Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-03-10
WE'D UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
MARRIED WHILE THE FAITH
ER WAS AWAY.

| Marriage License Issued by Reg.
lister Mackey and the Trouble II
Caused-The Young Lady Es-
capes by the Aid of Her Mother,
and Marries tine Man of Her
Choice.
An irate parent greatly disturbed Reg
lister Mackey's peace Of mind yesterday.
1t was all on account of marriage
license which the register had issued Sat
urday to Jos. Walker and Miss Harriet
c. Brown.
Saturday afternoon, two men came in
to the registers Office and asked for a
license for the marriage Of the persons
above mentioned. They brought writ
ten consent, purporting to be signed by
the parents Of the younglady.
Mr.. Mackey used the usual interroga-
tions and gave over the papers, receiving
which the young men went their way.
Nothing was heard from the matri-
monially-inclined couple until Yesterday,
when Mr.. John S. Brown, who lives in
Leicester township, about twelve miles
from Asheville, came into the registers s
Office without being announced and with
out removing his hat.
Mr.. Brown was angry. In fact it is
but just to say he was raging. And he
forthwith proceeded to vent his anger
on the register.
Mr.. Brown is a prominent citizen of
Buncombe, and in addition to being an
old friend of Mr.. Mackey, is the father Of
Miss Harriet Brown, who had been H.
censed to wed Joseph Walker.
Mr.. Brown claimed that Miss Hattie
was not 1S years old, and threatened to
make Mr.. Mackey pay the 5000 penalty
imposed on registers who knowingly
grant license to persons under age.
MIR. Mackey thought he was "in for
1t" and at once sent messenger to
Leicester to request Joseph to take his
money back and return the license. In
case he refused he was to be arrested on
a charge of obtaining license by false pre-
tense.
Then Mr.. Brown went his way remark
ing in effect that it would be a decidedly
chilly day when Joseph and Hattie were
wed, for he had put her in a room and
left son i'll charge of the premises, as
sisted by shot gun"
After he had gone Mr.. Mackcv took a
good look through his census records,
and in his search found this record:
Brown, Hattie, ages years" That was
the census of 1880, eleven years ago.
She is according to that ill her nineteenth
year, and free to make matrimonial al
lance to suit her own charming self.
Further particulars were learned about
the affair when the officer returned from
Mr.. Browns locality this morning. Ii
is true that Mr.. Brown left his daughter
somewhat under guard, but during his
absence yesterday an unexpected ally ap-
peared on the scene. This was none other
tnan Mrs. Brown, who, sympathizng
with her daughter, opened the door Of
the room in which Miss Hattie had been
locked up, and allowed her to go to the
waiting Joseph. They were Immediately
united in wedlock, and when Mr.. Brown
returned home it was to find the young
lady beyond his reach.
Then he was angry again.
Taking his shotgun he went with the
officer sent by Mr.. Mackey to the house
of Mr.. Walker, some distance away.
Arriving there, Mr.. Brown fired off his
gun and came near precipitating
fight. No harm was done, however,
and the officer told Mr.. Walker his
mission. That gentleman gave bond
for his appearance for trial before Ius-
tice Malone Thursday at IL O'Clock.
The brave young lady, made Drawer by
the marriage, admitted that she had
written the consent which the young
man showed to Mr.. Mackey.
Although the registers census records
show the age of the pretty Miss Hattie
to be over 1S, Mr.. Browns family Bible
puts her age under 1S.
Anyway, Joseph Walker walked away
with his pretty young bride, and the
matter will have to be settled before
Justice Malone. Register Mackey is safe,
and if the census is correct, the young
man and his bride are safe. The whole
affair seems to rest on Mr.. Browns
family Bible.