The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-05-18
By PROXY.

bed, the Bride In New York-Such We'd
dincs Sanctioned by the Catholic Church
and the State.
Ner YORK World Nay lG.
A Jesuit priest married q oma in
this city to n dying man in Ell Paso,
Texas, moro than 1000 miles away, FRI
day night. The bridegroom was Frank
F. Gearity, q local salesman in the silk
department OF Teft, Weller & Co.'s, No.
32S broadway. lie died in Ell Paso SUM-
day. His bride by proxy, is, or rather
was, Mis6 Julia W. Morris, OF No. 86
Lexington avenue.
Mr.. Gearity was about forty years
old, and he had been in tho employ OF
tho Broadway firm for twelve years.
About six months 9 he became i'll
with bronchial trouble. and his physi-
| elan advised him to 90 to Colorado.
The firm, said Mr.. Teift yesterday, in
consideration Of his long services. sent
| him tnero and paid him his salary as
usual. From Colorado Springs he went
to Texas, whore his trouble developed
into quick consumption. He had been
boarding ior elk years with Miss Morris,
and five years ago no became engaged
to her.
The news Of Mr.. Gearity'a marriage,
| which was printed in Tuesdays World,
with tho announcement OF his death,
was q great surprise to Telft, Weller &
Co. They knew that he had been
boarding in Miss Morris house for
, some ycars, but they had never heard
that he was engaged.
The new Mrs. Gearity is 4 handsome
woman, ten yeara younger than he was,
| with large blue eyes, an exceptionally
ino figure and wuvy brown hair. She
has two younger sisters, who live with
| her. She said yesterday that Mr..
| Gcarity had urged marriage for some
| years, but sho wanted to wait on nc
| count Of her younger sisters. Finally
his health failed and he went to Colo
RADIO Springs, with tho understanding
that on his return in juno they were 10
| be married. Mrs. Gcarity broke down
as she told OF the developments OF the
last few days.
"He WINS one OF the best and kindest
men in the world" she said, land he
| did not have an enemy. When ho tcle-
eraphed INC Friday, saying he was dying
| and asking me TO marry him by proxy,
l rcolied a, once that i would. Then a
! dispatch came from Fl Paso saying:
Consulted competent judge. Texas
law prohibits marriage by proxy. lie
is very low Tho message was signed
| by a minister in the town. Soon after
ward another dispatch came, saying:
want to marry you by proxy. You
appoint proxy.
This dispatch was aisned by Mr.,
Goarity:n the presence Of witnesses. |
| decided tina, it meant that he wanted
INC to marry him by proxy in New York
city. and accordingly l went to Rev.
Father Patrick A. Halpin, pcrfec. of
| studies In tho College OF St Francis
Nay!er, No. 80 West Fifteenth street.
lie agreed TO perform the ceremony.
| and that night shortly after I o'clock |
went to tho chapel OF the college with
INV cousin, Robert ]. Hooy, who acted
AZ proxy. The marriage notice waa
published hero Sunday morning, the
dav nv husband died."
Rev. Father Iialpin could not be seen
Yesterday. At the college it was said
that he was out OF the city and would
mo-, return until Saturday. Father
| Campbell, the director, who was found
in consultation with Rev. Father Con.
molly Archbishop Corrisan's secretary,
who would not discuss the marriage at
alL nor would Father Connolly. who
amid he was no! IN ecclesiastical lawyer
and that il no were he should charge for
his opinion
rs it 60 unusualH" he said. "Alar.
riaco is a contract, Other contracts
arc made By proxey. There YOU have
it"
Father Ducey. OF St Lco's church,
said that tho law OF the Roman Catholic
church authorized u marriage by proxy,
| bu, BIO mad never heard OF ar instance
Of ii, c1cep: in history in the case Of
royalty.
at is q moat unusual and remarkable
.