The record-union., 1894-12-21
GEPHART'S LIVELY WEDDING NIGHT.
His Trouble With Pete HalIer, the
Brides Paramour.
The Bride Herself Doesn't Believe She
Was Married, But Justice Henry
Swears She Was.

tlNlLleS luaI 1OIlOWeu uiS LdtIidSo W d
woman named Bessie Curtis, alias Nettie
Howard, at the Albion House on Tues
day evening.
The testimony throughout was very
amusing TO the audience, which was COM
posed OF Cinnamon, negroes and white
men of various stations in and out OF
society.
The bride is one of the numerous hand
painted fairies who roam about from
place to place in quest of susceptible
creatures OF the male persuasion. The
groom, Gephart, was conspicuous in
court by his Embarrassing Of lint and
ointment which he said he was obliged to
use on account OF the effects OF the as
sault made upon him by Aaller.
The circus commenced when the IN
jured groom took the stand. lie SAID he
was from Hosevlile, and mad met HaIler
few times before the marriage cere-
mony. lie and Haller and another man
called on Justice OF the Peace Henry, anu
engaged him to perform the ceremony,
Which was TO have taken place at o:3U
O'clock Tuesday evening. Ihe Justice
was slow in getting around, ana Gephart
hunted him up 10 ascertain the cause OF
the delay.
The Justice, he said, told him that
drunk, and that the marriage mad been
postponed until the following day. Gep-
hart said he was ready then ana there 10
get married, and the uStlce called around
later, and, IN the presence OF the iandiady
and couple OF otner persons, perIormod
the ceremony.
Gephart then started to go out to pur-
chase few bottles OF wine, over which
the wedding was To have been celebrated.
He met Haller, and IN the presence OF
Justice Henry said man VINO would
play such a trick on him ought TO
be slapped. Haller took exception to
these remarks and struck witness on the
head with glass. Gephart then closed
in on his assaIIant and threw him down.
Gephart said that while he ana Haller
were scuffllng Justice Henry separated
them. AIer they had become separated
the bride washed the blood from Gep-
hart's head and face. de said ne was
quite sure he was married, III winch be-
lief he was sustained by the testimony OF
the Justice.
Gephart said he did not know why
Haller wanted To prevent him from get
ting married He had purchased a
turkey, and was going to have II cooked
and served at the banquet which was TO
have followed the ceremony, and con-
sidered HaIler such a friend that he
invited him to join him. Haller, he said,
had received the money he (GepharD sent
to the woman every week. HaiIer was
Jealous of him because ne married his
mistress, and he knew tnat Haller wanted
TO get rid OF him.
Justice Henry next took the stand. In
response to a question from acting City
Attorney Humphrey, the witness mod
estly admitted being frequently called
upon TO perform marriage ceremonies.
Gephart, Haller aud another man called
upon and engaged him to marry Gephart
and NeLtie howard. 1t was understood
that the wedding was to take place at $50
O'Clock in The afternoon. On his way to
the Albion House he met Haller, who
said the contracting parties were both
drunk and the wedding would take place
tho next day.
Witness then went home, and after hav-
ing eaten his supper had started to go to his
office, when he was met by Gephart, who
wanted to know why the Justice was not
on hand In accordance with the agree
ment. Witness told Gephart what Hal
Ter had told him. Gepbart said he was
ready for the sacrifice, and that the we'd
ding party WAS waiting for the Justice.
The latter then went 10 the Albion House
and married the parties.
HalIer was not present at the cere-
mony, but after Gephart and the woman
were made man and wife Haller came on
the scene. Words followed between him
and the groom, and Halter banged Gep-
hart with whisky glass.
Mrs. Curtis Howard Gephart, the
bride was the next witness. She said
her name was Bessie Curtis, notwith-
standing the testimony of Justice Henry
TO the effect that he had legally married
her to Gephart. She went through some
sort of ceremony, she said, but did not
know it was an ironciad mar riage. She
admitted having lived with Halier in the
Albion House. Haller struck the first
"a TT i,h hx-
collar. Gephart said that anybody who
would do as Haller did ought to be
"smashed."
Haller was in the room and heard what
Gephart said. Haller then came out and
said: Here / am! Now go ahead ~
The night then commenced, and Gephart
and the landlady got on top of HalIer.
The landlady had Haller by the throat
The witness managed to get Gephart of
Haller.
Justice Devine asked the witness if she
thought more of Haller than OF her hus-
band.
She replied that she did. She did not
why Haller told Justice Henry the mar
riage had been postponed. Gephart had
threatened her, she said, and once during
the afternoon used her in rough manner.
She was asked if it was only Gephart's
money she was after, and she replied that
Al uC w dS 1OOIiSil " SAfS Al W uOI
she would take it.
Mrs. Harmer, the landlady of the Al
bion House, where the row took place,
testified that she was one of the witnesses
to the wedding. She saw Haller strike
Gephart on the head with the glass.
After Gephart said he had notion to
slap Halier tor interfering with the we'd
ding, Haller jumped at Gephart, and
during the scuffie she saw the glass fall
10 the floor. Gephart was getting the
best OF Haller. The woman in the tracas
was begging Gephart not to kill her
baby" meaning Haller).
Mrs. Harmer said she then ordered
Haller to leave the place.
Haller, the defendant. then took the
stand. de said he had made no objection
TO the marriage, and wished the couple
good luck. This expression, he said. he
made alter the ceremony was performed
be admitted having told Justice Henry
that Inc marriage was postponed because
Gephart was drunk. When he got bacl<
to the Albion House Gephart Threatened
to choke him. GeDhart did grab him by
the collar and threatened to thrash him
He then struck at Gephart, and in the
scuffie that followed Gephart cIawed him
An attempt was made to show that
Heller had on numerous occasions beaten
the woman, but an objection was sus-
tanned.
Justice Devine said he did not care to
hear any argument in the case as he be-
heved the defendant guilty. Haller will
be sentenced this morning.