The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
Interesting Report of Runaway
Marriage, and the Remarkable Ac.
tiOn. Which was taken to Separate
Husband and Wife.


LowNDEsvILLE, S. c., July 20, 1856.
Daring the past week or two matters have
been very dull in this section, and nccessari-
ly so, for the farmers have been very busy
trying to get rid of the grass during the hot
sunshine that we are now having. The mer-
camille business seems very good, and goods
are being sold at very close figures for the
cash.
Politics have not been revived, and
but little interest Is likely to be taken in the
coming election. Law has been particularly
dull. The lawyers are all off spending the
the summer at the different fashionable wa
terlng places. Trial Justice Mosely is quietly
spending the summer at "Mount Ararat,"
while his Deputy is enjoying "sweet sixteen"
society. So you will see, that the hot wealth
er, the absence Of the lawyers, the Trial JUS
tice in his summer quarters and no work for
his deputy makes things rather quiet. But,
however quiet matters DRIFT along, OCCASION
ally we have breeze and 1t comes this time
in the shape of q novel law suit. Although
the breeZe has been very strong ana even run
into eXcitement at times among the people OF
color, yet peace still prevails and two "bleed-
ing hearts" must pay the penalty OF the law.
The case can truly be called Novel Law
Suit" and involved many fine points which
were "eXpoundedn by the learned and distin-
1t seems that Mr.. j. T. Latimer had color
ed girl named Lucy Mel ntoch, in his employ,
and that this girl was bound to him by her
mother, Lou McIntoch us an apprentice un-
was executed In 1882 and stated that the ap-
prentice was nine years Of age; making her
thirteen years old sometime during this year.
In the early part Of this year the apprentice
began to receive the attentions of n colored
youth whose name was John Patterson. The
apprentice found out in some way that her
master was not friendly disposed towards her
admirer, and, like many other cases, his oppo-
sitiOn was as oil being poured on the flames.
About three months ago the affair was
brought to focus, and the young couple de-
cdcd to cast their lot together in the bark of
life. In company with several friends The
couple applied to Trial Justice Moscley to be
united In the sacred bonds Of matrimony.
The mother of the apprentice had given her
consent to John Patterson in the presence of
witnesses; and this being made known to the
Trial Justice lie proceeded to unite the cOu-
pie, llnd pronounced them man and wife. The
couple returned to tho home of the groom
where they have been spending their honey
moon.
the groom, and rs he was not consulted by
him OH tile subject, expressed his inten-
tions of trying the force OF the law. AS
Trial Justice Mosclcy was witness In the
Ransom for warrant against John Patter,
son for abduction. The warrant was issued
and placed in the hands of q constable for
execution. Last Saturday was the day ap-
pointed for the case to be hea3 @ and aTont
arrived with the bride and groom in his Gus
Lody. The witnesses being present, Judge
Ransom ordered his constable to bring the
prisoner into Court. The trial was held at
the depot and as very few knew, when it
would take place, the crowd was not as large
rs it would have been had it been generally
known. Judge Ransom calling John Patter-
fore me for having unlawfully taken from ].
r. Latlmer one Lucy McIntoch, (apprentice,) }
without the consent Of the said J. II. Latimer,
contrary to Sec., 25s5 of the General Statutes
]. NJ. Lhtimer (for whom Patterson was work
ing9 appeared for Patterson. The Judge STAT
ed that he had only the right 10 make q pre-
liminary examination. Mr.. J. L. Latimer
was sworn and testified as follows: l have
indenLure given me by Lou McIntoch for her
daughter Lucy McIntoch as an apprentice
which herewith submit" The Court ac-
ccpted the Indenture as legal instrument.
He stated that he objected to the girl marry
ing so young and she did it without the con-
sent and that John Patterson knew that he
opposed his marrying her. Trial Justice
Moseley testified that he married them upon
the ground that the apprentice had her
mothers consent. Jim Danily testified that
he went with the "bridal party" but there
was no one of them who went upon the pre-
misses Of Mr. Latimcr TO get the apprentice.
That she was out In the road looking for
them.
Lucy Patterson, nee Lucy McIntoch, was
sworn and testified that she knew Mr.. Lati-
mcr. opposed her marrying, but that her
in the road and went down to Mr.. Moseley's s
and married.
John Patterson was allowed to make a
statement which did not vary from the other
evidence.
After hearing the evidence Judge Ransom
turned to Section 25s5 OF the General Statutes
read as follows: "Whoever, above the age OF
fourteen years, shall unlawfully take or con-
maid or woman-child unmarried. being with
in the age of sixteen years, out Of or from the
possession and against the VIII OF such per-
son or persons as then Shall happen to have.
by any lawful ways or means, the order.
Keeping, education, or governance OF any
such maiden or woman-child, shall on con.
viction, suffer Imprisonment for the space OF
two years, or else shall pay such find rs shall
be adjudged by the Court"
He then said:
"John Patterson with this Statute as my
guide and with this evidence will have TO
require you to give 500, bond or go to Jail
and await your trial at tue next term OF the
Circuit Court"
Continuing the Judge said:
"Lucy Patterson you are no longer the Vile
of John Patterson. Being only thirteen years
old you could not lawfully marry. turn you
over to Mr. Latimer to obey his orders as his
apprentice and you cannot marry until you
are sixteen years OLD. II you marry tnSn , you
will bc required 10 continue IN his employ III
accordance with this contract"
Thus did Judge Ransom sever those whom
Judge MoSelcy had solcmnly united in holy
WCdlOcK. W ncn JuuSc iGtilSoni !iltsHca
his remarks, you could have heard a pin
fall as silence prevailed. The friends OF the
severed couple could not have been more sur
priscd had an angel appeared, than when the
Judge delivered his decree. The prisoner
failin. to give the required bond was sent
to jal to await his trial, but his true love
was returned to her master. Although uc.
clared 40 longer man and wife, they parted
feelingly aud both looked like saying in the
language Of the poet.
"silence, in truth, would speak my sorrows
best; c.,,.
Yet let me borrow from mine own unrest
This is the first case of the kind that has
ever been sent up from here anu 1t mas caus-
cd Il great deal of comment aud more cspc-
will be watched with much lntcrest,a u strong
effort will be made to return the prisoner 10
his young lover, and hr may yet be- permitted
to enjoy The remainder OF his honeymoon
from under the clutches of the law. Mr.. }. VI.
Iatimer has employed Capt. NJ. l.. Bonham
to defend the prisoner.
judge Ransom being candidate Tor matrl-
mOny and Knowing the feelings that are cher
iShcd i'm Il lovers heart found it very hard to
separate the young man and wife. He show
cd unmiStakIble signs of sympathy Tor the
prisoner, and during the delivery OF his de-
cree lie seemed particularly worried about
Beads of pcrSpintion stood
heavy on his forehead when lie said "you are
no longer man and wife and tic law must
take lis COURSE
Af;rr the trial the crowd dispersed, but It
will be some time before the SuprrStitious col
ored people will forget last Saturday proceed
ingS. NUM-.