Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-03
THEY WERE MARRIED
One Way to Escape From the Police
Court.
First Case Under the Edmunds Law
Since 1t Was Sustained in
the District.

When Charles Thomas and Susie Jones, a
| colored couple from Freeman's alley, ap-
| peared in Judge Kimball's court this morn
| ing to answer a charge Of profanity, it was
! shown that Susie had caused the trouble
| by attempting to exercise the rights of
| wife, when. as she said they were not mar
ried, but had been living together.
Because of the large number of such
| cases that come before the court, Judge
Kimball said he thought the Edmunds
| law, which is known as the Utah act,
should be brought into operation in this
case.
Seldom day passes" said the judge,
that cases of this kind do not come to
the attention of the court, and I think it
about time something was being DONE"
There are about sevtny-five cases of the
! same kind in that alley" said Policeman
Audridge. who had made the arrests.
Then they ought to be prosecuted" said
the court.
The officer explained the circumstances
under which he made the arrest this morn
ing.
About 1 o'clock complaint was made that
man was killing woman in the house
where these people live, and when the Of
fcer reached the house he found the wo-
man getting the better of the struggle.
There was another woman in the room,
man while Susie Thomas was at work. But
Susie returned home earlier than ne had
expected, and then the trouble happened
The other woman escaped.
Susie told Judge Kimball that they had
been living together this way for three
years and they were not married.
They We're fined IS each for profanity.
and the officer then swore to an informa-
ton charging them with fornication under
the act mentioned, which was passed In
| 1887.
Soon after the passage Of the act, which
applies to all territories over which the
United States has jurisdiction, there was a
case tried in the Police Court
Justice Harper was acting judge of the
court at that time, and he sustained the
law, holding that it was applicable to this
District But the Court in General Term
| reversed his decision and the matter was
allowed to rest. Recently, however, in the
Knight bigamy case, the Court of Appeals
sustained the view taken by Justice Har-
per, and this case today Is the first prose-
cution under the act since the recent de-
cisicn.
Prosecuting Attorney Mullowny fled the
charge and the prisoners were arraigned.
They admitted that the relations charged
had existed between them, and as the law
had already been passed upon, there was
nothing left for the court but to pass SEN
tence.
Mr.. Mullowny said that as this was the
first case he would suggest that they be
permitted to get married.
And I'll give 80 cents toward the Ii
cenSe, said Mr.. Pugh, IF Mr.. Mullowny
VIII give similar sum-
Mr.. Mullowny agreed, and then the COL
ored people We're questioned. The man,
who showed the effects of a dissipated life,
was willing to get married. but the woman
Questioned the court to what would be
the result If she did not get married
Then, your honor" said Mr. Mullowny
perhaps you had better dispose of the
case"
Now. Mr.. Mullowny's trying to sneak
out of paying the fifty cents" remarked
Mr.. Pugh.
Judge Kimball said he was willing to sus-
pend sentence in the case If they got mar
rfed. But the marriage, he said, must be
voluntary.
10th agreed to this arrangement and
when the time for taking up the collection
to pay for the license came Mr.. Mul!owny
showed that he had good reason for not
wanting the marriage to take place. But
he able to borrow quarter, and so
the license was procured.
Rev. Overton of Anacostia, who was in
court as a witness, called upon to
perform the ceremony. Arm in arm the
colored couple walked from the cell room
to one of the ante rooms without the play
Ing of wedding march, and were made
one.
While the minister was performing the
ceremony the man was enjoying his we'd
ding breakfast, which consisted of a piece
of bread and meat.
Il think We ought to get a wedding
present" said the bride, and Judge KIM
| ball responded by releasing them from pay
| ment of the fine imposed in the disorderly
case.
Il think we got a good present." said the
groom. We won't have to go to jail, we
save the S. fine, and the license and GER
emony had to be paid for
Thomas did not have hat, and he had
to send for one before he could return home
with his bride.
Judge Kimball, commenting on the case,
said he directed this prosecution in order to
break up what has become a very crying
evil
There are hundreds of people living here
in this way said the judge. ct is demor-
alizing to these people, and much more to
their children. and 1 am extremely glad
that the Court of Appeals has decided the
law is in force here.
These prosecutions will do more good to
break up this evil than any other one thing
They will stop L great deal of this sort of
living, and make these people become a
little more respectable