The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-16
Ceremony Performed and Train
Caught in IL Minutes.
The Couple Met In Topeka by
Agreement.
NO TIME TO BE LOST.
Justice of the Peace Rushed
Through the Service.
Depot Reached just as Train
Was Ready to Leave.

The record in performing marriage
ceremonies in Topeka was broken yes
terday afternoon by Justice of the
Peace NIcCIntOck. There have been some
swift wedding in Topeka in days gone
by, but this one ecHpsed them ALL
The groom was Everett West, of Fort
Worth, Texas, and the bride was Miss
Matte Owen, of Linn, Mo. They had
met in Topeka to have the ceremony
performed and were then going on their
wedding trip, leaving Topeka on the
Santa Fe train at O'Clock in the after
noon. The arrangements made by Mr.
West made it important that they
should go on that particular train, as
their trunks had been checked and if
they waited until a later train they
would miss their connections.
Shortly after dinner the couple went
to the probate judges office to procure
a marriage license. The document was
duly made out by Deputy Probate
they wanted some one to perform the
ceremony.
Now Mr.. Garrard as deputy can ex-
ecute a license in the latest and most
approved style; as a notary public he
can swear a man to the fact that his
name is John Smith or anything else;
as a gentleman he can congratulate the
groom and wish the bride all the happl-
ness he can think of, but when it comes
to speaking the magic words which
bind two souls together and make two
hearts beat as one, he is powerIess-
absolutely pOwerless.
Probate Judge DOlman was detained
at home for a time yesterday by the
illness of his wife, and he was late in
reaching his office after dinner. Mr.
Garrard telephOned for him to hurry
over from his home in North Topeka
as quickly as possible, and the bridal
couple sat down to await his arrival
Meanwhile time was flying, which is
an old habit that time has, and the
groom began to grow anxious. He
looked at his watch every two minutes
and finally began to make frequent ex-
cursiOns to the window to see if the
judge was coming. Fifteen minutes till
two and no Judge Mr.. Garrard assured
the pair that Judge DOlman would be
there in just a minute" At twelve
minutes till the time for the train to
leave Mr.. West said he could not wait
for the judge and in his desperation
asked if there was not some one else
about who could perform a marriage
ceremony
Mr.. Garrard hastily called UP Justice
McClintOck over the telephone and for
tunately caught him at the office. He
explained the eXigencies of the matter
to the justice, who started for the court
house at a record breaking gait. 1t
was eight minutes till two when Mr.
McClintOck breathlessly entered the
probate judges office. The bridal pair
hastily stood up and the ceremony was
performed so swiftly that they scarce
understood what they were promising.
That took two minutes more, and eV-
cry minute the groom looked at his
watch. Another two minutes were con-
sumed in signing the marriage certifi-
cate, and at four minutes before time
for the train to leave Mr.. and Mrs
West got into a carriage and started on
depot, reaching it just in time to make
their train.