St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-02
BROKE FOUR HEARTS.
A Boy in His Teens With Tenden-
CieS Toward MOrmOniSm.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April bright
eyed and rosy-cheeked John j. Cullen,
the nineteen-year-old, boy who distin-
guished himself by marrying two girls
in one week and engaging himself to
two more, was in court yesterday morn
ing to receive sentence for the indul-
gence of his pOlygamOuS prOpenSities.
There was no doubt at all in the minds
of the jury at the time of the trial that
Cullen had married the two girls, al
though John StrenuOuSly insisted that
it was ':the fellow that looked like him"
who was the husband of the alleged
Mrs. Cullen No. 2, and even denied ac-
quaintance with his bride of a week.
Interest was given to tO-day'S proceed
ings before the court by reason of the
fact that il was known young Cullen's
lawyer was going to make an effort to
save his client by claiming that the Sec
ond marriage was not valid. 1t was per-
formed by Rev. John j. Sleeper of Cam
den, the deposed Episcopal clergyman,
whose authority to tie the nuptial knot
has recently been called into question,
and the discussion of which has caused
so much f1utter in many households.
The hundreds of young couples married
by Rev. Sleeper during the past year,
and who have been so SOrely tried by
reason of the doubt cast upon the legal
ity of their married relations, had their
minds set at rest by Judge Arnold's dis
position of the young bigamiSt'S case.
The Judge made it pretty plain that
Rev. Mr.. Sleeper'S marriages are as
solid, dOuble-ribbed and everlasting as
any other, provided the intending hus-
band or wife doesn't happen to be pos
seSSed of a life partner when invoking
his matrimonial blessing. Cuilen's law
yer started in his efforts in behalf of his
young client with futile attempt to Sc
cure him new trial on the ground that
he had been unjustly treated in the
Judges charge. He was quickly knocked
out, and then he essayed his tour de
force by challenging the legality of
Marriage No. 2 on the ground of Rev.
Sleeper'S incompetency to perform the
ceremony. Judge Arnold interrupted,
saying,
about that. This was marriage in fact;
a civil contract by persons having the
right to so contract. 1t is good mar
Ireland saying: IF you will come to
this country will marry you,' and she
comes to this country and the marriage
is consummated, it is valid marriage.
There is no need of a Clergyman Oh mag
istrate to sanctify it. 1t makes no diff
ference if Rev. Mr.. Sleeper is
commissioned by church or
not. The marriage is just as valid
in civil court, OF in criminal
court. Marriages were begun in para
disc, and have been going On ever since.
It makes no difference whether the mar
rage was performed in Camden or Phil
delphia. AS Judge King said, Proof
of first marriage is sufficient to found an
Indictment for bigamy.' Mr.. Sleeper
had just as much right to perform this
marriage as any one else. The man who
performs this marriage is merely GER
tifier and not party to the contract"
s'DOes your honor mean," asked Mr..
Shields, "that if Mr.. Ker performed
this marriage it would be valid one?"
II do, indeed" said Judge Arnold,
whether he performed it in Philadel-
phia OF whether he performed in Cam
den, only if he performed it in Phila-
delphia he would be fined 500, and that
is all there is about it,"
'sThen have nothing more to say"
concluded Mr.. Shields, as he took his
seat.
A plea for mercy was made to the
court by Mr.. Shields, but Judge Arnold
said:
Il am here to do my duty, and Pm
going to do it. There is no use trying
to shut our eyes. This boy married two
girls and wanted to marry two more.
There is no knowing when he would
have stopped; Cullen, stand up," and
the pale young prisoner got on on his
feet. sCullen, nine months in the county
pricnn ,,