The evening times., 1899-08-03
IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE.
Interest in the GaynOr-Pitney Mnr-
riaSe Revived.

riase Revived.
1t is possible that the agitation which
developed because of the marriage of Col
John F. Gaynor, OF New York, and Miss
Annie L. Pitney, of Washington may be
renewed. This marriage created SEN
sation during the latter part OF June In
Washington, Fayetteville, n. Y, and New
York city. Colonel Gaynor had been
prominent in politics in the Empire State,
and was reported to be a millionaire, and
Miss Pitney was stenographer and type
writer with desk at the Shoreham Hotel.
The couple had sailed for Europe when
the romance became public. When the 6n-
nouncement was made a complication
seemed to arise. woman in New York,
whose name was not Miss Pitney, also
claimed Colonel Gaynor as her husband.
On the morning of June 26 this marriage
notice appeared in one of tie New York
newspapers:
GAYNoR-GIFFoRD-I New York. septem-
ber 2, 1890, Carrie B. Clifford and John +. Gay
nor, by the Rev. .. l. Prescott.
1t was stated today on what appears to
be competent authority that the alleged
Mrs. Gaynor, who was Miss Clifford, and
her brother, Mr.. Frank Clifford, have been
IN Washington and Rockville, Nd, during
the last few days looking up the evidence
of the Gaynor-Pitney marriage. a re-
porter for The Times, who made search
today for Mrs Gaynor, nee Clifford, and for
| Mr.. Clifford, could not find them, but he
was made to understand that they are in
the city or have just been here for the pur-
pose indicated. They have interviewed the
witnesses to the marriage of Colonel Cay
nor and Miss Pitney.
A.. ColnnaI Epypnr and Miss Pitupy wera
married at Rockville. Nd, on June 10. 1893.
After the New York woman announced
that Colonel Gaynor was her husband a
reporter secured a certified copy of the
return made to the clerk of Montgomery
county, Nd, and signed by the Rev. c. c.
Morhart, who performed the ceremony.
The document reads as follows and the
original is now on file in the clerks office
of Montgomery county, at Rockville, Md. !:
hereby certify that this tenth day OF June,
1899 at Rockville, Nd, John. +. Gaynor and An
ME L. Pitney were by united in marriage,
in accordance with the license issued by the clerk
of the circuit court of Montgomery county, State
of MARYLAND. C. G. MORHART,
Minister OF the Gospel.
In addition to the above Mrs. Pitney,
the mother of the bride, who lives at 1929
n Street northwest, has IN her possession
! the certificate of marriage signed by the
| officiating minister, and the names of Mrs.
G. w. Boyd, James Pitney, and William
Pitney as witnesses. The Rev. c. G. Nor
| hart, who performed the marriage in Rock
ville made the following statement: Il
| married Col. John F. Gaynor to Annie L.
| Pitney, at Rockville, on June 10. The
| colonel's courtship has continued for six
years, and his sister and brother. as well
| as his children, have visited Miss Pitney
| in that time Mrs. Pitney, the bride S
/ pnofhar and hpr two hrotherS Verp preSpnt
| at the ceremony
The alleged Mrs. Gaynor, nee Clifford,
claims to have been married TO the colonel
| in 1890 and authorized the following state
| ment:
Il simply wished to set myself right.
| want no further notoriety in the matter.
/ shall do nothing until Colonel Gaynor
gets back. l am, naturally, certain of my
| own position as Colonel Gaynor's wife, and
| do not believe at all in the Maryland mar
! riage.'
| Mr. Clifford said that his sister and Col
| onel Gaynor were married by the Rev. o.
| l.. Prescott who was pastor of the Little
| Church Around the Corner, in New York,
| from 1890 to 1895. This clergyman is now
at New Haven, Conn.,, and is reported to
have said that he cannot recall having per-
| formed the ceremony.
Colonel Gaynor and Mrs. Gaynor nee
| Pitney, are now in Europe. Colonel Gay
| nor is said to be worth from 81 100000 to
| So, 600 000 He has been delegate to Demo
| cratic State conventions since 1876. In 1885
he was appointed on Gov. David B. Hills
staff as aide-de-camp. 1t was there he Sc
| cured his title. He was commissioner tc
| the Worlds Fair from the State of New
York He Is a member of several social
and political organizations in Syracuse and
of the Manhattan Club in New York. He is
also one of the largest harbor contractors
| in the country.