The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-16
The License Was Issued Saturday and
the Couple Registered at the
Grand Hotel.
BRIDE FROM SHELBYvILLE
AGNES EsTELLA CRUM MARRIED
HOWARD CURTIS BENHAM.
Miss Crum a Wealthy Orphan and
Had Been Living for Some Time
on Central Avenue.

It was developed last night that the mar
riage license issued here Saturday to How
ard Curtis Benham and Agnes Estelle
Crum, was to a man who had recently been
released from the custody of n New York
court, on a verdict of acquittal, where he
had been tried for the murder of his first
wife. and to wealthy young woman Of
Shelbyville. Saturday morning a man in
quired of George Fate, marriage license
clerk in the county clerks office, If Ben
han and Miss Crum had procured marriage
license. He looked over the marriage rec
ord and found that none had been issued
The man told Mr.. Fate he understood they
were to have been married Friday night
Saturday afternoon Benham came to the
county clerks office and asked about get
ting a license to be married. He said he
came from the East and that his bride was
coming from Texas" that he had tele-
graphed for her to meet him here, and was
anxious for her to arrive In time to get
the license before the office closed. Mr.
Fate told him the Office closed at O. clock
and Benham expressed fear that his in
tended bride would not arrive.
GOT THE LICENSE
Shortly before o'clock the couple came
to, the Office and the license was issued
At that time Mr.. Fate told Benham a man
had inquired that morning if they had pro-
cured a marriage license on Friday. Ben
ham looked surprised and tried to find out
who the man was. Mr.. Fate told him he
did not know. Benham then asked if a
common-law marriage was recognized in
this State, and was told that the Supreme
Court had so held. They also asked that
the fact of the issuance of the license be
kept from the newspapers They next asked
to be directed to a minister who would
perform the ceremony without delay They
were sent to the Rev. T. J. Villers who
declined to perform the marriage ceremony
Tor the reason that neither was known
to him, but directed them to the Rev John
& Carman, of 222s North New Jersey street.
The Rev. Mr. Carman, when asked last
night about the matter, said he did not re-
member of having performed a marriage
ceremony for persons of the names given
The marriage was undoubtedly performed
soon after leaving the residence of MIR.
Villers, for about an hour later Benham
and the young woman went to the Grand
Hotel and there registered as man and
Sunday night, leaving then with the de-
clared intention of going to- ST. Louis, with
a possible stop at Terre Haute-
Inc trlai or Benhan in New York State
O%A
sensational, as he was a member of a
prominent family. He was only recently
acquitted.
Miss Crum recently graduated from an
Eastern college. Her parents are both
dead, and she inherited a considerable es-
tate that brings her a handsome income
Last fall she came to this city to take
treatment for her hearing, and for the last
two months has been making her home
with Mr.. and Mrs. Frank w. Olin, 1913
Central avenue.
Mr. Olin said last night he was not we'll
acquainted with Miss Crum, but knew her
to be an accomplished young woman of a
good family living in Shelbyville. He had
heard Miss Crum speak of Benham, but
had never seen him. 1t was his under
standing that Benham lives in Rochester
N Y, but makes his headquarters in
Cleveland o. He came here to marry Miss
Crum last week. He did not know whether
they were married Friday or Saturday. as
Miss Crum told him and his wife she would
write when she was ready to return or
when they had settled down. That was
the last they saw of her. Mr.. DIN spoke
very highly of Miss Crum. Her acquain-
tances IN this city do not know where she
met Benham. but suppose 1t was while at
tending college in the East.