The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-01
PATRICK A BENEDICT
CONDEMNED MURDERER TAKES
 UNTO HIMSELF A WIFE.
Despite All Measures Taken to Pre- vent the Ceremony, the Nuptials Are Completed in the
 Tombs.

New York. March 31.-Albert T. Patrick, convicted last week of murder in the first degree, for plotting the death of Million aire William Marsh Rice. and now await ing the death sentence. and Mrs. Addie l.. Francis have become husband and wife in the matron's room of the Tombs, according to The American and Journal
 A pen-stroke did it. despite all meas ures taken to prevent.
 The arrangements were so perfectly made. SO secretly planned and so cieverly executed that not until the marriage was irrevocably complete, were Patricks guards cognizant that it was even in- tended. The fact that Commissioners of Correction Hynes had declared his oppo- sition to a marriage between the prisoner and the woman who has been so faithfui to him during his long incarceration, and the exhausting tension of the long-drawn out trial, made the Tombs officials more alert to prevent marriage in the prison.
 The marriage is said to have been ac- complished, however, when the matron was present. The latter, however, was 20 much pre-occupied while attending to  was unaware what was going on.
 Mrs. Francis, accompanied by her attor- ney. her sister and Patricks father, called at the Tombs and asked for conference with the prisoner. She was escorted to the matrons room and after a few mo- ments the guard Is said to have stepped outside. It Is said the wedding contracts were then signed by Patrick and Mrs. Francis in duplicate. Under law enact aJ hx. ha ~tsta on form of marriage is lawful when the sign ing of the contract is witnessed by two persons. To perfect the ceremony 1t is only necessary to file copy of the con- tract with a magistrate within six months.
 The marriage was made by contract in accordance with law passed by the Le gislature of this State in 1901, provid- ing for the legalization of contract mar riages entered into before two witnesses. The law directs that such contract must be filed within six months after its exe- cution in the office of the clerk of the town or city in which the marriage took place.
 The witnesses to the ceremony were Patrick's father and his sister, Miss Elm ma Patrick. Others present were Pat ricRs little daughter and Samuel B. Thomas, an attorney, called in as Mrs. FranClS legal aONiSOf.
 Samuel B. Thomas attorney for Mrs. Francis. made the following statement today:
 "As counsel of Mrs Francis, advised her that the contract marriage was ab- solutely valid and binding. Mrs. Francis had been engaged to MT. Patrick since 1928. It was their intention to be mar ried on the day of Patrick's acquittal, but after the verdict was against him. the plan could not be carried out. They were married, properly and legally. and as his wife, Mrs. Addie Francis Patrick can visit him when he is confined in the death house which would have been de- nied her otherwise"
 When the contract was presented to the City Clerk. it was refused. the clerk say ing that the statement that the marriage took place at the corner of Center and Leonard Streets. city of New York" was not definite enough as to place. The clerk suggested that something be pro- dnced to show that the contract was signed in the Tombs or else that the con tract should give the street number of that building.
 The City Clerk consulted legal author ity. and then decided to accept the con- tract for filing as it was offered orig inally.
 Mrs. Patrick's lawyer, Samuel B. Thomas, refused to make any change in the contract