The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-10
| MARRIAGE STOPPED
AT CRITICAL MOMENT
Man in Aud ence Charges That
the Bride is Unmarriageab'e.
TIE CEREMONY CALLED OFF
The Would Be- Bride, it is Said, Had
Been Married a Year Previously,
and Had Not Secured Divorce.
Interesting Portsmouth Case.
THE CEREMONY CALLED OFF
Interesting Portsmouth Case.
Especial Dispatch to The Times.)

NORFOLK, VA, December 9.-The first
effort of Rev. r. D. Smart, the pastor at
F,worth Methodist Church, TO perform 4
marriage ceremony failed. He was en-
gagged 10 marry George Hodges Delaney.
widowcr ffty-1ve years OLD, tins1nith,
and Mary Lane Bracher, twentyseven
Years Old, widow. born in Ghent county,
~ c., at Epworth Church last night.
Bride and groom were there with Few
fIieads But at the critical moment w.
G. Ashby, of the Union Mission. stopped
tie ceremony by announcing in voice
trembling with emotion that the bride was
not ma.riageable He said that she had
been married to Lane at the Union Mis-
sio, a year ago and had not beer divorced.
Rev. Dr. Smart declined to proceed with
the ceremony. The bridal party left and
the church was closed.
c. E. Matthews. q notorman OF Ports
mouth, was fined in the Police Court there
to-day for assauIting his son-ir-ia".
Charles Shepherd Matthews cause Of
complaint was that Shepherd deceived
HIM a year ago. Shepherd eloped to Eliz-
abeth City. y. c., and married Matthews
daughter, after having promised not to
marry her Shepherd had promised 20
await the father S consent but reconsd-
..ed and married after getting the dauSh-
ter's
CoRoNER's INQUEST.
rer Dr. f NJ. Morgan to investigate the
mysterious death Of Eleanora Mitchell,
cciored, whose body was found in the
branch in the vicinity of what is known
as ..horse heaven" Berkeley finds that the
deceased came to her death by oeinS hit
or the head by Joe Williams. alias ia
cocks, alias "Sluey," her lover. There
are others. chuns of Williams, thought TO
b. implicated. Williams is in the county
mil and will he tried for murder.
y collision had occurred at Laurel, Del,
il. which the Norfolk express train on
tie New York. Philadelphia and Norfolk
HALLWAY was wrecked This statement
and the fact that traffic was blocked by
the accident is all that is known here.
At the co1npanys Office here nothing
coulG be learned about the accident.
The schooner John y. Beckerran, bound
:rcm New York to Georgetown. S. c., IS
here with her rudier out of order and
some Of her sails gone. She is repairing
at Colonnas Marine Railway in Berkeley
She met the late storm while on the out
side.
SCHOONER CAN BE SAVED.
The schooner Virginia Roulon, which
went ashore off -Assa league, on the East
err Shore. during the storm last Friday
morning, viii be saved. The Merritt and
Chapman wreci>ing tug Coey is now at
work on the Roulon. and, it is. thought.
Will shortly have her IN deep water again.
she then Will De towed 10 Norfolk for re-
ocirs. The Rouion was bound to New
Work with coal when she stranded.
It is explained now that Governor Mon
tasue's visit 20 Norfolk two weeks ago
was in reference TO William H. Hardin's
appointment as secretary to the Corpo-
ration Commission. That appointment is
regarded as settled. Governor Montague
came here ostensi!ly- TO visit Z: I. Lamb,
OF the Southern Railway. John A Up
sllur OF the Chesa peahe and Ohio Road.
is still a candidate. however, his friends
declare.