Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-26
Complication Over Col. Gaynor's Mar
riage to Miss Pitney of This City.
CLAIM OF A PRIOR UNION
Local Minister Says the Ceremony
Here Was Regular
COUPLE NOW IN LONDON

The marriage of Col John F. Gaynor. the
contractor, politician and treasurer of the
democratic state committee of New York
to Miss Annie L. Ptney the pretty Shore
ham Hotel typewriter, of this city, has
awakened more interest and brought about
more notoriety than the couple anticipa ted
or cared to have accorded them. Col. Gay
nor was married, it will be remembered to
Miss Pitney June 10 last at Rockville Nd
by Rev. c. c. Morhart of DDS Morgan
street, Washington. The marriage was "a
secret for week or more, but finally found
its way into the public press. With the APP
pearance of the announcement came an ad-
vertisenent in one of the New York papers
which purported to tell of the marriage OF
John +. Gaynor to Caroline b. Clifford, by
Rev. o. L. Prescott, in New York, Septem-
Der 2, 1890"
This notice, stating the claim of a second
woman, fell like a bombsheil upon the
friends of Col. Gaynor in New York, and
the many friends and acquaintance Of
Miss Pitney in this city. The former is
prominent in political affairs of the en-
pire state and is of the best known
men in the east. His marriage to Miss Pit
ney was a surprise; the announcement in
serted in the papers by Caroline B. Clifford
was shock.
So far there has been no attempt on the
part of the people concerned to straighten
out the very pretty tangie the marital at
fairs of the groom seem to be in. When
seen in London yesterday by correspond
ent of one of the New York papers, Col
Gaynor refused to have anything to say
upon the subject. The politician and his
Washington wife have been abroad, sailing
almost directly after the performance of the
ceremony.
There is no doubt as to the legality OF
the Washington, cor more properly, the
Rockville marriage, in SO far as the cere-
mony itself was concerned. Rev. Mr. Nor
hart the officiating clergyman, was founo
at his home today by a reporter for The
Star. When questioned as to the marriage,
he said:
There is nothing peculiar or sensational
about the marriage of Col. Gaynor to Miss
Pitney. The ceremony took place in Rock
vile the morning of June 10. \ party of Us
journeyed to the Maryland town and made
our way through driving rain storm to
the county courthouse where the marriage
license was secured. The ceremony was
promptly performed and was witnessed by
Mrs. Pitney, mother of the bride, her two
brothers and sister, and by Mrs. Boyd.
who lives on Morgan street. A large num-
Der of other relatives and friends were in
vited to join the wedding party, but did not
accompany us to Rockville, on account OF
the storm prevailing at the time. The re
turn issued with the license was turned
back into the clerks office at the Rockville
court house, Mr.. and Mrs. Gaynor Were
given their marriage certificate and the
ceremony was over.
Il have known Col. Gaynor for many
years. He has been acquainted with Miss
Pitney for number of years, and has
been counting her for some time past. /
have never heard of the Clifford woman. J
will never believe that Col. Gaynor is any
thing but honest and upright in every
thing"
Mrs. Pitney, who lives at 1929 street,
in this city. subs antiates the statement
made by Rev. Mr.. Norhart. Her faith in
her son-in-law is mistaken. She SAID he
had been u widower for a number of years.
If he had been married the world would
have known of it long ago.
Frank Clifford, brother of the New York
woman who claims to be Mrs. Gayror No.
!, is in New York, where he says he will
protect his sisters interests and good name
Mrs. Gaynor, she claims to be. says she
will prosecute Col. Gaynor for bi2alny. AS
yet, however. no action has been taken and
the matter is still interesting and full of
exciting anticipation.
The New York Mrs. Gaynor claims that
she was dumfounGed WHEN she read the
announcement of the marriage of Col. Gay
does not believe, she declared to Interview
ers, that the ceremony here was 4 proper
one. Sne said also she had been suspicious
Of her husband for the last two years.
Rev. o. l.. Prescott, who is supposed to
have performed the Clifford Gaynor cere-
mony, is in New Haven at the present
time. In September, 1890, the time of the
alleged first ceremony, he was curate in
the Little Church Around the Corner in
New York
Col. Gaynor is reported to be worth near
ly S2000,000. He is prominent In military
circles in New York, and was Oh Gov.
David Is. Hills staff rs aid-la-camp