The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-20
CREATES BIG SENSATION
YOUNG WELLS TAKES AN OCTO-
IIIM Sill Sv NOON
SHE is A FASHIONABLE DRESSMAKER
The Marriage was Secret and as Soon as the
Old Man" Found il Out There Was a
Lively Time in the Wells
anniIy.

A Raleigh negro girl has created a
great sensation in Nineland, n. j. She
is a fashionable dress maker there, ami
the fact has just been made known that
on December 9th, she was married to
William ]. Wells, Jr., the SON of rich
white man in Vineland.
The girls name is Marah Woodford.
Her mother used to teach school in Raj
eigh and her father was once a school
teacher in Baltimore. They left here
several years ago, and went TO Vine
land.
They moved Into one OF Tie houses Of
William Wells, a rich man Of Vineland.
who had accumulated a large fortune
in the cotton business in st. Louis, and
added to it by happy real estate IN
vestments.
Marah was bright, and her parents
were very ambitious regarding her.
They struggled hard to find the means
for giving her a good education. She
passed through the different grades of
the pubIic school. and was graduated
with honor from the High School, after
ward she took post graduate course.
AS a schoolgirl Marah, whose skin is
very light, was received on terms of so-
cial equality by the other children.
Among her play-fellows was William
Wells. .Ir.. the eldest son of her fathers
landlord. As she grew older and be-
came a fashionable dressmaker. with Il
large clientage among the fashionable,
she was treated with much respect.
A year ago young Wells, who held
position in a railroad office in Warwick,
II. Y. went home on a visit to Vine
land. He met Marah, who had
grown into a tall and graceful woman.
and they renewed the friendship of their
youth. What passed then is not known,
but on December 9th last, the young
man called on Justice Bodine. of Cam
den. and told him that he wanted TO
gee married.
HE told me that his sweetheart was
an octoroon.'' said the Justice after
ward. 'but that she was highly edu-
Gated and accomplished and thor
Oughly good woman. BE sure to be in
tomorrow afternoon he added
Next day the strangely assorted pair
drove up to the house of the Magistrate
in a carriage and William handed out
a stylishly dressed Young woman with
the air of a cavalier. Mrs. Bodine was
called in as a witness and the couple
were made man and wife.
When the news of the wedding
reached Vineland a storm broke out 1t
was the bride who let the story leak
olft She showed her marriage certifi-
cate with pride, and likewise a pretty
little gold watch with her husbands
photograph in it.
"Will and / are going to live in New
York" she said. ''where he is travel
ling salesman. | don't care If Vineland
people are criticising our marriage. We
didn't do it to please them"
The elder Wells was very angry and
said things that wouldn't look we'll in
print. .'If it is trie-and I have yet to
have the proofs-I shall cast off my son
and disinherit him, though he has al
ways been my favorite son." he said.
when the Woodford family first
came to town, took q fancy to them
and helped them But that girl Marah
has proved herself ungrateful for all
the kindness / have shown her. When
| first heard the story | went over
there.
'Marah,' said /, why do you circu-
late these infamous liesY She looked
ut her mother and did not answer. No
one who knows the standing of my fami-
ly will believe that my son could so dis
grace himself and u.s.
The following copy of the marriage
certificate obtained by a reported of the
New York World from Justice Bodine
sets at rest all doubts as to whether or
not Marah Woodford is now MIS- WI
liam ]. Wells, Jr.:
"VineIand, n. J.. Feb. IT,
County Of Camden, State of New
Jersey:
This is to certify that William 7.
Wells, Jr., of Vineland, N j.. and Marah
Woodford, of Vineland, n. j., were
united in marriage by me on the ninth
9th day of December, in the year
eighteen hundred and ninety-seven. Also
state that Williams J. Wells. Jr.. made
statement that Marah Woodford is an
Octoroon.
CHARLES B. IODINE,
"Justice of the Peace"