Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-08-02
Denied Marriage.

One Of the mos! unfortunate and painful csses
OF the inGdolty of man, and one that does not
in tho least speske we'll Of the manhood of the
hero, published to-day, and has created no
little talk among the friends Of the parties inter-
e:tcd.
The facts arc these: In April last one Oscar
Coumbe, employed as clerk in DEM drug
store, on Seventh street, southeast, went to AL
e1sndris, procured marriage license, and re.
turned to Georgetown, where he was married
quietly 10 Miss Emma Larman, Rev. j. T. Muir
ray. Of the Congress.Street Methodist church.
performing the ceremony. For while the mar
risge was kept quiet. 1t came out inslly, and
so displeased Coumbe's father that he published
q statement denying that his son was married,
and the son went away. Ri, and the lady friends
masking public denials also Miss La1mSn'
father, John q. Lsrman, the present and for
many years efficient super .ntendent Of the ma
chine department of the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing replied TO the card of Mr.. Coumbe
particulars OF the marriage. and denying the
statement of Coumbe. For a time matters
rested in that way, and although Mr.. Lsrman's
friends urged him to wreak summary vengeance
upon his daughters husband, the gentleman re-
Trained, trusting that matters would come around
he was disappointed, and being unable to longer
bear the blot that had thrown upon her purity
and name, Miss Ls;man or Mra. Coumbe, de-
termined to take the matter into her own hands
without the knowledge of her friends. With
this end in view, yesterday she armed herself
with small Smith & Wesson revolver and
went TO DeMolps drug store. where her husband
was found Approaching him, she demanded
that he make an acknowledgment of their mar.
rage This Coumbe declined to do, whereupCn
the lady presented the pistol at him and threat:
ened that unless he did as she desired. she would
l.. ~ I'd -, lad
out of the dsgrsceful affair by saying that the
marriage would have to be denied because his
father claimed that it was bogus one, and he
declined to have anything further to say to the
lady. If any settlement was 10 be made, he was
prepared TO meet either her father or brother.
Whether the lsdy's terrible wrongs would have
led her into shooting the m an she had married
or not, cannot BIO stated; bat before any dam.
sge was done several by.stsEders interferred and
held the lady. while Coumbs went out and got
police Sergeant McCathrsn, and had her arrest
cd for having Threatened his life. The lady
accompanied the officer to the Eight precinct
station quietly, where soon her father appeared
and gave bonds for her appearance st court this
morning.
This morning the lady, accompanied BY her
father, brother, and Mr.. Henry Lsrmsn, Dis.
trct water Taper, her uncle, and her counsel,
Mr.. A. b. Williams, appeared st the Police
Court. The lady, rather pret:ily alfred, con.
Quoted herself with sadly modest demeancr, and
attracted much sympathy from the spectators
through the unfortunate circumstances that
caused her to be there. The frat case called was
that Of carrying concealed weapons. This was
OF course undoubtedly proven. as the circum Z.
stances were evident. The lady WAS then ar
rsigned for threats Coumbe testified as to her
coming to the store her threats and arrest, and
said that he was reslly afraid that she would
shoot him at some future time.
Julius Lyons testA ed that the lady was in the
store and seemed excited. Did not see hsr point
the pistol, but heard the threats.
Rev. DR.. Murray, testified that he married
the parties in April last; produced duplicate
of the license, sra said that the same had been
recorded in the clerks oface Of Alexandria
her name and family connections were excellent
and above questioning. Sergeant McCsthran
testified to the arrest
Judge Walter very slowly said that this was
the most painful case that had ever been under
his notice before, Here was q person who had
gone to Alexandria to get license to marry q
young lady in Georgetown; the marriage having
been performed the husband goes OIL, sitter
tsmpering with the affections of the lady, der les
that she is his wife, and pronounces the marriage
bogus one. The result naturally led the wife
to seek some redress, and while the circum.
stances seemed such as to justify her in acting as
she did yesterday it was the painful duty of the
Court to hold that she had no right to take the
law into her own hands. He would therefore
only require her personal bonds to keep the
peace towards the complainant, and in the case
of carrying concealed weapons, judgement was
suspended. The lady and her friends left tho
court room, followed by Coumbe and his crowd.
As the latter went out, remarks not at all COM
plimentarv to him were heard on all sldes.-
WASHINGTON Critic.