Evening star., 1896-06-16
N e w M A r RAG E / AW
The First Case Under It Comes up
Today.
Licenses Issued for Marriage OF q
No Prosecution for Perjury.

The first case to arise under the new
marriage law, which went into effect Sat
urday last, was brought to the attention
of District Attorney Birney this after
noon, when the aunt Of Theresa Byroods,
who was married in Georgetown last even
ing to Charles p. Collins. complained that
the girl is but fifteen years Of age. while
the young man, in applying for the license
yesterday afternoon. swoce tEat she is
eighteen years old, and he is twenty-one.
The girls family, it is said. knew nothing
of the marriage or even of the intentions
of the young people until they saw notice
of the issuance of the license in this morn
ing's papers. The mother Of the girl, Mrs.
Elizabeth Byroads, is a widow, residing in
Georgetown, and 1t is understood that she
does not object to the marriage, now that
1t has been performed, provided 1t Is
legal and binding one. The young man,
who accompanied his brides aunt to the
city hall today, stated that even II the mar
riage last night is not legal one. she
would consent to a second one provided
second license therefor could be issued
here.
Was Perjury.
Clerk Young declined to express any
opinion as to the legality of the marriage,
referring the parties to District Attorney
Birney To a Star reporter Mr.. Birney
utes made a false oath under the circum-
stances perjury.
The section in question Is as follows:
Every person who, having taken an oath
before competent tribunal, oH1cer or
person, in any case in which a law of the
United States authorizes an oath to be
administered, that he will testify, declare,
depose, or certify truly, or that any writ
ten testimony. declaration. deposition, or
certificate by him subscribed Is true, Will
frtll Il nfrar
subscribes any material matter which he
does not believe to be true, Is guilty OF
perjury" etc.
The section then goes on to provide a
penalty of a fine of not more than 5000
and Imprisonment for not more than five
years in the penitentiary. Mr.. Birney told
Mrs. Margin, the girls aunt. that he be-
lieves the marriage to be lesal one. But
to a Star reporter Mrs Margin explained
that TIE girls mother has such doubt of
the legality of the marriage that she would
probably insist upon a remarrIage.
The young man, driver for the 1nde-
pendent Ice Company, said that he swore
as to the girls age upon information re-
ceived from her. He also said that he told
the afflciating minister, the Rev. Mr..
Thompson Of Georgetown. that the girl
said she was eighteen. and the minister, he
further said, replied that it was all right
If they had obtained the necessary license.
Mrs. Byroads is Catholic, while the
father Of yourg Collins Is a Protestant
Mrs. Byroads wishes the second marriage
to be performed by c Catholic priest, while
the young man explained that his father
had declared that he would not recognize
him If married by "a priest. But" ex-
ar rxious to do whatever Mrs. Byroads
wants, even If my father won't have any
'hns Hs TO %as do tnaa nst toa hI the cir, ne,nx
under eighteen years of age the written
consent of her mother would first be neees-
sary. and. in company with Mrs. Margin,
he left to obtain his Inother-in-Iaw's con-
sent to the issuance Of second license 1t
is not likely that under the peculiar cir
cumstances Of the case the young man will
be prosecuted for perjury.