The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-24
NO. IL,
Married at q Jail Window.

vember l4.-Last Tuesday Mr.. James
Fauntleroy, well-to-do young farmer
went out walking on Ragged Edge Hill
with Miss Mollie Downes, the belle of
Chatham Hill village. While passing
along a narrow pathway on the noun
tain side overhanging a deep ravine
they were accosted by Mr.. Pierre Du-
gan, another farmer, who had been a
suitcr for Miss Downes's hand for sever
al years. Dugan came upon the couple
while young Fauntleroy's arm was
around the girls waist. He began to
reproach the girl and Fauntleroy struck
him full in the face. The blow knock
ed Dugar from the narrow path into
the ravine, where he remained senseless
for several hours until Fauntleroy could
return to Chatham Hill and organize
relief party, who with the aid of ropes
raised Dugan from the ravine. Du-
gan's legs were broken, and it was fear
ed that he was internally injured.
Miss Downe's grief was intense. and
whea Fauntleroy was put in Jail, she
tainted.
Fauntleroy's friends were much
alarmed as to what his fate would be if
Dugan should die. Fauntleroy's broth
er, who is lawyer, suggested that it
was pity jim was not married, as
Miss Downes could not be made to ap-
pear as witness against her own hus-
band. The suggestion was quickly
caught Mt, and lawyer Fauntleroy went :
to Thomas Downcs, brother Of the girl,
and after some persuasion, induced him
to consent to the immediate marriage of
the couple. Knowing that the Sheriff
would object and that he would do all
in his power to prevent the marriage,
the arrangements were made very
quietly. Through cousin in the office
Of the County Clerk, Tom Downes got
a marriage license for his sister and
James Fauntleroy. Last night Miss
Downes and her brother drove quickly
into Chatham, from their home two
miles in the country. They were met
at the Jail by Lawyer Fauntlcroy and
minister named Peterson. The party
had previously located the cell occupied
by the prisoner, and they now pushed
their carriage directly against the Jail
wall, under the cell window.
Lawyer Fauntleray jumped on to the
seat Of the carriage, and thrusting his
hand through the iron grating broke
through the glass of the window, at the
same time calling to bis brother to rens-
sure him. The latter, by dragging his
cot under the window in the cell and
standing on the headboad, mrnaged to
get his head on a level with the win
dow. The necessity for the marriage
was quickly explained, and then Lawyer
Fauntleroy jumped to the ground and
aided Miss Downes to get into the bug
gy. The slender girl could not quite
reach the eager hand stretched from
the barred window. Then Lawyer
Fauntleroy knelt down in the buggy
duu IAo iutiASlcI olueu MISS DOWHeS 10
plant her dainty foot on his back md
Chamber to the shoulders Of her brother.
who stood braced against the Jail wall.
In this position she could easily grasp
her expectant lovers hand. which she
kissed fervently. In this strange situa-
alton, unable to see others faces, but
with the moonlight streaming through
the grated window, the young couple
were hurriedly married.
"It was quite picture scenc," re-
marked Lawyer Faun.leroy to-day,
when he WAS laughingly relating the
story. ut seemed to me at the time
that the wedding was withouta parallel
in this or any other country. Brother
Jim has good, true and p1 ky little
wife, God bless her, and I.know they'll
be happy as soon as he gets out of Jail.
This will not be long, as the doctor told
me to-day that Dugan is much better
and is not injured internally. Of course
il we had known last nj sht that Dugan's
life was safe we would not have hasten
ed Jim's marriage; but it's all right
anyhow" ;s $s,E.r s.
The sentiment in the county is strong
ly in favor of the young couple. An
the parties are well-to-do country
people and have borne excellent reputa-
IL ~