Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-27
Denounced by the Clergy.

For years before his death the clergy
both far and near had denounced him.
and it is told of one man who was pastor
of the Methodist church at Aberdeen sew
eral years ago that he stationed runners
at all the landings. These men persuaded
or tried to persuade would-be benedicts to
be married by him. assuring them that
Beasley was not legally qualified 10 per-
form the ceremony. but all to no purpose
the squire continued to thrive and the
parson, soon growing discouraged. jour
neyed to Il land of fairer promise.
The last acts and words of Squire Beas-
ley were in perfect accord with his life.
AT sunrise on the morning of August u,
1882, just as his soul was about TO take
from Southern Kentucky to be married by
him We're ushered into his room. With fast
failing breath he began the ceremony and
almost from the spirit land came the
words. You may now lawfully and legally
acknowledge yourselves as husband and
wife"
Ar hour after his funeral arrangements
We're being made.
After the old mans death several men
established offices in different parts of the
town, cut the price for tying the hymeneal
knot and tried in every way TO %outrival
one another: but while the people had
stubbornly refused to cry out against the
the authorities of the disreputable pro-
ceedinSs of these men. but they got an
mixing of the trouble brewing for Them
so when the officers arrived upon the scene
these self-made squireS were among the
missing.
Il seems strange that the people. espe-
cially of Ohio. should not have prosecuted
the two gay old squires. who for a period
of over seventy years SO disregarded the
law. for the law of Ohio provides that:
Previous to persons being Joined in mar
riage notice thereof shall be published in
the presence of the congregation on two
different days of public worship. the first
publication to be at least ten days pre-
vious to such marriage. within the county
where female resides. or a license shall be
obtained for that purpose from the probate
judge of the county where such female
may reside"
But it seems that different attorneys
throughout the state, and of other states
tons on this law. Some say the meaning
is too obscure: others have different views
which are too numerous and too heavily
burdened with the technicalitieS of the law
to be discussed here.
The greatest difficulty, and in truth the
most serious thing about the whole af-
fair. arises from the fact that the great
majority of the people married at Aberdeen
had no license of any kind. although they
may have in their possession a so-called
certificate issued by a man who had no
authority to issue it or sign it. Many of
after they grew older and wiser that their
marriage had not been lawful and have
renewed their VOWS before ministers of
the gospel. 1t was thought by many that
this question of the legality of such mar
riageS was forever settled just after the
close of the civil war. The government de-
cided that such marriages were not valid
and that the children of such marriages
were therefore Legitimate and that the
widows and children We're not entitled
TO pensions. But so many of the fallen
heroes had been married at Aberdeen that