The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-11-10
MARRIED HIS SISTER.
Queer Legal TanRle That Is vexinK tho
New York BARGE Oniciala.

New York BARGE Onoials.
New York, Nov. 5.---General
O'Bcrno is IN quandary. AS acting
Superintendent Of Immigration at the
Barge Office in the absence of Colonel
Weber, who has gone homo to Buffalo
to vote, the General is required to pass
upon case presenting some very rccul-
lar and unprecedented features.
A family by the name Of Muller ar
rived Saturday from Mecklcnburg, on
the steamer Fucrst Bismarck. Tho
family consisted Of mother, daugh-
ter, son aud son-in.aw. All had
tickets for Elgn, Ill. The daughter,
Marguerite Muller, was detalEed at the
Barge Office because OF her condition.
According to the custom which OBJ
tains at the port Of entry in such cases
some one must marry her or bonds must
be given for her support. IL appears
that the knowledge Of this requirement
came to the family on shipboard, and
the brother, John Muller, agreed to mar
ry his sister.
After the brother-in-law had gone
West Yesterday, and in the temporary
absence of Mrs. Muller, John and Mar
cucrlte were married by Pastor Keyl, of
The Lutheran Mission in State street. in
the presence OF General O'Beirne.
Upon the mothers return the discovery
OF the fraud was made, and both brother
and sister were detained at the Barge
Office for further action.
General O'Bcirnc said this morning
that he had been grossly imposed upon
and that he would have the decciving
couple on board ship in less than twen-
ty-iour hours, and would see that they
were sent back to Europe.
"It was deliberate frau >" he said,
Hpcrpctratcd for the sake o getting the
girl out of the Barge office. | told the
young man that he was not compelled
to marry the girl and had Pastor Keyl
tell him the same thing. They insisted,
however, upon the marriage ceremony
being performed and went through it
with all APPARENT reverence. The dis
covcry OF the actual relations OF the pair
.as an astounding revelation. 1 shall
consult with the United States District
Attorneys OFF, to-day and learn what
must be done. If anything, to have tho
marriage annulled."
AT the Office Of the United States
DiSlliCI AIIolEcy IL was Sald thlS m0raT
ing that the case had not be en- brought
formally to their attention, and that,ua-
Til it was no opinion could be passed
upon it.
Mr.. Frederick II. Coudert, the well
known international lawyer, was asked
to give an opinion upon tho case..S. &,
81 think," said Mr.. Coudert, sefatJ
great ieniency should be exercised. The
brother undoubtedly acted from worthy
motive and under extreme pressure. He
saw no other way OF getting his sester
to her destination sand sayin. her from
open disgrace, and to send her back in
the strceraGc at this season of the year
might possibly result in her death.
''As to The law in the case: If the
couple, as l understand it, were, at the
time Of the alleged marriage, which, OF
course, was no marriage atall, still un-
der United States jurisdiction, then no
States lay has been violated, and know
OF no Federal law which covers the case.
1t seems to me that the best way is to
drop the whole business and let the pco-
pie proceed to their destination. I GER
tainly would never take part in the
prosecution oi such case"