The times., 1898-09-16
She Came From Scotland to
Marry a ColOred Man.
THE CASE INVESTIGATED
Both the Immigrant and Her Lover
Were Taken Before Special
BOARD of Inquiry-After Several
Changes of Mind She Expressed a
Determined Desire to Be Married.

commissioner OF immigration at New
York, relative to the case of Maggie
Wood a native of Scotland, who arrived
at New York on the steamer Mongolian
on September s.
This woman was an alien, British
subject. AS In the case of all other
aliens. the examining inspector endeay-
ored to ascertain her qualifications to
land, and found that she had no money
and was not coming here for the purpose
of working to earn a livelihood, but to be
married.
Under ordinary circumstances, such
aliens are always held for a special in
quiry on the ground that they are likely
to become public charges, in view of the
uncertainty of the consummation of their
intended marriage. The fact that, in this
instance the intended husband was
coiored man weighed in the mind of the
inspector no more than to make the un-
certainty greater than in ordinary cases
In some manner the matter was pub
lished in the newspapers, and the Rev.
DR. Carruthers, of the Presbyterian
Board of Missions, then in session in New
X. d
father. appeared and stated that he would
protest most vehemently against the
marriage, and asked permission TO talk
with the new arrival
This request being granted, he pleaded
with the girl as clergyman and friend
of the family not to consummate the mar
rage. and the following day she went be-
fore the board of special inquiry.
Immigrant being sworn stated: L am
twenty-five years old; was born In Scot
land. / am single"
Q-Who paid your passage to America! =!
A.-Martin Hamilton.
Q.-Who is he: what is he to you? A
He is my intended husband.
Q-Were you ever here before? A.-No.
Q.-Have you any relations in America?
A.-No.
o.-what do you intend to do here;
where do you intend to go to now? A
1 want to take a situation if can get
one.
o.-Have you any money? Avery lit
tie
Q.-How much? A.-One dollar.
Q.-This man who paid your passage
here, and to whom you say you are en-
gagged is a colored man, is he not? A
Yes, sir.
Q.-where did you meet him? Ain
Glasgow, Scotland.
Q.-How long since? A.-One year ago
last August.
Q.-You did not realize until you came
here the condition of the colored people
at all. did you? A.-No.
Q.-Are your father and mother living?
Ayes. sir.
Odd you come here with their con-
sent? Ayes. sir.
Q.-Do you still intend to. marry this
man? A.-No.
Q.-What has led you to change your
mind? A.-There are lots of things since
/ came here.
Q.-Can you mention some of them?
Al would not like to be mixing with
colored people.
Rev. Mr.. Carruthers appeared and
stated: Il haven't anything to say ex-
cept this: This coiored man. Martin Ham
ilton, went over to Glasgow. Scotland,
working on asphalt pavements and while
there roomed with Maggie's sister. He
made an impression on her. Now. in re-
gard TO her father and mother, / think
that they do not know everything about
this. l know them and they are respecta-
bic people. l do not think they know any
thing about this, do they Masgie?''
Maggie Wood-No they did not see him.
Chairman Stump-She says now that she
wants to take a situation if she can get
one Have you any place for her?
Mr.. Carruthers-Thar of course, is
something new. Maggie has held out all
along that she wanted TO marry this man
until three hours ago. I have no doubt
that she can get a position The Episco-
pal missionary can get her a position. The
only difficulty in my mind, is that Maggie
may change her mind.
Maggie Wood-No, I will not
Martin S. Hamilton appeared before the
board Of special inquiry and. being sworn.
stated: II live in Buffalo, N Y, No. 50
Williams Street"
Q.-What is your business? Al am in
the asphalt work.
Q--Do you do manual labor or supervise
it? Al do the manual part of the work.
Q--Are you single man? A.-Yes. sir.
Q.-Are you a citizen of the United
States? Ayes, sir.
Q.-Have you come here for Maggie
Wood? A.-Yes. sir
Q.-She promised to marry you? A
Yes sir.
Q.-How long have you known her? A
About fourteen months
Q--She was here before the board and
we asked her if she wished to marry YOU
and she said no, she would not? Al do
not know how she can say that: she
must have been influenced: / would like
to have her come in and say so before
me.
Q.-You want to marry this girl? A
Yes sir.
Off she is wiling you want to fulfill
your contract TO marry her? Ayes.
sir
At this point the inquiry was inter
rupted and the matter was deferred until
the following day Meanwhile Miss Wood
changed her mind and announced her de-
termination to marry Hamilton. At the
second session of the board the immi-
grant was recalled.
Q.-You were here before? Ayes. sir.
Q.-Do you remember stating here un-
der oath that you would not marry this
man? Any stomach was all upset at
the time; had had nothing to eat and
my stomach was all turned upside down
will marry him.
Q.-Is that your final determination?
A.-YeS. sir.
1t was finally ascertained that both the
immigrant and Hamilton had a firm pur-
pose to be married, and that there was
no doubt that the marriage would take
place. Upon these facts the board of spe-
cial inquiry found that the girl was not
likely to become a public charge and she
was thereupon permitted to land
Marriage Licenses.
Marriage licenses were issued yesterday
to George Gray, Prince George County,
Md, and Victoria Hughes Edward r