Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-24
AN INTERRUPTED MARRIAGE.
Why John r. Grover Did Not Marry
the Widow Davis.

the Widow Davis.
his WIPE PREVENTS HIM FROM COMMITTING BIGA-
MY BY sNATHING THE MARRIAGE LICENSE FROM
HIS HAND-HE SPENDS THE NIGHT IN A POLICE
CELL INSTEAD OF IN A BRIDAL CHAMBER.
Mrs. Jennie Davis is a widow, who, with her
children, lives at No. 313 VI street southwest.
Her husband dropped dead two years ago. 1t
had been announced that John F. Grover,
plasterer, was TO be married to her soon. and
the consequence of that announcement was
that she was called upon at her home
last evening about o'clock by a woman
who stated that she was Mrs. Ann L.
Grover, the legal wife of the man who, ac-
cording to the information she had received,
was about to commit bigamy. While they were
discussing the matter Grover came staggering
in with the marriage license in his hand. He
had on his Sunday clothes and a silk hat that
looked like it might have been in contact with
a tree-box or two. John L. Grover" and
Jennie Davis were the names on the license
authorizing any minister to solemnize the rites
of marriage between them, IF you find no law
full impeachment thereto"
MRS. GROVER TEARS THE MARRIAGE LICENSE.
Mrs. Grover grabbed the license from his
hand and tore it in dozen pieces. The frag-
ments fell to the floor before John could re-
capture them, and then the conversation be-
came interesting. Several hundred persons
soon gathered in front of the house, and among
them were Policemen Hilbus and Wagner.
They found Mrs. Glover pleading with her
husband to return home. but he gave her to
understand that he would marry the widow
or die. Grover was apparently IN condition
that he did not care whether he had two wives
or three. The officers arrested him and took
him to the fourth precinct station. where
charge of ''lntoXlcatlon" was entered against
him. When he arrived at the station he ex-
pressed great relief at being rid of the two
women.
THE PRISONER RELEASED.
He was held prisoner until this morning.
Mrs. Grover started there to see him, but she
met him on the street, he having been released.
She went on to the station all the same to get
an officer to 60 to her home on Sth street with
her as she feared her husband would destroy
their household effects, but when she got there
she found him arranging his toilet He had
wrapped his clothing up and was ready TO
move. He left the house. as his wife supposed,
to return to the home of Widow Davis. The
small pieces of the torn license were pasted
together, and the patched-up document is now
at the station house.
MRS. GROWERS MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
Mrs. Grover was found at her home, near Sth
and ID streets, this morning when a STAR re-
porter called. She said that her husband was
about forty-seven years old. She produced her
certificate of marriage. which reads:
TO any Minister of the Gospel authorized to
celebrate Marriages in the District of Column
bia greeting:
You are hereby licensed to solemnize the
rites of marriage between John F. Grover, of
Washington, ID. c., and Ann L. Harding of
Washington, ID. c.. if yoJffind no lawful imped-
iment thereto; and having so done. you are
commanded to appear in the clerks Office of
the Supreme Court of said District, and certify
the same.
Witness my hand and the seal of said court,
this 25th day of June, 1888.
'R. J. MEIGs. Clerk.
SPY NJ. A. CLANCY, Assistant Clerk.
81. W. B. Evans, minister of NJ L. church
in Washington. D. c.. hereby certify that by
authority of license of the same tenor as the
foregoing. L sOlemniZed the marriage of the
parties aforesaid on the 25th day of June. 1888,
at Ryland parsonage, in the District of Column
bia. w. b. EVANS"
WHAT MRS. GROVER SAYS.
Mrs Grover said that her husband had been
drinking for some time and had spent but one
night at home in two weeks. She said that she
was slightly acquainted with the Widow Davis
Mrs. Grover says she did not know anything
about the proposed marriage until yesterday
when Bob Jones told her about the license
having been taken out She met her husband
on the street and he denied it. She said that
she kissed him and begged him to return home.
but he refused. Her husband, she said, has
not supported her for some time. SATURDAY.
he received $500 and gave her So the first
money he had given her for a long time. Her
husband, she said. was good and kind to her
and her children until he met Jennie Davis.
She said she was sorry now that she interrupted
the wedding, as she could have had her hus-
band put in prison for awhile.
cpovFp's DNFSS N rup
There was no attempt to keep the marriage
secret by Mr.. Grover, for he came up to the
clerks Office and obtained the license to marry
Mrs Davis openly. Mrs. Grover was afterward
at the courthouse looking up the record of her
marriage, which she found. She was accompanied
by Mr.. w. X. Duhamel legal adviser, and
when the record was found she was advised to
say nothing and allow him to marry if he was
so disposed, and then lodge complaint against
him. 1t would appear that her feelings got
the better of her, and she thus prevented her
husband from committing bigamy.
This morning relation of Mrs. Davis called
at the clerks Office to ascertain if there had
been former marriage and received assurances
that Rev. w. b. Evans had SO certified.
GROVER GETS OUT A NEW MARRIAGE LICENSE.
About noon another party called and asked
for a renewal of the license to Mr.. Grover and
Mrs. Davis but the clerk declined to issue a
license excepting to Grover in person. About
12:45 Mr.. Grover came and stated to the clerk
that he knew what he was doing, and was re-
sponsible therefor and obtained a second
license.
EXCURSION TO New YORK VIA B. AND o.
The b. and o. railroad company will sell ex-
cursion tickets from Washington to New York
at $3.50 for round trip for all trains of April "a
and 80, inclusive, and for trains leaving WASH
ington 8 am, May 1. Tickets are valid for re-
turn trip until and including trains leaving
New York as late midnight May 6. For ex-
cursiOn tickets and Pullman parlor and sleep
ing car space call at b. and o. ticket Offices,
1851 and 6l9 Pennsylvania avenue, or at B. and
o. station.
At Cincinnati, the siaughter-house and pork