The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-20
CUPID And The 'SQUIRES
THEIR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AT JET
FERsONvILLE MUST STOP.
Attorney General Issues UItimntum-
Tales of the Greatest Mar
rinGe Bureau.

The unlawful granting of marriage IL
censes in Jacksonville must stop or the
officials implicated therein will be pro-
ceeded against under a law passed by the
Indiana LEGISLATURE of 1899. providing for
the Impeachment Of county officers and the
method by which IL may be accomplished.
The foregoing Is Attorney General Taylors
uitimatum on the Jefersonville "Gretna
Green situation. delivered shortly before
he boarded a train yesterday afternoon. to
go 10 Denver, to attend the annual con-
vention Of the American Bar Association.
Mr.. Taylor said that as soon as he read
in yesterdays Journal a statement that
Clerk Carr. OF Floyd county, had received
legal advice that encouraged him to pro-
ceed with the issuance Of licenses as be-
fore, he the attorney generaD wrote Mr..
Carr. demanding to know If IL is true that
he is pursuing this course and by what
authority ne Is now proceeding and noti-
flying him that the law plainly prohibits
the granting Of licenses in cases where
the female is not a bona fde resident Of
the county. Mr.. Taylor left the matter in
charge of Deputies Moore and Hadley, who
will attend to Clerk Carr's reply to Mr..
TaylOr's letter. when 1t arrives.
The Louisville Courier-Journal, in a long
and interesting story OF 1.-The country's
most famous Gretna Green--Jefferson-
VILE" says:
clerk Carr was informed OF the attitude
OF the attorney general and for "A day and
a half refused TO issue licenses TO nom
residents. Then he sent word to the mag
istrates that he intended to test the legal
ity of Attorney General Taylor's con-
~struction OF the law and licenses would be
issued as heretofore. The business is again
proceeding just as IL has for years past.
Clerk Carr has retained a lawyer. IL is
understood that the defense will show that
as marriage is Il civil contract the fact
for a marriage license lives In another
county or State has no right TO act as a
magistrates are saying nothing but think
ing a great deal"
NOT ALL ARE ELOPEMENTS.
The Courier-Journal further says:
Every Kentucky marriage is not an elope-
ment. Not half of them are Opponents.
Economy in running away is oftenest
the incentive to set the feet. of matrimonial
pilgrims toward Jacksonville.
There is something curious about these
bridal couples. More frequently the groom,
enwraped in a flavor of the soil, betrays
his mission. His black cottonade gloves,
new store clothes and general air of being
uncomfortable stamps him as a groom
tO-be. The young woman looks less fright
ened. Most of them giggle and dance about
in hysterical fashion.
A stalwart mountaineer, for instance,
whose trousers are short. leads a BASH
full girl in an impossible gown, uncon-
sciOus Of the grin and stare that follow
them. These two have taken their first
railroad and steamboat ride in their lives.
The wedding tour Is an eventful memory.
Perhaps the groom has dared the Winches-
tiers of the brides male relatives and car
ried her off in true Lochinvar style, rid
ing hard for safety and the nearest railroad
station.
Once in awhile a swell couple journeys
over the river to marry. They, of course,
go in a hack. If the groom does not give
the magistrate 81 he is what is known as a
"shine."
Magistrate Keigwin's successor. B. T.
Nixon, is much on the same order as the
little squire" He is venerable, quiet and
forgets about a wedding in a minute after
it is over. Magistrate Hause Is a gentle
man Of the old school, having been born in
Pennsylvania and was reared in Baltimore.
where he was educated. While in college
he learned the value of a good poker hand.
and he has been practicing ever since.
complexion, gray mustache and black eyes
that twinkle. What little hair he possesses
humor.
RESULTS OF SOME MARRIAGES.
Many queer stories are told by the mag
~istrates. Marriage in Jacksonville has
settled Kentucky feuds. while in rare cases
it has caused all sorts of trouble. On one
occasion a well attended a ball in this
city. fell in love with a young debutante at
first sight, declared his love to her while
dancing. arranged the elopement, slipped
away to the ferry, the two were married.
seated I'm their carriage and had returned
to the ball room before the guests missed
them. Re-entering the groom announced
To their friends that he and his bride were
ready TO receive congratulations. They are
living happily.
More orthodox was the case of a Larue
county couple. They had loved since
and would listen to no marriage proposals.
The young people established a postofice
In a hollow log and planned to elope. The
young woman escaped from home By the
aid of a ladder provided by her lover. He
awaited her, hurried to the railroad station
through a driving rain, boarded a freight
train and the next day their marriage took
place in Jeffersonvilie.
A sadder story is that of a beautiful
girl, the daughter of a Nelson county
farmer. A hand on the farm. a negro.
played the violin. This bewitched the girl.
They eloped. She swore she had negro
blood I'm her veins. A negro preacher mar
on the scene soon after. The husband and
preacher could not be found. Finding
their efforts at vengeance futile the way
ward girl was disowned. She led a mis-
cradle life and died in a howell.
Once I'm a while a betrayer is marched
over TO Jacksonville to right the wrong
he has done.
Recently Magistrate Hause was hearing
the case OF Lizzie and Joe Duncan, charged
Will provoke.
Court is adjourned temporarily" he
said.
He had Just glanced out of the window
and saw a couple approaching.
Walk In, please; this Is the place you
are looking for"
A license was secured and Mack III. Pate
and Mary T.. Runner were married.
The fee is from 50 TO s.. Thanks. good
bye. Proceed with the witness. Mr.. Prose
cutting Attorney" said the court.
VARIOUS KINDS OF CEREMONIES.
Magistrate Hause has a variety of cere-
monies. If he thinks he is going TO get a
good fee he uses his iowery one; If there
is not much doing he cuts it short. When
there is a demand for a marriage for char
ity's sake he says:
ID you believe in God and the Consti-
tution? Do you both love? Yes. You're
married"
Numerous stories are told Of the affable
Hause, who is without doubt one OF the
quaintest characters 10 be found.
a Courier-Journa reporter was sitting
in his office recently when a couple entered.
After the wedding the groom. who was not
well dressed. said:
"Welk. Judge. how much?'
II get what a minister usually receives
50 or So"
The man opened his vest. pulled out a
fat roll of g~reenbacks. and. running over
them. handed one TO the squire