The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-09
2 MIR. 7CUNNINGHAM's MARRIAGE,
He Had No notion of Death when Il
1890 Took Place. aaS.E Ky :


He Had No Motion of Death when 1t
.sz..ss. Took Place. aaS. Ky -
The death aef2;John Cunningham the
colored man who died at the CITY hes
Qital Friday, brings to. light a romance
surrounding. his last. hours. Realizing
That his end was near, Cunningham. be-
fore e+''wentsFt the shospitaf, called to
his bedside Anna Walker, a handsome
mulatte woman who for several years
had beer known. as his Common law wife,
ahd the, two were Quietly married. AFTER
the ceremony those who. were about Cum
nigham say he appeared brighter than
during bis weeks of sickness. - His last
words at the hospital before he passed
away were of his Wife 4 -. wa
What prompted the marriage Is q topic
of general discussion, with many explain
atoms among those who knew Cunning
ham. Thomas Jefferson, the colored sa-
loonkeeper at 8S4 Minnesota street for
whom Cunningham was manager, says
he knew nothing of the marriage until
after 1t was over. and was surprised to
learn of the step Cunningham had taken.
Cunningham carried $500 life insurance,
not $1,000 as was stated In an evening
paper. The Walker woman, now Mrs.
Cunningham, is the beneficiary under the
policy. Speaking of her marriage Mrs.
Cunningham said last evening:
"Mr. Cunningham and 1 expected to be
married last fall, but the ceremony was
put off pending the arrival here of my
mother. We always intended 10 be mar
ried, and after he was taken i'll Mr.. Gun
ningham often spoke of the matter
Wednesday morning, when 1t was decid-
ed to send him to the hospital was
called from the room where l was asleep
after nursing him all night, and informed
by him that he desired the marriage to
take place before he went to the hos
pital had no idea that he was going
tr. ole, nor do 1 think he had, for he
talked of plans for the future After a
while the justice of the peace came. Mr..
Cunningham sat up in bed, answering the
questions asked In a perfectly rational
manner and we were married.
THE statement in an evening paper
that his life was insured for $1,000 is in
correct The amount was $500. OF this
sum more than half has already been
expended in funeral expenses. The talk
OF a contest over the insurance money Is
foolish In view of the small amount.
The question of the insurance money had
nothing to do with the marriage. Some
other business interests of Mr.. Cunning
hams, however, may be affected.
The marriage took place Wednesday
morning, at Cunningham's home, 5G6 Min
nesota street. The ceremony was per-
formed by Justice or the Peace JoIlilson'
Attorney John E. Hearn procured the
license, it is said, at Cunningham's re-
quest. Thursday Cunningham was taken
to the hospital, where he died Friday
morning. Cunningham has brother,
whose whereabouts are at present I'M
known.
Arrangements have been completed for
the funeral which Will take. place this
afternoon at o'clock from St., James
A. M. E. church. Miss Rubie Brown,
who is seeking to comfort Mrs. Cunning
ham in her affection. Is looking after
the ARRANGEMENTS. The pallbearers have
been secured, and 1t is expected that the
funeral will be a solemnly imposing
event, for which neither pains nor money
have been spared by Miss Brown, acting
under Mrs Cunningham direction.