The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1881-02-17
A MARRIAGn.Ar MIDNIGHT.
Mitchell's Startling Experience in Mr.
Forsyths House.

| BALTIMORE, Feb. 6. In the Cir
cult Court yesterday Judge Dobbin
granted decree divorcing Mellon
Mitchell from Carrie b. Mitch>
ell and forbidding the latter to
marry again during the lifetime of
the former. The circumstances
leading to the divorce were made
public for the first time yesterday,
and constitute.an astonishing mar,
rative
Mitchell is % years of age. Mrs.
Mitchell, who was a Miss Forsyth,
is Is Both have moved in good So
ciety in the West End. On the
nightSof Aug, 5, hell.received a
note from Mr.. Frank j. Forsyth,
III George street, requesting him
to call atlonce, which he according>
ly did, arrivingsgabou, midnight
Mr.. Forsyth opened the door and in
mysterious manner invited Mitch
elEup stairs, saying that his daugh-
ter, Miss Carrie B. Forsyth, wished
to see him. Mitchell went up stairs
and was shown into bedroom by
Mr.. Forsyth. Mitchell was astonish
ed at seeing Miss Forsyth in bed.
She appeared tosbe in. great.mental
distress, saudSs was deadly pale.
Mitchell, after a'slight pause ad
vanced and took the hand of the
youngsilady, asking her if she was
i'll, and expressing his regrets. Be,
fore he received any response he
heard the click of the lock, and
turning found that Mr.. Forsyth had
locked him in and stood 10 front of
the door with drawn pistol in his
hand. Mr.. Forsyth exclaimed
"You have taken advantage of my
daughter, and must now marry her
on the spot" The sstonished visi,
tor vowed and protested that he was
guitless of the offense charged, but
Mr.. Forsyth, cooking his pistol, said
ferociously that the marriage should
at once take place or Mitchell should
die. Mitchell was finally frightened
into giving his consent.
The Rev. Thomas Dougherty, a
Methodist Episcopal clergyman, was
then sent for. He at first strongly
objected to marrying the couple, de-
handing that license should fret
be procured. Mr.. Forsyth flourish
ed his pistol, and saids that, license
or no license, the man who had
wropged his daughter should be
married to her. Mr.. Dougherty was
at last prevailed upon to read the
marriage ceremony, and pronounced
the couple man and wife. Mr.. For
syth then retired from the room,
leaving Mitchell behind. The latter
promptly made his escape, and over
taking Mr.. Dougherty, informed
him that Forsyth's accusations we're
entirely false.
In the hearing before commits,
sioner after the suit for divorce
had been begun, testimony was in.
troduced to the effect that the coudi
ton OF the girl was misrepresented,
so as to induce the clergyman to
marry them, and part of scheme
to force Mitchell into the marriage
in order to crafty Miss Forsyth,
who was in love with him. The
Rev. Mr.. Dougherty, in bis testimo-
ny, stated that he was sent for by
Mr.. Forsyth on the night OF the MARI
rage to come and see his daughter,
who was dying. He was conducted
to the house and shown into an up
per bedroom, where the girl was in
bed. Under pressure Of threats
from Forsyth he had performed the
ceremony under protest.
In the answer filed by Miss For
syth she denied that her father ems
ployed any violence toward Mitch
ell, and stated that the later did not
hesitate a moment when asked to
marry her; that she became &C
quainted with him in July, 1877,
and they became engaged to each
other and interchanged promises of
marriage in the month of August,
1877, and that the engagement con"
tinued in full force up to the time Of
their marriage. After their marri>
/ age he was very kind to her, came
to see her every day, and in all res
poets recognized and treated her as
bis lawfully welded wife until last
August 29th, when her marriage
was announced in Baltimore news
paper. He then ceased to visit her,
having been sent, as she was in>
formed, out of the city for several
months by his mother.
The fact that the families of both
the parties to the suit are respecta
BILE and quite wealthy people adds
another to the singular features Of
the case. The decision of the court
granting the divorce, and condemn
ing the girl to celibacy during
Mitchell's lifetime was great blow
to her family, and they will probaN
bly, take the case to the State Court
of Appeals.