Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-24
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Those Who Think There Is
a Good Deal.
THE REASONS THEY ASSIGN.
What an Hour Spent Among the
Records of the County Clerk
Brought Forth.

Lll0 bCPNSJ
Tanning, by HERALD reporter the other
day, and he replied: ga good deal, some
people think. In numerous instances
there is too much in names for their
owners, and they come here to change
them. Cupid Whitney, on the other
side there, can describe one class OF
people who want their names changed.
These are mostly young ladies, OF course,
who have become tired Of carrying the
names their fathers gave them, and are
anxious to change them for others, which
in time they may find harder to bear
than those originally given them. When
these young ladies get tired OF their
names a second time they come to me
to have them changed back. OF course
miss a few of those who go to Cupid
whitney in the first place, but then L
catch q good many of them"
"And are these the only people that
visit the County Clerks office to have
their names changed?" asked the re-
SWELL" said Mr.. Tanning, "not ex-
actly. Once in while there are others
who drop in and ask for change OF
name, but not often. l only remember
four in the past four years, but there are
the books, look for yourself
A short investigation of the manner OF
obtaining change of name was then
made and it was found to be very
simple process, so simple that it seems
strange that SO few names have been
changed in Les Angeles county. Ali
that is required is the filing of the petit
ton setting forth some good reason tor
the change. After the filing in the
County Clerks Office, of the petition, the
petitioner is given a chance to go before
q Judge of the Superior Court and tell
the court the reason he desires the
change, and if there are no objections
the prayer is granted and man or
woman with new name is turned out.
He can allege that his name isso common
that his mails never reach him, and he
can have his name changed to Smythe or
any other name that takes his fancy. A
man with name spelled go that it is
pronounced in several different ways can
have his name changed, on this ground,
to one that can only be pronounced in
one way. All that an Ap Jones or De
Browne has to do is to set forth the
nature of his yearnings, and the court
permits him to become Plantagenet or
o Macallister.
In looking over the records, the name
of one who used to be called David B.
Alger was found. The same man now
appears under the name of De Witt
Clinton Franklin. The change was made
in November, 1888. Mr.. Alger set forth
in his petition that he had been born at
White House, New Jersey, tifty-four
wears before, and in 1864 he arrived in
Los Angeles, where he became known as
De Witt Clinton Franklin, and his wife
and five children also bore the name of
Franklin. He desired to change his
name to the one by which he had been
called since his arrival here in order to
save legal and business complications,
and his petition was granted. :,
In another part of the books was found
the name of Ellen Crane, who desired
her name changed to Ellen Farrell. She
said that she was the daughter OF Richard
and Mary Jane Farrell, OF Liverpool,
England, and was q years old. In 1879
she had married man named Crane IN
Pennsylvania. In 1887 she obtained
divorce from Crane, but forgot to ask
that she might change her name back to
Farrell. She was granted permission to
resume the name of her parents.
Another petition, granted not long be
fore, was that of Eveline Maria Perry,
who ASKED that her name be changed to
Eyeline Maria Grow. She stated that
abe was born over fifty years before at
Leon Center, New York, and that she
had been twice married. Her trst hus-
bands name. was Grow, and all her
children were named Grow. She also
had purchased all her property under
the name of Grow, and in consideration
of all these facts she was given permis-
sion to take back the name OF her first
husband.
Another petitioner was Jeremiah O..
Wilcoxen, who was born in Fulton
county. Ill. He set forth that he had
been bothered by the fact that messages
papers. letters, packages and other mat
ter went astray, and were frequently
opened and examined by others bearing
the same name. This he thought could
he avoided if his name were changed to
Jeremy Carlisle Wilmon, and 1t was
changed to suit bis fancy.
The next and last petition filed was
that of George II. Quinn and Charles
Quinn, his son. 1t was alleged that the
father was born in Russia, and the son
in Boston. Both were of the Jswish
faith, and they alleged that their name
WAS spelled "Kbinv" in Russian. This
had been spelled Quinn in English, to
agree with it's pronunciation, and they
alleged that this would seem to indicate
that thew we're of Irish birth, whereas
both spoke with German accent. Tney
alleged that their name made them la
ble to be called "Irish Jews" Judge
CLARK agreed with them that this was
not very pleasant, and he allowed them
to take the name OF CLARK.
This finished the list OF mlscellane GUS
changes of name of recent date, and the
next search was made under the direc-
tion of Cupid Whitney. He 1T Is who
gives the ladies a chance to change
their names whenever they please, al d
he issues licenses to wed to all who
apply. only requiring the ladies to swear
that thew are over Is years OF age or else
bring the consent of their parents to the
change of name. He assists in changing
ON an average the names OF eight ladies
per day. A number of these come Dack
later on and ask to be allowed TO take
back their maiden names through the
medium of divorce courts. Ihese are
more expensive changes than the others
Cupid Whitney charges $2.5o Tor the
changes he makes, and the costs OF tne
ordinary changes amount to about $lo'
The divorce suit costs several times as
much, but as a general rule the laoles
don't foot the bills.