The Washington times., 1894-09-10
CIVIL MARRIAGES IN DEMAND.
Justices of the Peace Constantly Applied
To by Those Who Prefer This
Route TO Matrimony

Justices of the peace would do rushing
business joining folks for better or for
worse if civil marriages were permissible in
the District of Columbia" said Justice Scott
yesterday. "We have many applications.
'It was only yesterday that nice-looking
young fellow came in and asked me if would
perform the ceremony. He had left the pro-
spective bride waiting on the opposite corner
all ready to come in when everything was
fixed. He was very much disappointed
when informed that could not comply with
his wishes, and informed me confidentially
that they wished 10 start for the West at 6
o'clock-it was then 4-and asked my advice
as to what he should do. l directed him TO
the home of DR.. Sunderland, and he left TO
join his girl on the corner.
''Yes, | have a great many applications,
averaging. perhaps about three q week
They are at times very amusing. and again
very pathetic. Most of them take the refusal
with bushes and great embarrassment, but
occasionally there are scenes which are very
sad. The scrapes these young people do get
into are simply astounding, and their con-
ception OF the powers of justice of the peace
is something wonderful.
mo. a justice of the peace in the District
matrimony,' said Justice Lewis I. O'Neal,
Notwithstanding popular conception to the
contrary. Amusing scenes? Well, | should
say there are. Why. only yesterday an ele-
gantly dressed young man entered my office
with demeanor of the utmost gravity and
an air OF one who was about TO impart Il
secret Of the greatest importance. He desired
"a private interview, although we were then
alone in the Office. and whispered in my ear
that he wanted to get married right away
and asked IL l could not perform the cere-
mony. He said thar both the young lady
and himself were of The best families of the
city, but they did not wish 10 have the mar
riage come out just vet. Ii was with keen
disappointment that he received the informa-
ton that he could only be married in the Dis
trict by minister OF the Gospel. and then
informed me that his coming bride was a
Catholic while he was Protestant, and he
was in a quandary, as she would not be mar
ried by a minister.
II told him that he could not be married
by legal magistrates nearer than PennSyl-
vania and ne left to purchase tickets for
Philadelphia.
''Yes, these religious complications ire
quentlv come to my attention. as perhaps one
half of the applicants who wish to be married
by the civil law have had some disagree
ment about the minister to be employed and
have compromised by coming to Justice
"Oh, | have occasional applications said
Justice Harper, in which the biushing bride
and the embarrassed groom hold prominent
parts, but they are mostly rom non-residents,
from Northern and Western cities. where civil
rites ARE performed. marriage knot can q
tied in Virginia, but when the contracting
parties are not residents of the city bond is
required, which effectually does away with
the Gretna Green affairs. In Maryland the
law is the same as in the District. but in Phil
adelphia the aldermen are empowered to per-
form the ceremony"