Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-11-19
UNDER THE JAIL WALL.
A VIRGINIA GIRLS MARRIAGE
TO HER IMPRISONED LOVER.
The Nsw-made Husband Thus Saved from
the Evidence That He Had Attempt
ed the Death OF His Rival
The Brothers Conniv-
ance.

MARION, Va, Nov. 14.-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 a narrow
pathway on the mountain side o%verhang-
ing a deep %ravine. they were accostcd by
Pierre Dugan, another farmer, who had
been a sutton for Miss Downes' hand for
several years. Dugan came upon the
while Fauntleroy's arm was
around the girls waist. He had not
previously known that he had a rival, and
began to reproach the girl bitterly.
Fauntleroy told him not to speak rudely
to the lady, and when he thereupon APP
piled the epithet: "a heartless coquette''
to her, Fauntleroy struck him full in the
face. The blow caused Dugan to stagger
and fall from the narrow path into the
ravine, where he lay senseless for sew
eral hours, until Fauntleroy could return
to Chatham Hill and organize a relief
party. who, with the aid Of ropes, sue.
ceeded in getting the insensible man from
the bottom Of the ravine. 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 arrest
ed and thrown into Jail. The friends of
the latter, while endorsing his course in
repelling Dugan's Objectionable language
to Miss Downes, were seriously alarmed
what his fate would be IL Dugan should
die. They quickly perceived that the
only witness against Fauntlcroy in the
event would be Miss Downes, and several
of them suggested the advisability of her
leaving the State. This seemed undesir-
able, and then Fauntleroy's brother, who
is lawyer, suggested that it was a pity
that he was not married, as Miss Downes
could not be made to appear as o witness
against her W husband. The sugges-
ton was quickly caught at, and Lawyer
Fauntleroy went to Thomas Downes, the
brother Of the girl, and after some per-
suasion induced him to consent to the
immediate marriage Of the couple.
MARRIED UNDER THE JAIL WALL.
Knowing that the Sheriff would object
and that he would do all in his power to
prevent the marriage, as in duty bound,
the arrangements for the wedding were
made very quietly. Through a cousin in
the Office of the County Clerk Tom
Downes got a 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 metal the Jail
by Lawyer Fauntleroy and a minister
named Peterson. The party had pre-
viously located the cell occupied by the
prisoner, and they pushed their carriage
directly against the Jail wall under the
cell window. Lawyer Fauntleroy jumped
into the seat of the carriage and, thrust.
ing his hand through the iron grating,
broke through the glass of the window.
AT the same time, he called out to his
brother to reassureh him.
The latter, by dragging his cot under
the window in the cell and standing on
the h%eadboard, managed to get his head
on a level with the window. The neces-
sity for the marriage was quickly ex-
planned, and then Lawyer Fauntleroy
jumped down to the ground and aided
Miss Downes' brother to get into the
buggy. 1t was found that the trembling
girl could not reach the eager hand
stretched from the barred window 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 on to
the shoulders of her brother, who stood
braced against the Jail wall. In this po-
sition she could easily grasp her lovers
hand, which she kissed fervently. In
this strange situation, unable to see each
others faces, the loving young couple
were hurriedly married.
WITHOUT A PARALLEL.
ut was quite a picturesque %scene," re-
marked Lawyer Fauntleroy to-day, when
he was laughingly relating the story. III
seemed to me at the time that the wed.
ding is without a parallel in this or any
other country. Brother Jim has a good,
true and plucky little wife, and l 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 bet.
ter, and is not injured internally. Per.
haps after Dugan has nursed that leg oil
his for month or two he'll appreciate the
necessity of keeping a civil tongue in his
head when ladies are around. Of course,
If we had known last night that Dugan's
life was safe we would not have fastened
Jim's marriage, but it is all right any
how"
The sentiment in the country is strong
ly in favor Of the young couple. All the
parties are well-to-d0 country people, and
have borne excellent regulations.