The San Francisco call., 1897-03-20
AN EMBARRASSING .LAK.
Troubles of Young Couple Who Wished
TO b Married in The District OF
HoImbJn

NEW YORK, N. Y, March IA Sun
special from Washing on says: On the
statute books of the D strict of Colum bia
is a law relating to the marriage of foreign
people which causes much trouble. The
bill was introduced into Congress by SEN
ator Faulkner of West Virginia. 1t pro-
vldes that when persons who are citizens
of foreign country wish to get married
in the district, they may produce GER
tifcate from the Mayor or Consul of
their native country TO the effect that all
the laws of that country had been COM
pied with before marriage certificate
can be supplied.
This law was enacted in belief that it
would serve TO some extent to protect
American girls, especially heiresses, from
beng married by Titled foreigners, who
would return to their own country and re-
pudiaie the marriage as soon as they had
obtained the dowry. So far as known there
has been no good ACCOMPLISHED by this
statute. but many persons have been
caused considerable annoyance.
An instance of this kind occurred in tn
office of the City Clerk yesterday when
George q. Hensey, the son OF Thomas G.
Hensey, well-known real estate deaier,
attempted to OBJ ,ain license TOR his mar
riage 10 Mis- Marguerite Qaionio of New
York. Hensey was accom- panied by his
attianced to the City Hal. Miss Uuionio
is beautiful girl ofabout 10, lady IN looks
attire and manner. The couple were re-
ferred to City Clerk Smith. who made out
the license in the usual form. Just before
issuing IT, however, he asked them If they
were both citizens of the Omitted States.
Miss Quionio replied that sne had been
brought to this country from England
when she was years of age, and that she
\ 60 20 IAr
mother lived in California, but she had
been adopted at an early age by an aunt in
New York and lived there.
She could not swear that her mother
had ever become naturalized, which made
it necessary for her to secure certificate
from the British En- bassador, Sir Julian
Pauncefote, to the effect that she was eli
gible to marry according 10 the laws of
England. Miss Qnionio and Mr.. Henseya
went to the British embassy to secure the
required certificate, but were informed by
the EN- bassa1or that he could not issue 1t
without being first notified that the girls
mother was willing that the marriage
should take place, Miss Quionio being un-
der age according to English law.
As her mother is in California the per-
mission could not be obtained, and they
returned to the City Hall to notify the
clerk that the ambassador had refused
the certificate. 1t was then suggested that
Miss Quionio take out her first papers for
naturaiiza lion, which would except her
from the rule. This she was una BILE to do,
as she would have to produce witness
who could swear to her having been in
this country Tor certain term OF years,
which she was unable to do, her relatives
Bnd frienGs being in New York.
The matter was finally given up, and
the couple will be com mpelled 10 go TO Bal
timore or Alexandria or somewhere else
outside of the district before the ceremony
can be performed. The most peculiar cir
cumstance of the case is that the moment
Miss Quionio becomes Mrs. Hensey she
becomes an American citizen. and it
makes no diffe renee whether she is under
age in England or not.