The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-10
A WEDDING BY TELEGRAPH.
The Novel COurtship and Marriage of
DR." Welsh and Widow orion.
A Pennsylvania MatrOn's Successful Scheme
to Catch Man, and How She
Lived to Repent 1t.

A strange story illustrating the surprising
possibilities in the lottery of matrimony, was
told by an incongruous-looking couple that was
brought into the police station last evening. The
incongruous-looking couple was Thomas G.
Welch and his bride of little more than a. year.
The mans complexion is of a deeper brunette
tinge than that of pure Caucasian and his
darkly shaded, but somewhat handsome, features
Of face bear indications of a slight mon
grel mixture of white and black blood.
The woman was rather stylishly dressed and of
a somewhat attractive appearance of an ap
parent age indefinitely beyond thirty. Two
years ago she was widow living at Parker's
Landing, in Pennsylvania, and was engaged in
the millinery business. Her name was Mrs Sarah
Orion, and she was in rather prosperous cir
cumstances. Still she was not satisfied. She
was lonely and she sighed for the soothing
and comforting companionship of a loved one.
She advertised in the personal column of the
Cincinnati Enquirer for a gentleman
correspondent. Thomas G. WEIGH, an
indianapolis tonsorial artist responded to the
advertisement He represented that he was a
practicing physician, and before many letters
passed he told Sarah that he loved her. Wom-
ankle, she believed him-doubtless because she
did not want to disbelieve him-and she assured
Thomas the tonsorial artist, that she loved
him. They both loved, and it was settled.
Cupid's little arrows few thick and fast across
the miles between the yearning tonsoral artist in
Indianapolis and his signing sweetheart far
away up in the Alleghenles trimming bonnets.
They wanted to marry and nothing slower than
lightning could do the splicing, The widow
rushed down to the telegraph Office in Pittsburg,
inn h1i1 led To
indianapolis end of the wire, in company with
Rev y Thomas Smith, who called upon to
perform the ceremony which was to enwrap the
lovers in the bonds of wedlock and electricity.
The following message was flashed across the
wire:
To Miss Sarah Orion:
Do you solemnly promise before Almighty God and
these witnesses to receive Mr.. Thomas Welch your
lawful welded husband until the union in which you
are now entered is dissolved by DEATH
The response came quickly, II do" and in less
than jiffy the happy bride in Pittsburg read the
following:
INDIANAPOLIS July 3, 1888.
now pronounce you man and wife. What God has
put together let no man put asunder
REV. THOMAS SMITH.
The ''Rev." Thomas Smith is a negro, who
was engaged in the professional pursuit of shay
ing faces alongside DR.. Thomas WEIGH. After
this novel marriage ceremony, which was con-
tracted without the two parties having ever seen
each other, the woman came on to Indianapolis.
She found her husband in embarrassing pecuni-
airy circumstances. She brought furniture
with her, with which q home was fur
nished. The Doctor had no patients and
practice. She openeda millinery store down on
Virginia avenue, and with her earnings from
trimming bonnets she paid all the living ex-
penses, besides furnishing the Doctor with
money for many little extIavagances which
were required he represented, to sustain the
dignity Of his professional pretensions. During
the period of more than year that they lived
together she compelled to pay all the living
expenses.
A short time ago spiteful spinster told Mrs
Weleh that her husband was not doctor, but
that he was a negro barber. She claims that
this was the first revelation to her of the decep-
tions that had been practced upon her. She
wanted to return to her home in Pennsylvania
but WEIGH was 10th to lose his precious treasure
and strenuously objected She made arrange
ments, however, to go, and yesterday had all
her goods packed ready for her departure
WEIGH threatened to kill her if she attempted to
take them with her, and she appealed to the
police for protection. Both were brought
related the story of her deception to the su
given. Welch's admissions corroborated the
up on the charge of disturbing the peace, and
his wife, who declares that she will apply for
divorce, will return to her former home, money
having been furnished her for that purpose by
her friends.