The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-11-28
THE MARYLAND MARRIAGE LAW.
Something for Eloping Parties to Pom.
der Over-An Accommodating
Minister.

The recent prevalence of runaway
marriages, performed in Maryland,
have given rise to an inquiry as to
what the Maryland marriage law is.
In ordersto inform them the law is
quoted below. In answering friend
on this question Maryland lawyer
says: II send you copy of the
law bearing upon the marriage ques-
ton. Perhaps some of the young
runaway couples are adroit enough
to obtain license by little piece
of perjury. Our laws in regard to
marriage are very strict. and any
minister OF the gospel who violates
them can be severely punished.
The law is quoted from the Code of
Maryland, page 975, ct seq, as fol-
lows:
Section L. No person within this
State shall be joined in marriage
until license shall have been OBJ
tanned from the Clerk of the Circuit
Court for the county in which the
marriage is to be performed, or if in
the city of Baltimore from the Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas, or
unless the names of the parties in
tending to marry shall be thrice pub
lished in come church or house of
religious worship in the county
where the woman resides on three
several Sundays by some minister
residing in said county; provided,
nevertheless, that any person within
the State may marry according to
the ceremony by the society of PEG.
pie called Quakers, the contracting
parties signing certificate to the
effect that they have agreed to take
each other for husband and wife, and
said certificate being attested by at
least twelve witnesses.
Sec 5. Before the Clerk oil any
of said courts shall have issued any
such license, he shall examine, on
oath, the person making application
for the same, to ascertain first, the
full names of the parties; second,
their places of residence; third, their
ages; fourth, their color; fifth,
whether married or single; sixth,
whether related or mot. and if so, in
what degree Of relationship; which
facts shall be set out in a printed
form, to be signed by the person ma
king the application.
Sec. 7. No such license shall be
issued unless the male be above the
age of twenty one years; and the fe-
male above the age of sixteen years;
provided, however, that # the par
ents or guardians assent thereto in
person, or by writing, attested by
two witness, such licenses may be is
sued.
Sec. IL. Such license when pro.
duced shall be full authority to any
minister, or other person authorized
to marry, receiving the same, to pro
coed with the marriage of the parties
named therein; provided, that should
any minister or other person marry
persons without such license, he
shall on conviction thereof, be fined
not less than one hundred dollars nor
more than five hundred dollars, in
the discretion of the Court.
1t will be seen that the young man
who is under 81, or the girl who is
not over 16 years of age, cannot OBJ
tain license without perjury; and
without the license no minister can
marry them under penalty. Couples
known to have been under age have
been married in Cumberland and
Oakland, but whether the contract
ing parties or the clergyman have
laid themselves open to the law does
not, ofcourse, appear.
A b. q O. passenger conductor
running between Pittsburg and Cum
berland, said: I'm told there is a
preacher in Cumberland who solicits
the business of marrying these runa-
way couples He has his runners
at the depot and does a wholesale
business, so to speak. He has a
couple of extra rooms in his house in
which he lodges the clippers pending
the ceremony. He goes with them
to procure the license, and gives
them the parental blessing they left
at home"