The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-07-16

george Scnllllng Irlend or DoUn, entered
the Jail on the evening of the Goth, and was
met by a reporter, who said to him: "Ah,
you won't have a wedding after all. Tho
sheriff won't let Miss Van Zandt come In. ="
Mr. Schilling retorted on the impulse OF
the moment:
What difference do you suppose that
makes9 They can be married lust the
same. It isn't necessary they should stand
side by side. Did you ever hear Of a mar
riage by proxyp
"Is that what you mean to dow
THAT can be done, and very likely will
be-" briefly answered MIR. Schiling, 80
coolly that the reporter believed IL pre-
arranged matter, whereas Mr.. S. had an
swered with the first words that came into
his mind. The next morning the news
was telegraphed to the world that Miss
Van Zandt and Spies would be married by
proxy. 1t was news to them, but they
were Immediately struck with tho fcasibil-
ity of the scheme. Nina hastened to find
some one who would consent TO unite them
in this unusual manner. Judge Pender-
grast was out Of the question. But in the
northwestern part OF the city lived a ius-
tice of the peace who had already eyinced
his sympathy by the strong stand he had
taken among the Turner's against the YER
dict Of the court. Nina; with Gretchen
Spies, called on him and stated their err
rand.
Judge Englehardt promised to look up
the law, and il it could be done legally he
would marry them. lie consulted com
petent attorney, whose name cannot be
given, and together they searched the laws
on marriage. They found no statute de-
manding the presence Of both parties before
an authorized agent; that mutual consent
constitutes legal marriage, and that a
lady living in Massachusetts had been mar
ried TO n soldier in Canada who could not
obtain leave of absence, the two merely de-
claring their intention and wish. He was
afterward killed, and In court it WINS de-
cided she was his lawful wife and entitled
TO the property left by him. Justice Engie-
hardt fully believed the marriage could be
legally performed by proxy, but took every
possible means to make 1t binding. He
wrote out two contracts, the one below
being that which Nina signed; the one
signed by August Spies was nearly the
same, except as to the difference in person.
/, Nina stuart Clark Van Zandt, being of
sound mind and body and twenty years of age,
do by these presents hereby tGke August Theo-
doro Vincent Spies TO be my lawful husband
from this time fOrth until death shall part us,
and publish and declare my accepting the
said August Theodore Vincent Spies as my
husband In the presence Of Henry Kraft and
Amelia EnglChardt, the two witnesses who are
by me requested to sign this document. waive
the right and custom 10 have August SPIES
present in person, fully agreeing TO tho action
of Henry Spies by August Spies appointed TO
represent him; in furthCrHnCC Of his appoint
ment bind myself TO all the obligations and
duties the relation Of husband and wife i'm
poses.
Oscar Neebe, Ida Spies and Gretchen
Spies signed as witnesses to August Spies
signature; Henry Kraft and Amelia Engle-
hardt as witnesses to Nina's. On the 29th
of January Henry Spies stood up to repre-.
sent his brother, and Justice Englehardt
pronounced the marriage ceremony. The
Justice made the usual returns, and the
license and certificate were kept by the
county officers for one week and then the
papers were sent back for correction" as
the clerk wrote. at was found that a.
Spies was detained at the Jail and could
not have been in Jefferson at the time the
ceremony WAS said to have been per-
formed"
But the devoted lady derived no benefit
from the ceremony She was persistently
denied entrance to the Jail, and never, until
the morning of the llth of November, did
she look upon the face of her lover again.
Then she was granted the keenly cruel
pleasure of one brief interview, a last and
only embrace, and an agonized farewell.
Those who believed in the sincerity of
her love and the merit Of it's object won
dered how she endured those terrible days.
Even her enemies were silent when they
looked upon her pale, worn but still beau
tiful face