The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-09
DISGRACBFUL JEST
A Hoboken Justice" Guys the
Marriage Ceremony in a
Trolley Car 8 Many
Drinks In 1t.

A fake was going the rounds in Hobo
ken this morning to the effect that JUS
tice of the Peace McAleer, last evening,
on board a trolley car, married John o..
McGuinness, of No. 619 Willow avenue, a
waiter in the Eldorado Casino, Weehaw-
ken. to Hattie Martin, ''serio-comic"
singer, holding forth in the same place.
Today McAleer says the story is a cooked
up version of mere joke. This is the
way the story was originally told
The man and woman left the Casino
together, about one o'clock on Sunday
morning, ard started for Hoboken. On
reaching the Fourteenth street ferry they
stopped in Hauser's saloon and had a few
drinks Both were feeling jolly, and
about two o'clock they boarded a Wash
ington street trolley car. On the same
car were Justice of the Peace Thomas E.
McAleer, Benjamin Williams, barten-
der, of No. 65S Newark street, and two
women whose names, it is said, were
Minnie Anderson and Marion Schultz. All
were acquainted, and they began a con-
versation.
Hello, Tommy yelled McGuinness. as
he saw Justice McAleer. How do you
think I'd look getting married now?"
II guess you would pass all right" re-
turned the Justice. "Pll do the splicing
act for you"
That's a co." interjected McGuinness,
and turning to his fair = companion he
whispered, How about it. Hattie?"
Hattie nodded her head with laugh
and then the couple stood up in the car.
McGufnness and Miss Martin by the
hands he began to recite the marriage
formula. The proceedings caused so much
laughter among the other passengers that
the Justice could not be heard and there
is dispute as to whether he recited the
legal form of the ceremony. However, he
called for witnesses and Minnie Anderson,
Marion Schultz and Benjamin Williams
volunteered
When the couple reached the Barclay
street ferry they got on the next car and
returned to Hauser's saloon.
AS they entered McGuinness, it is al
legged. shouted out to his friends: Hello,
The drinks were ordered and McGuinness
paid for them. He did not leave the
saloon with his bride until three o'clock
in the morning.
A News reporter called at McGuin-
ness home this morning and was inform-
ed that he was in bed. When awakened
and informed of the alleged marriage he
began to laugh.
'!That's only joke he replied. Tom
my McAleer gave that out, I'll bet a
dollar
Were you really married.! asked the
reporter.
me? Why, of course not replied
McGuinness seriously. Don't you know
I've got wife and three children? You
see it was this way: We were out for
a good time, Hattie and 1, and when we
got on the car McAleer was there, and
l asked him in a joke, you know. il he
tie and 1 stood up for fun. I don't re-
member whether the Justice went
through the right ceremony or not.
a piece of newspaper and told him that
1t was his marriage fee
Justice McAleer admitted this morning
that the alleged ceremony which he per-
formed on the trolleyAw was only a joke
and that everyone In the car knew it was
a joke. When he asked the woman if she
would take McGuinness to be her lawful
husband she replied: yes, I'll take any
old thing. even. freight car.
would take the woman for his wife he
laughed and made no reply.