The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-20
UNDER THE JAIL WALL.
A Virginia>Girls Marriage to Her Imprisoned
LOver-A BrOther-In-Law Underfoot.


Marion (Va Special.
Last Tuesday James Fauntleroy, a rich young
farmer went out walking on Ragged Edge Hill
with Miss Mollie Downes, the belle of Chatham
Hill village, twenty miles from here While
passing along narrow pathway the noun
tain side overhanging deep ravine, they were
accosted by Pierre Dugan, another farmer, who
had been sutton for Miss Downes' hand for
several years. Dugan came upon the couple
while Fauntleroy's arm was around the girls
waist. He had not previously known that he
had rival, and began to reproach the girl bit
terly. Faunteroy told him not to speak rudey
to the lady, and when he thereupon applied the
epithet: "a heartess coquette" to her. Fauntle
roy struck him full in the face. The blow
caused Dugan to stagger and fall from the
row path into the ravine, where he lay senseless
for several hours, until Fauntleroy could return
to Chatham Hill and organize a relief party
who with the aid of ropes, succeeded in getting
the insensible man from the bottom of the ra-
vine Dugan had both legs broken, and it was
feared at first that he was internally injured.
Miss Downes grief was intense, and she
tainted when Fauntleroy was arrested and
thrown int, Jail The friends of the latter
while indorsing his course in repelling Dugan's
Objectionable language to Miss Downes, were
seriously alarmed what his fate would be if
Dugan should die They quickly perceived that
the only witness against Faunteroy in the event
would be Miss Downes, and several of them
suggested the advisability Of her leaving the
Fauntleroy's brother who is lawyer, suggested
that it was pity that he was not married, as
Miss Downes could not be made to appear as a
witness against her own husband The sugges-
ton was quickly caught at, and Lawyer Faunt-
leroy went to Thomas Downes, the 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
m in 6utv h0uOd tha re
for the wedding made very quietly.
Through cousin in the Office of the County
Clerk Tom Downes got marriage license for
his sister and James Fauntleroy. Last night
the Downeses brother and sister, drove quietly
into Chatham from their home in the country
They were met at the Jail by Lawyer Faunteroy
and minister named Peterson The party had
previously located the cell occupied by the
prisoner and they pushed their carriages directly
against the Jail wall under the cell window.
Lawyer Fauntleroy jumped into the seat of the
carriage and, thrusting his hand through the
iron grating broke through the glass OF the win
dow: at the same time, he called out to his
brother to reassure him.
The latter, by dragging his cot under the win
dow in the cell and standing on the headboard
managed to get his head On level with the win
dow. The necessity for the marriage was
quickly explained and then Lawyer Fauntleroy
jumped down to the ground and aided Miss
Downes' brother to get into the buggy. 1t was
found that the bling girl could not reach
the eager hand stretched from the barred win
dow over her head and plainly discernible in the
brilliant moonlight which flooded the jail and
vicinity. Then Lawyer Fountleroy knelt down
in the buggy, and the minister aided Miss
Downes to plant her dainty foot on his back and
stand on him. From here she succeeded in
clambering onto the shoulders Of her brother,
who stood braced against the Jail wall In this
position she could easily grasp her lovers hand,
which she kissed fervently. In this strange sit
uation unable to see each others faces, the low
ing young couple were hurredly married.
at was quite picturesque scene" remarked
Lawyer Fauntleroy to-day, when he was laugh
ingly relating the story. ''It seemed to me at
the time that the wedding is without parallel
in this or any other country. Brother Jim has
good, true and plucky little wife, and 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 in
jured internally Perhaps after Dugan has
nursed that leg Tor d month or two he'll
appreciate the necessity of keeping a civil
tongue in his head when ladies are around. Of
course, if we mad known last night that Dugan's
life was safe we would not have fastened Jim's
marriage but it is all right anyhow
The sentiment in the country is strongly in
favor of the young couple. All the parties are
well-to-do country people. and have borne ex-
celent regulations.