Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-07
A PECULIAR AFFAIR.
Forced Marriage of Rev. MT. Auld. of New York, to a Parishioner-A Mys- terious Contract.

Forced Marriage of Rev. MT. Auld. of
 New York, to a Parishioner-A Mys-
 terious Contract.
 NEW YORK, Dec. "A peculiar sensation, which has the elements of mystery to make it interesting, is just now attracting the at tention of of church circles in this city and vicinity.
 A day or two before Thanksgiving, Mrs. Emma Helen Christie visited the rector of the Church of the Holy Faith Rev. Victor c. Smith, and asked him to marry her on the following Wednesday to Rev. Harry Auld, rector of St. Mary's Protestant Epis- copal church,
 She showed him contract dated March f, 1887, which set forth that "Harry Auld and Emma Helen Christie solemnly VOW and covenant together in holy matrimony.n It was witnessed by A. J. Thompson, who, Mir. Smith knew, had been assistant rector of St. Paul's Episcopal church, but had since moved to Providence. The young woman claimed that by this contract she was al- ready Mir. Auld's wife, but she wanted to be married over again She said that she and Mr. Auld had gone to MT. Thompson on the date of the contract, and that he had refussd to marry them because it was Lent, but had readily witnessed the agreement which she herself had drawn up on the spot.
 Mrs. Christie's request was suppl lemented later by a letter from Rev. Mir. Auld, asking the Rev. Smith, who is an old friend of his, to set aside Wednesday evening Ito marry couple" not intimating who the contracting parties were
 Meanwhile Rev. Mir. Auld rendered his resignation to the vestry of St. Marys for ''purely personal reasons" ," which he did not care to disclose. His resignation was re- ceived with astonishment, but accepted
 At the appointed time Rev. Mr. Aud, with two friends, appeared at Rev. Mr. Smiths house, and were soon followed by Mrs. Christie, her mother and a gentleman. In the presence of these the ceremony was performed under the most peculiar circum- stances. Mir. Auld was greatly agitated and Mrs. Christie showed evidence of rage and a determinatiQn to carry out her scheme. Mir, Auld produced no ring, gave his answers in a gingerly way. and ln response to that, "Do you take this woman for your welded wife?n he replied, II take her for my legal wife Il He further said; ''Ths woman has forced me to resign my pastorate She has ruined my life. She has brought me here, and | feel obliged to marry her, though I do not | want to, and will not recognize her as my | wife or live with her. l am 8 heggar and | cannot support her."
 l Immediately after the ceremony Mir. Aud
 
 1 pany with his two friends
 1 There is the greatest curiosity as to what | constitutes Mrs, Christie's hold on the rever- end gentleman and how the contract of l March came to be made Both deny that l any improper relations have existed, and Mir. Auld has never been known to call on l Mrs Christie although she has been seen go- l ing to his house on several occasions, but ! nothing was thought of this, as she was a member of his congregation.
 MT. Auld is the sole support of his mother, 1 and by his resignation has left himself posi- | tionless and penniless. His wife now threatens l to sue for support, and if she does so it is l said some surprising revelations will be l made An unsuccessful effort to reinstate ! Rev Mir. Auld has been made He reported l his case to Bishop Potter, and has acted in l accordance with the latter's recommenda- tions in the marriage affair, and has received official recommendation for so doing.
 The woman says she does not love the man she forced to marry her. She says she hates him, and her action in now seeking divorce and thereby making the subject one oi notoriety is done for revenge. He remains quiet. He has been urged by his nearest kindred and friends to meet the affair bravely and ''let the cat out of the bag,n but theil efforts have been useless.
 Mrs. Christie stated that the marriage con tract was drawn up by Judge Andrew J. Rogers. A reporter called on him for a con firmation.
 II had nothing to do with it" he said. q was never more surprised in my life wher Mrs Christie came to me for legal advice fol the purpose of bringing an action against MT Auld for divorce. She then showed nae that paper, which she was clever enough to have drawn up, and which legally made Auld hel husband She showed me also letter writer by Auld to her, in which he begged her tt T take pity on him and not ruin him.
 'His letter to her was one of the mos touching that a man could write to 8 woman felt sorry for him. asked her what he motive was in prosecuting the man. Sh
 would not answer me, only replying, with sardonic smile, T hate him, and shall neve forget it. I want to punish him.
 ssShe said they had never been to see eacl
 other as man and wife. After she had finishe, ! telling me her story I declined to have any
 thing to do with her case, and any lawye , who would take up the case for her I woul,
 have no respect for"