Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-20
FOUND A PREACHER.
Rather Tough Experience of Couple
Seeking to be Married.
MR.. MAXWELL DECLINED TIE JOB.
No Legal Impediments, but the Church
Canons Forbade it.
DIR. McCLELLAND THEN TIED THE KNOT

DIR. McCLELLAND THEN TIED THE KNOT
A very unusual episode in the personal
history of two Ohioans who wished to enter
the bonds of matrimony was disclosed by an
occurrence at Trinity P. E. Church last
evening.
Directly after the close of evening service,
a couple, dressed in the attire which would
be supposed TO appertsin to the residents of
some small village, came to the front Of the
church and indicated desire to be married.
The couple went into the vestry and ex-
hibited their credentials, stating that they
belonged to a small town in Ohio.
The rector, Rev. Samuel Maxwell, queried
the couple as to their antecedents and
learned a story which seemed to surprise
him. He called into consultation some
members of the Vestry, to whom he related
the story, asking their advice as to the ex-
pediency of performing the marriage. They
evidently Endorsed his views, and he noti-
fed the couple that he could not further
their matrimonial designs. They departed
regretfully in search of some one who would
assist them to some purpose.
WHY THE RECTOR REFUSED.
When subsequently seen. Mr.. Maxwell
explained his refusal to perform the cere-
mony by stating that, although the papers
presented to him were perfectly legal and
ali right, there was a history in connection
with the couple which led him to make up
his mind that under the circumstances he
preferred to delegate the performance of the
ceremony to another minister, the canons of
the Protestant Episcopal Church being very
definite as to former history of all those
who desired to enter the holy bonds of
matrimonv. Although there was no legal
impediment to the marriage, there existed
reasons which impelled his actions. Al
though the rector had examined the docu-
ments, and knew the names of the wouldbe
man and wife, he declined to divulge them,
desiring to spare the feelings of the woman.
The couple had been, therefore, recommended
to go elsewhere.
Failing to ascertain any further informa-
ton from the church authorities, Dis
PATCH reporter introduced himself to the
man on the sidewalk outside. He seemed
to resent any inquiry into so delicate mat
ter, and received the apologies OF the news
paper man with suspicion. But being es-
sentially rural, he at last consented to relate
the reason which had interposed in his very
laudable matrimonial intentions, his COM
panion preserving strict silence.
THEIR STORY FOLLOWS.
In few words the story is as follows: The
desirous bridegroom was married some years
since in an interior town in Ohio to a wo-
man who disappointed his anticipations of
a happy married life by developing an ap-
petite for liquor. Things went from bad t
worse, and she finally ran away with fly
by-night dramatic company. Time passed.
and news that she had died reached him.
Feeling free to suit his inclinations, he
married another woman, the ceremony be-
ing performed by the Rev. DR.. Somerville,
a Presbyterian minister. This was about
three years since. Not long after his second
and happy marriage, he was Mortified to re-
ceive letter from wife No. 1, announcing
that she was in the flesh. Although,
troubled and distressed by the unwelcome
news, wife No. 2 was prevailed upon to
maintain her relations with the man. How
he avoided prosecution for bigamy he de-
clined to state.
Last week he received the welcome news
that wife No. was really dead. After
making a journey to the place where she
had died and satisfying himself that there
was no doubt of her decease, he returned to
manner of commencing all over again, he
came to Pittsburg to have the knot tied, as
he desired to avoid further publicity.
HIS EARNEST PROTEST.
He was very earnest in his protestations
that the second marriage had been ignorantly
entered into, and said that he had seized
upon the earliest moment to make repara-
ton to his companion. By her manner she
seemed to be thoroughly satisfied with his
and her present and prospective
life, although evidently distressed at failing
to secure the services of the first minister
that had been applied to. The would-be
groom declared his intention of being
legally married if it took all night to secure
the services of a minister. The couple
started along Smithfeld street in search of
minister.
They called at the residence of Rev. DR..
E. P. Cowan, on Allegheny avenue. The
doctor was out of the city, and Mrs. Cowan
sent them to DR.. McClelIand, of the Western
Seminary. They exhibited a
license, issued on Saturday from
the Registers Office. The names on the
license were Jacob c. Merryman and Miss
Lorinda Mason. The couple were middle
aged, and did not say anything about them
selves. The residence of the groom was given
as Pittsburg, and an Ohio town was the home
of the bride Dr. McClelland asked no
questions, as they had the necessary creden-
tials. He married them, and the couple left
the house.
A hunt through the directory failed to
discover the name of Jacob c. Merryman.
Who he is, nobody knew who had knowl-
edge of the story.