Innis, the gentlemanly warden, that it
would be necessary to issue invitation
cards and admit only those that had bids,
as it would be impossible to admit the
public generally for want of room.
Snndaypmorning came and with it a
most beautiful winter day, and long ere
the iron gates were opened and guards
stationed ,along the hall, people were
coming by the thousands from all direc-
tions. Many that were not provided
with invitation cards were compelled to
stay without those massive walls, (the
most desirable place for many that are
inside) AT half past ten every foot of
room in the capacious chapel except that
reserved for the prisoners was taken up,
and Immediately there scame filing in
from the different doorways the prison
ers in platoons of from forty to fifty
each, marching with lock step and single
file to the long rows of seats set aside for
them. Under strict discipline and with
great precision the eleven hundred pris-
oners were Immediately seated. That
large chapel, recently completed, was
filled to overaowing,. In the gallery were
the female prisoners and with. them many
other ladies. In the rear of the rostrum
or pulpit and on its sides were the mem
bers of the Legislature and other State
officials and their wives, and many
other pews were filed by ladies and gen.
tlemen of the city, and to look over that
sea of faces was wonderful medley to
behold. When all were seated, Col. In
mis- rose and said, addressing the prison
ers:
"During the ceremony desire you to
keep good order. 1t is an occasion which
none of you may ever see again, such a
peculiar one has never occurred within
these walls before. 1t is a rare day for
you, one in which you can rejoice, and I
have therefore prepared for you an extra
dinner. [Applause.] Your chaplain, the
Rev. Mr.. Ferguson, will preach to you
about twenty minutes, after which the
marriage ceremony will take place on
this rostrum."
After the services, which were well
conducted, and with as fine singing by
the prisoners as one usually hears in any
church, was through, the bride and
bridegroom made their appearance and
took their place on the rostrum where
the Chaplain pronounced them, by the
authority of law, and in the presence of
that vast concourse of people, OMAN AND
WIFE. with the usual christian ceremony,
after which they were allowed to retire
without those walls that had so securely
held them for two long years,
They had been engaged five years, but
just previous to the time set, the man was
convicted oftheft and burglary and by the
courts was sentenced for two years to the
State prison from Licking county. No ev-
idence against the woman was produced,
but after the sentence was pronounced
against her affianced, she bravely appear
ed before the court and plead guilty to
being an accomplice to the theft. She de-
sired the same sentence from The court
that she might also goand be near to the
man she loved, and for two years she
worked within those walls, but never was
permitted to see the object of her affec-
tons till last Tuesday morning when
they were permitted to have their first
interview, and the preliminary arrange