Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-08-31
SCOTTISH MARRIAGE LAW.
4 Novel Complication.

Some three weeks s.go case was re-
ported of novel irregular marriage which
had been contracted in Glasgow by two
young Irish people who had applied to
Sheriff Lees to have their union duly
registered. The name of the bride
groom was Charles Black, a seaman on
board the steamer Conoran, OF Glasgow
and that of the bride Bridget Scott,
| The sheriff ordered the girl to:produce
certificate of her birth, and this hay
ing been done, his lordship n Monday
pronounced deliverance, il. which he
finds that the couple contracted an ir-
regular marriage on the 80 ult, in a
house at No. 80 Gloucester street; that
the female petitioner lived in Scotland
for twenty-one days INN ediately pre-
ceeding such marriage. He therefore
grants warrant in terms of the act 10
and 20 Vic, cap. sc, to the register of
Tradeston district to enter the said
marriage in the register of marriages
kept by him.
In note the sheriff says: "This is an
unsatisfactory case. The petitioners
seemed little more than children, but
they said they were 20 and II respect
lively. Unable to get married in Ireland
under 81 without their parents consent,
they have come to Scotland, to avail
themselves of the unfortunate laxity of
law which allows boy of ii to marry
Il girl OF II even against their parents
will. To form such marriage rregu-
larry i Is not necessary to come before
sheriff; and it is quite erroneous to
speak, rs 1t is often done, of a sheriff
marrying people. He cannot do so.
No one in Scotland can, save clergy
man. But where parties--instead of
going before clergyman after pro-
clamaton of bans or notice on the regis
trar's board-have contented themselves
with declaring themselves man and
wife in the presence of witnesses, they
are entitled under statue passed at
the instignation of Lord Brougham in
1916, to apply to the sheriff Of the
county in which the marriage was con
tracted for warrant to have it register
ed, such applications are not uncommon
Last year there were 143 made to
this court. By the registration act Of
1854 the supervision of, the registrars
books was imposed on the sheriiis; and
though they have subsequently, been
relieved to some extent Of this duty :;
no correction of any entry, and no en-
try of any irregular marriage, can be
made without judicial sanction. The
petitioners, DESTROYS to get the regular
marriage which they contracted put op
the register, have consequently made
the present application. The question
is whether, on the evidence adduced
by them, | am justified in granting the
warrant they crave. No statute since
1856 has further restricted the indulgent
laxity of our law or exempte! Irish
people from Its scope, and the proof
adduced was sufficient on every point
except on the age of the parties. In
consequence | requested further proof
of the girls age. This has now been
furnished a few days ago the girls
mother made affidavit in Dublin that
the girl is within three months of being
% years OF age, but that she has been
unable to get any certificate at ST. An
drews chapel Dublin, where she says
the girl was babtised This is, perhaps
hardly matter for surprise, for the girl
declares she is only II, and from her
diminutivc appearance | greatly doubt
if she is so much. To make mat
ters worse, the boys father has written to
me, saying his son is eighteen, and not
twenty; and he and the girl are of diff
ferent religions, and urging me not to
authorize the registration of the mar
riage. 1t seems to me deplorable that
any encouragement should be given to
such union, but as the proof in regard
to the age of the applicants, though not
50 satisfactory as could be wished, is yet
not insufficient, | have no opportunity
save to grant warrant, for the regis
tration of their marriage Manchester
Guardian