The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-20
CHINESE
WEDDING
Versatile T. Fitch
Acts In Triple
Capacity.

There was a marriage ceremony per-
formed in this city at high noon on the
18th instant, at which Tom Fitch, of
Nevada, Utah, California, Arizona,
Washington, Idaho, New Mexico, Ore
gon, ETC., acted in a triple capacity. He
gave away the blushing bride, was best
man, and was witness to the ceremony.
incidentally, a little game was played
on the Federal Court
| Whether or not Chinese woman
| can be deported from this country for
having violated the Exclusion Act,
when she has been married after her
| arrival here, is a question tnau will be
presented to the federal authorities for
solution within the next few days.
| The woman upon whom judgment Is
to be passed, is one Chock Kan You
Her husband is Yong Hau. They were
! married some years ago in China, so it
| is alleged, without either of the high
contracting parties having ever seen
/ the other. Under the laws of the
| United States these wireless telegraph
Inuptials are not considered legal. In
order to overcome those questions that
| had arisen concerning their union,
| they We're, on July 18th, some time be-
/
| made husband and wife after the
Christian rites of marriage, in the Of
| fee of Thomas Fitch, the attorney who
is fighting the case before the federal
authorities on behalf of the woman,
and by his order.
| The witnesses to the ceremony were
Thomas Fitch, her attorney, and John
A Baker, the Interpreter. The cere-
mony was performed by the Rev. A.
e. Cory, of the Christian Church. So
far as the marriage itself is concern
| ed, everything seems to be open and
above board. Mr.. Corys story of the
proceedings is honest and straightfor-
ward enough, and in no way do any OF
| the circumstances cast reflections on
| him. When asked what he knew about
the matter, the reverend gentleman
| said without any hesitation:
| Il was seated in Mr.. Fitch'S Office,
where / had called on business, and
while reading an article, some one
handed me, this Chinese man and wom-
an came in. / was asked if 1 would
marry them, and 1 said that / would
have no hesitancy in doing so, provided
! had conclusive proof that everything
was beyond suspicion. / interrogated
them through the interpreter, Mr.. John
A. Baker. Then a license was secured
For some reason 1 do not know, the
authorities would not grant the license
1.
caused some delay. When this was
attended to (the license was issued by
| Mr.. Hassinger), / asked them several
/ things of a relevant nature, and then
proceeded to put the questions that are
on the marriage reports furnished to
clergymen and others licensed to per-
form the ceremony of marriage in the
| Hawaiian Islands. 1 had no blanks
with me, but knowing the form per-
| fectly we'll, made one out on a piece OF
paper that lay at hand, To this, I had
| them sign their names. The man sign
ed his in English, and the woman made
/ her mark. All this was explained to
them in detail by the interpreter. They
seemed to understand thoroughly. The
me, and translated into their own
| tongue. They joined hands, and I pro-
Inounced them one.
There was nothing hurried about
| the wedding. Both the man and the
woman knew as well as the other three
of us, it's significance.
Later, I secured a marriage certifi-
cate for them, and the import of this,
/ too they realized"
The following is the Report of Mar
rage filled out by Mr.. Cory:
REPORT OF MARRIAGE
| District off,. Island of Oahu;
license issued by Hassinger; date of IL
cense, July IS; name of male, Yong
Han; age thirty; bachelor; nationality,
lChineSe; residence Observation-Disclosures.
name of father Yong Chu Fong; ma
tionality, Chinese; residence, China;
name of mother, Lee See; nationality,
Chinese; residence, China; name of fe-
male Chock Kan You; age. twenty
three; maid; nationality. Chinese;
residence name OF
fa Their, Chuck See; nationality, Chi
,nese; residence, Island of Hawaii;
name of mother, Chang See: national
ity, Chinese; residence, China; names
of witnesses, John A Baker Gnterpre-
teri, Thomas Fitch; place of marriage,
Honolulu; ceremony performed by
/ Cory; date of Ceremony, July Is.
tSigned):. ...-..........
4 Registrar
! To be sent to the office Of the Board
of Health Honolulu, on the first of
each month.
What gives color to the fact that it
seems that Fitch is trying to hurdle
the Exclusion Act is, that one after
noon this week, just as the woman s
lease had been adjourned for the day,
her attorney approached two gentle
men who were standing in the clerk 8
loffice. and said, IF I did not fear COM
hitting contempt of court, or that
might get myself into trouble for try
ing to get around the Exclusion Act,
III would have that woman married in a
iiffy." This was day or so previous
to the high noon ceremony in his Of
flee.
One question that is being asked is,
ibow did the woman get out of Oahu
lprison. where she had been ordered by
Judge Estee. and by whose order did
she walk beyond the prison walls
why was there not federal officer
present at the ceremony? The woman
had been ordered into custody for the
time being, until her status could be
determined. Is the woman in Jail al
the present time? If not, why not?
why should the ceremony of the 18th
Give her the privilege of walking the
Streets a free woman, when the point
the court is trying to determine is
were Yong Hau and Chock Kan You
married in China?