Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-21
,UAY's FIRST LEGISLATIVE ACT.
{ was In Relation to Divorce-The
Sequel and End of a Romance.

Harrisburg Special to the New York sun.
Ontil the adoption OF the new constitution of
Pennsylvania in 1874, the legislature of the
state had power to grant decrees Matthew s.
0uays career as a statesman began in 1866,
when he was elected to the lower house of the
pennsylvania legislature. His first act as a
Legislator was TO offer a resolution having for
It's object the granting Of divorce. Owing to
the high connections of one Of the parties to
the desired legislation, it was particularly i'm
portant that no publicity should be given to it,
and In managing the proceedings necessary to
secure the desired annulment of the marriage
and at the same time accomplish the object
without spreading upon the records any of the
details of the affair, Quay's genius in legisla-
tive manipulation thus early manifested ITSELF
Andrew g. Curtin was then governor of the
state. The legislature was republican. Quay
was a trusted follower of Curtin. and it was
at the request of the governor that he offered
the divorce resolution The parties to the
separation asked for were Henry LLOYD Nc
Connel and Mary Wilson Mcconnell The lat
ter was the daughter of Gov. Curtin and she
was then but seventeen years old. In 1865.
about the close of the war, Miss Curtin met a
handsome dashing young volunteer army Off
Ger named Harry Lloyd Mcconnell. He was a
captain stationed here. Nothing was known of
his antecedents, and his social standing was not
hlgh IN harrlsDnrg- Inc governors daughter
still school girl fell in love with Capt. Nc
COnnell, and he induced her one afternoon to
go to the office of justice of the peace and
marry him. After the ceremony the bride went
home to the executive mansion to inform her
father OF what she had done, and to make
peace with him for herself and her husband
But Gov. Curtin did not choose to permit his
daughter to throw herself away on an unknown
adyenturer, and she never saw her husband
again. The governors power and influence
were great then, not only in the state, but with
the national authorities. He at once brought
them to bear in the case of Capt Mcconnell.
ana that presumptuous soldier did not remain
long IN Harrisburg after his clandestine mar
rage with Gov. Curtin's daughter, who herself
soon regretted the foolish step she had taken.
The fact OF her marriage TO the Young officer
was kept so quiet that it never was known in
Harrisburg social circles. When Representa-
i've Quay offered the resolution to divorce
Harry Lloyd Mcconnell and Mary Wilson
Mcconnell there were not a half dozen legisla-
tors. besides himself and Senator Morrow b.
Lowry, of the Erie district. who knew that
Mrs. Mcconnell was the daughter of Gov. Cur
tin The resolution never printed on the
records, the committee to which il was referred
IN the house was discharged from considering
1t. II passed the House under suspension of the
rules, went to the senate. where it went through
the same process. and was signed and became
a law in less than two hours after Quay rose in
his place and presented 1t.
The governors daughter, always great
social favorite, subsequently married into one
of the wealthiest and best families in an adj
joining state. Nothing has ever been heard of
Capt Mcconnell since he departed from Har-
risburg