The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-09

BALTIMORE. Aug 9.-Last Monday
Clarence W. Owen, aged twenty,
and Miss Eva Maria Muir, of ii S
city, went to Washington, secured mar
riage license, and attempted to secure a
marriage, but failed on account of the OBJ
jections of several Washington priests TO
their tender age. They came back to Bal
tfmore and are still unmarried, bat they
hope to be joined together at some ar
future date. The facts have just become
public.
Mr.. Owens was extremely reticent IN
talking about his love affairs today, and
declined to make any statement or to
answer many questions. only ne WIS sm-
phatic in denying that the wedding had
taken place. He was at the brides home
for dinner and evidently was On good terms
with her family, for during the attempted
Interview there were repeated calls for
him from the second floor, where the Sam
lily was assembled
According to the story, TO which Mr.
Owens would not give assent or specific
denial, Miss Muir is not yet sixteen years
old. She is described as well grown for her
age, but up TO very recent date has been
wearing short dresses, although she
proudly told her friends that she was en-
gagged to be married. She is the daugh-
ter Of Robert Muir, a travelling salesman.
1929 Wesl Fayette Street, but has been
living with her maternal grandparents Dr.
and Mrs. Edward T. Stevens, 2O39 Madi-
son Avenue, since her mothers death.
Thee young Owens visited her and y as
received vita favor as was EhoWn ye5ter-
day.
A relative of Miss Muir is authority for
the statement that her father and mother
clipped. and to this Unborn influence they
attribute her present action. She is the
only daughter
Mr. Owens looks even younger than his
almost twenty years old. with his
smooth, boyish face and slight fig
ure. lie lives with his uncle, Mr.. Alexan-
der W. Weems l. East Twenty-second
Street. There il Is said. Miss Muir was a
welcome visitor. but objection WAS made
TO their wedding until they were older Mr..
Owens was member of the Maryland Ma
val Reserves and served Il the Dixie dur
ing the Spanish-AmeTiCan war. He was q
member Of the party which raised the
American flag or Porto Rican soil at
Ponce.
Since they met last September the young
couple showed a fondness Tor each other
and since March, it is said. this preference
was shown 10 the exclusion Of others.
Such was the condition of affairs on
Monday. In company with Mr. Owens. Miss
Muir left Dr.. Stevens house early Mon
lay afternoon. osLeus.bly 10 take an eXcuT-
sion trip to Queenstown. Instead they
went to Washington. L Is well known 20
those contemplating matrimony in this
State that Maryland laws require the bride
70 be sixteen years Old and the groom to BE-
rq-ar7fZ-Crsa elsa ma rEr7T- 771lrz- ron.
sent to their wedding In this case 1t was
known that the consent would not b
fcrt hcOming so the lovers FASTENED to
Washington.
They secured a marriage HCnse but then
another obstacle was ENCOUNTERED, this time
the church. One after another priests were
called upon, although Iii. owens denies
with much emphasis that the number was
five He VIII not state how many were
asked TO perform the ceremony. but the
refusal came because the rules of the Cath
Ole Church viii not permit g priest to
marry the member OF another parish than
his OWL without . special dispensation.
Miss Muir is member OF Immaculate
Conception Church. this city.
Whether this disBeusstion has been
granted Ar Owens would not state II il
was granted there would be 40 more trou-
bic Tor the young couple expect to traevi
10 Washington again and have the ceremo-
] Y performed. MI. Owens persisted in. the
statement that when the proper time cams
lie would be willing 10 talk, but not sooner.
TIE proper time" was understood to be
the contamination of their wish to have
said over them the words making them
husband and wife.
DR.. Stevens, the grandfather, declined to
b seen. Mr. Owens declaring that he was
7aking for and representing the family
however. Mrs, Stevens earlier in the day
admitted some of the facts in the case, al
though at that time the young couple were
not at home to give denial to the report
that they were married