Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-03-27
MEDICINE LODGE. BARBER CO. Kansas MARCH q 1885
WEDDING BY TELEGRAPH.
d Novel courtship and Marriase-A Penn-
syivania MatrOn's Successful Scheme to
Catch = Man, and She Lived to Rs-
pent It.
indianapolis Journal.l


pent It.
indianapolis Journall
A strange story, illustrating the surpris.
ing possibilities in the lottery of matxi-
mony, was told by an incongruous- look
ing couple that wGs brought into the po-
lice station last evening. The incongru-
eus-looking couple was Thomas G. welch
and his bride of little more than year.
The mans complexion is of deeper bru.
neste tinge than that of a pure Caucasian,
and his darkly- shaded, but somewhat hand
some features of face indicate a slight
mongrel mixture of white and black blood.
The woman was rather stylishly dressed
and OF somewhat attractive appearance,
of an apparent age indefinitely beyond
thirty. Two years ago she was q widow
living at Parker's Landing, in Pennsyl-
vania, and was engaged in the millinery
business. Her name was Mrs. Sarah Or
ton, and she was in rather prosperous cir
cumstances. Still she was not satisfied.
She was lonely and she sighed for the
soothing and comforting coInpanionshi ip
or a loved one. She advertised in
the personal column of The
Cincinnati Enquirer for gentleman COR
respondent. Thomas Nelch, an Indian
apolis tonsorial artist, responded to the
advertisement. He represented that he
was a practicing physician, and before
many letters passed he told Sarah that he
loved her. Womnnlike she believed him
doubtless because she did not want to dis
believe him-and she assured Thomas. the
tonSorial artist, that she loved him. They
both loved, and it was settled. Cupid's
fol-
miles between the yearning tonsoriaI artist
In Indianapolis and his signing sweetheart
far away up in the ALE, heuies trimming
bonnets. They wanted to marry and moth
ing slower than lightning could do the
splicing. The widow rushed down to the
telegraph office in Pittsburgh, and the inn
patient bridegroom hurried to the Indian
epolis end OF the wire, in company with
"Rcy." Thomas Smith, who was called
upon to perform the ceremony which was
to enwrap the lovers in the bonds of we'd
lock and electricity. The following mes
sage was flashed across the wire:
1SDIASAFoLIs, July 6, lsS3.-To Miss SARAH
oRToS:-Do You solemaly promise before
Almighty God and these witnesses to receive
Dir. Thomas Welch as your lawful welded
husband until the union in which you are
now entered is dissolved by death.
REV. THOMAS SMITH
The response came quickly: ~ do" and
in less than a jifry the happy bride in Pitts
burgh read the following:
INDIANAPOLIS, July 5, lSS3.-To SARAH On.
TONI now pronounce you man and wife
What God has put together let no man pu,
asunder REV. THOMAS SMITH
"Rev." Thomas Smith is a negro, who
was engaged in the professional pursuit of
shaving faces alongside DR.. Thomas Welch.
After this novel marriage ceremony, which
was contracted without the two parties
having seen each other, the woman came
on to Indianapolis. She found her husband
in embarrassing pecuniary circumstances.
She brought furniture with hor, with which
a home was furnished. The doctor had no
patients and no practice. She opened q
millinery store down on Virginia avenue,
and with her earnings from trimming bon
nets she paid all the living expenses. be-
sides furnishing the doctor with money for
many little extravagances which were re-
quired, he represented, to sustain tho dig
nity OF his professional pretensions. Dur
ing the period Of more than a year that
they lived together she was compelled to
A short time ago n spitesul spinster told
Mrs. Welch that her husband was not a
doctor, but that he was negro barber.
She claims that this was the first revela-
tion 20 her Of the dsceptions that had been
practiced upon her. She wanted TO return
to her home in Pennsylvania, but Welch
was loath To lose his precious treasure. and
strenuously objected. She made arrange-
ments, however, to go, and yesterday had
all her goods packed ready for her depar-
ture. Welch threatened to kill her IL she
attempted TO take them with her, and she
appealed TO the police for protection. Both
were brought to the police station, and the
woman related the story ot her deception
to the Superintendent of Police substaa-
TALLY as here given. Welch's admissions
corroborated the truthfulness of her state
ments. He was locked up on the charge Of
disturbing the peace, and his wife, who de-
ciares that she VIII apply for divorce,
will return to her former home, money hay-
ing been furnished her for that purpose by
her friends.