The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-03-02

sssdssss wssh shs Sviii Or iisr bear
Departed
iron the New york nerald.I
JACKSON, Mich, Feb. 1.-THE Mary
Knox case has been discussed by the
Herald and other journals as one OF the
most curious cases on record, and yet
the dust-coyered legal records Of Mich
igan can tell OF case still more singu-
lar. Miss Knox was engaged TO
Young man named Merritt, the day was
set for the nuptials, they drove away
together and were married, and now
Merritt vows he was not the bride
groom. She vows that nc was, but
can not prove 1t, and both made out u
pretty good case. One may well argue
that he ought TO know whether he ever
married . certain young lady or not,
and the said young lady may well argue
that she ought to know the young man
who rode to the clergyman's with her,
stood up beside her, made his responses
in due form and drove her back home.
These arguments are what mystify the
Knox case. Now for one still more
singular:
CURIOUS WILL.
About ~ years ago there lived in
Central Michigan q curious old Benc-
dick named Dodsworth. At the age Of
50 he married girl Of 20, and when the
burden Of 60 years bore him down his
wife was only half his age. Dodsworth
was noted for bis peculiarities, but the
climax came when he found himself on
his dying bed. He was worth about
$4,000. and he hadn't blood relative
living, SO far rs ne knew. He wanted
to leave his property to his wife, as the
pair had lived very happily, but yet he
could not leave 1t without displaying
some of his peculiarities in the provis-
ions Of the will. Some old men dis
play mean spirit when making their
wills and draft in q provision cutting
the wife OF with shilling II she mar
ries again. This old man wasn't Of
that stamp. His young wife was good
looking, vivacious, fond Of society, and
it was folly TO suppose she would mourn
for her slate departed" any great
length of time. Therefore Mr.. Dods-
worth turned heel on the usual custom
and said in his will:
"In case my wife Celia does not take
unto herself another husband within
thirteen months from date Of my burial
all requests otherwise made in this will
are to revert TO the State Of Michigan,
to be used for building and furnishing
q home for old women.r
Whether Celia was pleased or dis
pleased at this provision deponent saith
not, but the old man had not been I'M
der the sod more than six months when
the widow was said to be looking out
for another man. II it was singular for
the dying Dodsworth to urge his wife to
marry again, it was still more singular
that he should desire the ceremony 70
be performed under the following cir
cumstances, viz:
sAnd it Is made incumbent on said
Celia Dodsworth that in taking new
husband the marriage ceremony shall
be performed in the big barn on my
farm, on the H Road. II shall take
place ut 10 O'Clock in the evening, on
the main floor, without lights Of any
description, with all doors shut, and a
free invitation be extended TO all. The
clergyman shall stand in the stables
and the bride and groom on the main
floor, and the principal parties TO tn
ceremony shall be dressed in black
throughout"
WILLING WIDOW.
The widow announced her intention
to faithfully obey in spirit and in letter.
The will was probated, and the twelfth
month had scarcely passed before she
issued an invitation for the public TO
ne uaAI ~ &kn htsx hun Inu
who the groom was TO be no one could
positively assert, as the widow had been
keeping company with widower, a
bachelor and two young men, and, as
far as any outsider could Judge, she
loved one rs well as the other. Being
good looking and talented, and having
a fortune behind her, il was not strange
that she should have a number of suit
ors. She seemed to enter into the spirit
Of the affair with great zest, as also did
the minister; and, to further mystify
the people in attendance, the bride en-
tered the barn alone ut one door; and
thoRroom alone at another, and no one
XIV het the minister had arrived un-
E&hu voice was heard in the stables.
BOUND IN THE DARK.
There were at least 200 people pres
emit, and each one understood that even
the striking Of q match would break
the will. Many jokes were passed and
considerable confusion existed, but at
length the minister announced that all
was ready. The ceremony was gone
through with, and At its conclusion, the
affair having been profound sue
cess" rush was made for the bride ;
she was kissed by a hundred men. and
was then carried home, distance Of q
mile and half, in q big arm chair.
VINO Is THE HUsBANDp