Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-07-30
MARRIED BY SQUIRE.
JUSTICES WHO TIE THE KNOT FOR
LOVING COUPLES.

nees-YounG People Prefer Civil Mar
riaEe Because IL Il Free from Formal
ity and IL Less Expensive.
Hundreds of couples are each year
united by the justices Of the peace Of ST.
Louis. II is almost surprising to what
extent people seek this form Of civil mar
rage. The two hearts that are made to
beat as one by q suaye justice are by no
means always those Of giddy young
elopers, as the general public believes
"What is the reason that so many peo-
pie prefer a court marriage to religious
oneY' was asked Squire Frank Spaulding.
~ think that in the majority of cases
it is because it is SO free from formality.
There is no time lost in making the
couple man and wife. The form pre-
scribed by the statute does not take more
than half minute to go through with.
Nearly all the people united by the
magistrates are poor and unable and
unwilling to go to the expense of buying
an extensive wedding outfit. They need
the money to provide for their own i'm
mediate wants. Then a great number
of people are bashful and do not like to
stand up in front of crowd and be mar
ried. They can go before magistrate
and be united in the presence of only
two or three persons"
"Do they always have money for the
fee?'
"In nearly every case. When they
haven't always make it my duty to
marry them anyway"
What do they usually give to the
magistrateY'
''Oh, it varies The law prescribes a
fee, but people give different prices.
Usually it is FIVE dollars. About year
ago woman brought young fellow in
here They had a license. and he was
half scared to death, while she was calm
and businesslike. He didn't say a word
while she explained to me what was
wanted made them man and wife.
She then reached down into pocket in
her dress, pulled out roll of bills and
handed me five dollars She then gave
her husband FIVE dollar note, saying,
Go on out and treat the squire. I've
always wondered what kind of life
that poor mans leading now, for it was
evident that his wife was the head of the
family.
DIDN'T WANT TO BE MARRIED.
when was with Squire Taft al
Eleventh and Franklin avenue, we used
to have a great many ludicrous Incl
dents. We had so many marriages there
that the place got to be known as ths
marriage corner One day an intelligent
looking young couple came in. They haG
heard that the place was where they
should go to get marriage licenses. They
didn't know anything about that part o.
the programme. The clerk directed
them to the recorders Office. They wen
and secured the license, and probably
thinking it was necessary to go through
some additional formality came back Il
our Office. Squire Taft was busy tryins
case, and at once got down off tn
bench. He knew nothing of the preced
| ing visit, and at once proceeded to g
through the ceremony.
GAS soon as he pronounced them mai
and wife the young girl threw up he
hands and fell into chair in dismay
Great God! what will my mother say
This is Protestant marriager she cried
She was devout Catholic, and though
she was only going through part of tn
forms to secure alicense. Although the,
were married as tight as the law coul'
do it, they were married that night by
Catholic priest.
"Do you have many runaway couple
call upon your was asked.
Mot as many as the public general
imagine. They are generally from ou
of the city, and are tired and weary wit
the journey and excitement when the
arrive. Several years ago couple wen
into Squire Taft's Office. He was out
and they sat down on bench to rest
They had made a long journey, and tn
first thing the groom did was to go t
sleep. The little girl at last gave i
too She leaned her head upon hi
breast, and both were in the deepes
kind Of slumber when the squire cam
in. No one liked to wake them, bu
finally we made enough noise to arous
them.
"a minute later they had been prt
| nounced man and wife. The grool
laughed merrily over his falling asleel
and at the conclusion of the ceremon
said, 4 don't know which refreshed N
the most. going to sleep or getting ma
ried.'
, FUNNY INCIDENTS.
} "The funniest incident know Of WI
the groom that forgot his brides fir,
name. 1t wasn't long before we ha
! that fixed, however, and they went G
their way rejoicing"
"Have you ever followed up the afte
lives of couples you have married."
, mo; but about half of them folio
. me up. The general impression of Il
poorer classes is that man who ca
/ marry them can also unmarry them.
should say that fully FIVE out Of ever
ten couples marry come around aga
: and want divorce. Then in a gre'
many cases when the couple have
: quarrel the husband tears up the ma
!, rage certificate and tells his wife thu
J. are no longer welded. The wife gene
9 ally comes around to see me and l gi'
t- her new one.
/ sSad