The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-12-28
A Curious Story.
Rochester Democrat.J

themselves at the residence of DR.. STRAIT
| ton, and, at the conclusion of that old
and yet ever new ceremony, the minister
handed the lady certificate, pronounc-
ing her, Annie Bourne, to be the legally
married wife of the gentleman who stood
beside her, Cassius D. Worrill. The man
who accompanied the pair signed his
name to the paper as witness to the
ceremony, and the three then took their
departure, seemingly the same as hun
dreds had done before them. The bride
groom and bride were esch apparently
about thirty years of age, well dressed,
and, to all appearances, happy in the
possession of each other. Yet last week
Cassius D. Worrill had employed counsel
and denied that any such ceremony had
ever taken place, while the woman, by
aid of the law, is endeavoring to compel
him to contribute toward her support.
1t is a curious story, and undoubtedly
there is much yet to come to the surface
to explain what at present seems wholly
unaccountable. Mr.. Worrill is farmer,
living about two miles out of Lockport,
intelligent, we'll to do, and, so far as we
can ascertain, a man held in excellent
repute by his neighbors.
His version of the strange affair, so
far as we can learn, is substantially as
follows: Considerably over year ago,
Miss Annie Bourne, young lady living
in CORY, Pa, together with her sister
and brother-in-law, by the name of Will
liams, were visiting at the Worrill home
stead, where the young man was living
with his widowed mother. Mrs. Worrill
at this time was painfully afflicted with
a cancer, and in the illness which fol-
lowed she was attended by Miss Bourne
until death came. During this timethe
most strenuous efforts were made by VIII
liams and his wife to induce Worrill to
marry Miss Bourne, and at last, he says,
tired out by their opportunities, he
yielded to their persuasions and promised
to make her his wife in one year. This
was in September, and on the 22d inst
Worrill and Miss Bourne and Williams
and his wife came into the city and
stopped at the Brackett House. Worrill
says that for the first time in his life he
kwas slightly under the influence of
liquor at the time, and that in the after
noon he laid down and went to sleep.
When he awoke Miss Bourne was sitting
in the room and Williams and his wife
were, just entering the apartment. !.
In the afternoon the party separated,
he returning to his farm and the others
going to their homes in Cory. When
the year had elapsed Worrill- says that
he did not wish to fulfill his promise for
reasons known to himself, but that Miss
Bourne came to him in Lockport, claimed
him as her husband, and demanded sup
port, and it is this claim that he now
proposes to resist. He does not utter a
word against the virtue of the lady, but
insists that he never married her, and
that he must have been personated by
some one else when the ceremony was
performed. The lady's version of the
story, however, differs from the above in
many important particulars, and we give
it as full as our information will allow.
Miss Bourne says that she visited at Mr..
WorrilPs house, and while there he
made protestations of love. She cor
roborated his statement in regard to the
party's coming to the city on the I'D,
but says that in the forenoon they had
determined to marry, and accordingly,
about eleven o'clock, sought DR.. STRAIT
ton for the purpose. At the request of
Mr.. Worrill, however, it was arranged
that the marriage should be kept secret
for year, as he was settling up his
fathers estate, making changes at home,
etc.. and did not consider it a propitious
time to introduce bride. She consented
to this proposal, with the understanding
that she was to return to Cory, and that
when the year had elapsed they were to
be remarked, and she was to be his
acknowledged wife before the world.
Letters frequently passed between
them, he always addressing her by her
maiden name, but whether he ever con-
tributed to her support we did not learn.
When the 22d of September drew neal
she wrote to him that she had a number
of preparations to make before the sec,
ond marriage. And that she had re.
ceived an invitation from some friends
with whom she was staying in Coopers
town, to visit New York City in theil
company, and that if it would be quite
convenient she would like to have him
meet her there. His reply was: "Gc
by all means. am about visiting the
Centennial, and will join you in New
York" Accordingly she went on to til,
city with her friends, but on arrivin.
there received telegram from Mr.. Wor
rill saying that he was ill in Philadel
phia, but would join her Thursday
Thursday came, but not the bridegroom
: and after waiting another day the un
| happy woman returned to her home no
f knowing whether her husband were dea,
e or alive. Upon reaching Cory she wa
r advised by her brother-in-law, Mr.. Viii
liams, to go at once to Lockport an
Y ascertain what was the difficulty. Thi
:, she at once did, and went directly t
r Mr.. WorrilPs house, buthe met her wit
e the rebuff, "You are not wanted here,
d and directed her, if she wished to kno,
T. more, to 60 to his lawyer, Mr.. Potter
e whom he had already engaged. Dun
founded by the reception, she retrace
e her steps and went to see the attorney
s. as instructed. Here she was given t
s understand that he was defending NJ
5. Worrill on a suit of threatened breac
Is of promise, but the appearance of he
is marriage certificate, which she brougf
If with her, speedily placed the matter j
n another light: and now the defense