The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-09-02
MOCK MARRIAGE.
The Comique Ceremony the
Talk Of the W
MANY OPINIONS =.
The Law and the Facts.--Card OF
Denial From Miss Sophie
Duncan.

Yesterday the talk of the city was owe
the marriage or mock marriage that tool
place at the Theater Comique the night pre-
vlous. That the ceremony ri gone througl
with In strict accordance with law by Jus
tice Nichols is not disputed, but the tw,
principals to the affair and the Justice ar
positive in their statements that it wa
nothing more or less than a huge practica
joke gotten up to relieve the ~ordinanary
monotony of a dull evening. They scou,
the idea OF any serious intention and enjoy
ed the laugh heartily until the publication
made them the objects OF more than ordi
nary comment n gossip.
H YOUNG GENTLEMAN
who figured as the groom was especially in.
dignant when he read The MINER. For al
though his name was not mentioned hit
identity was soon established and he wal
made the subject of all manner of queries
some pertinent m others impertinent. He
reiterated yesterday chat it was simply
frolic gotten up among a few friends all Of
whom perfectly understood that there was
no serious aspect to the affair that it was
only a joke and as such had no business in
the columns OF q newspaper. He looked
upon it as a strictly private matter of no
earthly interest except to those who par
ticipated in it and he could not understand
why Others should nave been made &C.
quainted with it.
TIL U LADY. @
The young lady paid The MINER a call
and while she was not particularly ANNOYED
by the matter she asked for the privilege of
space for the following card, which is cheer
fully granted. 1t speaks for itself:
BUTTE, CITY, AUGUST 20, 1885.
To H EDITOR OF The MIHER:-The Joke
announced in yesterdays MINER regarding
my marriage with Mr.. Myres is hardly nee
essary for me to refute. Mr.. Myres and
myself and some friends were having a So
cable time at the Theater Comique when
MI. Myres suggested that we should get
married in fun, SO we pretended to 20
hearty laugh. l am not married and have
Intentions OF getting married at present.
Yours truly,
SOPHIE DUNCAN.
THE OFFICIATING JUDGE.
Judge Nichols, who oficiated on the oc-
casion and who is always in for a Joke,
states that he knew nothing whatever OF
the matter until he was called out of his
bed to visit the COmique On important bust
ness. He responded and was ushered into
no presence OF a joyous party, and was
.i,"l told why he had been sent for, all the
agreeing that it was only for fun.
There was no use Of getting mad; so making
5he best OF it he entered into the spirit Of !
The occasion and ''only for fun'' performed /
l mock marriage. He does not think there |
g or can be any serious side to the matter, |
Ind says he had not given it even a passing |
until to-day when it was so much
talked about. He does not intend to make |
t a matter of record, as the law requires in |
ne case OF genuine marriages, and as both
insist that it is a sham. and he so
Understood it from the beginning, he can
'nly let the matter drop.
ALL THE PARTIES
o the affair were about yesterday attending
o their usual avocations. Miss Sophie
las as chirp as ever, and as she walked
long the street looked pretty enough to be
bride, but did not have any peculiarly
'ridish appearance. The orange blossoms,
he fancy silk dresses and the husband were
II conspicuously absent.
Mr.. Myers, mounted on his fine saddle
orse, was around attending to his usual
usincss, but it was late in the afternoon
e sociable. He could not be made to un-
that there vas a serious side to
ne affair, or that there was anything con-
ected with it, that his friends, except the
'lect few who were present, had any right
} know or laugh about,
G OPINION
Among the many who talked about the
after and discussed it in a serious light
ere a number of leading lawyers. The
ct that the alleged ceremony was per-
rmed in strict accordance with the statute
Id by a justice OF the peace leads to the
'liet, in the opinion of many, that it may
ed to serious complications in the future.
ley think that all the forms being OBJ
the contract is binding, notwith-
.nding the fact that neither OF the prin-
pals SO consider it. 1t is urged that the
st way out OF the dilemma is a legal APP
for a separation, setting forth the
IT'S as they exist, the intention of the
rites at the time and the mutual non
sire to consumate the marriage. This
'uld be readily granted by the court and
ould surely avoid all possible trouble for
e future.
The general laws of Montana on the sub
It OF marriage are as follows, as far as
ey can in any way be applicable to the
sc in point:
S54-Marriage, as far as it's val
ty is concerned, is a civil contract, to
itch the consent of the parties capable in I
v of contracting is essential, and the par :
8 shall be OF the age Of majority.
S56-That marriages may be
lemnized by any judge Of a court of
ord, by any justice OF the peace in the +
unity or judicial district in and for which h
is appointed or elected, by the Governor Il
this Territory, or by a minister of the 7
'pel who may be settled over any congre- \
lion in this Territory as minister thereof. q
The succeeding sections provide for a d
ord of the marriage by the parties Off f.
ting, and section $50 says that every ii
son solemnlzing marriages who shall q.
TO make and deliver to the recorder ;.
ertiticate as required shall be fined not K
3 han $40 or more than $50. a.
The above is the law, and whether it has ~
infringed or violated remains to be s.
n; but one thing is sure, the young peo- II
will not be in a hurry to contract an NJ
Ter mock marriage. II