Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-11-16
MARRIED AT A JAIL WINDOW.

Last Tuesday, Mr.. James Faunteroy,
well.to-do young farmer, of Marion, Smythe
county, Va, went out walking on Ragged
Edge Hill with Miss Mollie Downes, the
belle Of Chatham Hill village. While tass-
ing along narrow pathway on the noun
tain side overhaDging deep ravine they
were accosted by Mr.. Pierre Dugau, another
farmer, who had been sutton for Miss
Downes's hand for several years. Dugan
came upon the couple while young Faun-
tlerov's arm was around the girls waist. He
began to reproach the girl and Fauntleroy
struck him full in the face. The blow
knocked Dugan from the narrow path into
the ravine, where he lay senseless for several
hours until Fauntleroy could return to
Chatham Hill and organize q relief party,
who, with the aid of ropes, raised Dugan
from The ravne. Dusan's legs were broken
and it was feared that he was internally in
iured Miss Downes's grief was intense,
and when 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 brother, who is a lawyer,
suggested that it vas pity Jim was not
married. as Miss Downes could not be made
to appear rs witness against her own hus.
band. The suggestion was quickly caught at
and Lawyer Fauntleroy went to Thomas
Downes brother Of the girl, and after some
persuasion, induced him TO consent to the
| Immediate marriage Of the couple. Know
ing 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 tho County Clerk, Tom Dowues got a
marriage license for his sister and James
Fauntleroy. Last night. Miss Downes and
her brother drove quietly into Chatham
from their home, two miles in the country.
They were met at the jail by Lawyer Faunt-
leroy and a minister named Peterson. The
party had previously located the cell occu-
pied by the prisoner, and they now pushed
their carriage directly against the Jail wall,
under the cell window.
Lawyer Fauutleroy jumped on to the seal
OF the carriage, and thrustiDg his hand
through the iron grating, broke through the
glass of the window, at the same time call
lug out to his brother to reassure him. The
latter, by dragging his cot under the win
board, managed to get his head On level
4
marriage was quickly explained, and then
Lawyer Fauntleroy jumped to the ground
and aided Miss Downes TO get into the buggy
The trembling girl could not quite reach
the eager hand stretched from the barred window
Then Lawyer Fauntleroy knelt down in the buggy
and the minister aided Miss Downcs to plant hcl
dainty foot OH his back and Chamber to the shout
dcrs Of her brother, who stood braccd against the
Jail wall. In this position she could easily grasT
her cxpcctant lovers hand, which she kissed fer
vcntly. In this strange situation, unable to sec
each others faces, but with the moonlight stream
ing through the grated window, the young couple
were hurricdy married.
st was quite picturesque scene" remarked
Lawyer Fauntleroy, when he was laughingly re-
latng tho story. 1T seemed to me at tho time
that the wedding was without PARALLEL in this OF
any other country. Brother Jim has a good, true
and plucky little wife, God bless her, and l know
they'll be happy as soon IS he gets out of jail
This will not be long, as the doctor told me that
Dugan is much better and is not injured inter
nally. Of course if VIC had known last night that
Dugans life was safe we would not have fastened
Jinls marriage: but it's all right, anyhow
Thesentiment in the county is strongly in favor
of the young couple All the parties arc well-to
do country people and have borne excellent rcpu
tations.-Sprcal dispaich To Ncr YORK. World.