The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-31
VILLAINOUS ACT.
4 Man OF Twenty-Six Runs Away
With a Sixtcen.Y Girl.

Abheville was the scene OF & sensation one
night lasL week. \ man and young woman
stepped off the midnight train on THURSDAY
night. rhu man gave his name AZ John Al
fred Strick laud, and stated that their purpose
waste get married, and enquired OF some COZ.
orrd boys If there were any gam blers In town,
and afterwards enquired If they knew Oh
"any one who would do to trust" In reply 10
this the stranger was referred to gentleman
present, and was told that he was n mighty
nice man." Approaching him MIR. Strickland
said something about q marriage ceremony.
He was asked II he wanted preacher or q
trial Justice. He said that lie didn't want q
real marriage. He wanted bogus or mock
marriage, aud asked the young gentleman II
and perform the ceremony, right there IN the
waiting room OF the depot. II is reported
that he said he wanted to live with the girl as
long as it suited his pleasure and then leave
her; that anybody who would assume TO he Il
preacher would do. as she preferred preach
er 10 perform the ceremony.
These facts were then presented TO the
young woman, and Strickland was immedi-
ately arrested and lodged in the caaboose,
where he remained until two O'Clock next
day.
The young lady, Miss Savannah Brewer,
was taken to the New Hotel, where she re.
nained until the arrival of her brother, Mr..
B. ]. Brewer. when he had the prisoner re.
leased and all three of the parties took the
Southbound train for klberton, Ga.
When arrested strickland undertook TO
was q prisoner in fnct. and his pistol was
taken away from him. The town council con-
fScnted II.
The prisoner while in the guard house gave
his name as John Alfred Strickland Of Madi-
son county, Georgia; sometimes stayed at
BOystOn; aged 26; had married Miss Susie
McDutf, Of Madison county, some fiye years
ago who lived only about month after mar
riage; he had known the young indy, who
was here In Abbeville with him. all her life.
Had been going 10 see her for two years; they
boarded The Narrow Guage cars at Fellow
ship; came here by way OF ElbertOn; knows
nobody in Abbevlile; asked depot agent II
, they could stay In the waiting room until the
arrival OF the iour O'Clock Southbound train
denied any intention of marrying the young
lady, bnt said their intention was TO return
that day and stay awhile at Joe Pulliam's
her uncle.
Upon being called upon at the hotel the
young lady gave her name as savannah Eva
Victoria Brewer, daughter Of Benjamin Brew.
er, who died some twelve or thirteen years
ago, her mother being d widow lives in Mud
isOn county very near 10 the nome OF MT.
Strick land aged Is last Christmas; their in.
tentl0n, fter the marriage. was TO return aud
stop a few days with her uncle, Joe Pulliam,
| who lives about seven miles from Elberton
Honey Pulliam. near Willis Crossing on the
Narrow Gauge. Is her uncle.
The young lady seemed entirely innocent
| or unconscious Of the awkward position IN
which she had been placed, and said that her
| lover had asked her to marry him since the
arrest, but said she would now walt and see
her brother.
Strick land Is little ignorant OF South Car
olina law on marriage. The proposed mock
marriage would have been legal and binding
and they would In fact have gone back tC
Georgia as husband and wife. There Is ne
such thing as q mock marriage In South Caro-
| lima. Any uckuow ledYmcnt Of the marriage
relation Is good, aud every wOnan's honor Is
fully protected hy our laws. No woman can
be deceived hy q "mOck marriage All mar
| riages in this Stale are rcul marriages.