The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-22
FIRST COUSINS
ARE welded
Peculiar Romance Which Orig
mated in Syria.
WEALTHY SUITOR'S SPITE
Paid the Girls Fare to Amer
lea and Los Her.

Oklahoma City, o. T., May 21-The Ok
lahoman contains the following romance
which occurred in Syria:
Michael Elkouri and his pretty bride
were arraigned in the district court at
Mangum. o. T.. recently charged with
violating the marriage laws of the ter
ritory by securing a license 10 wed and
having the ceremony performed when
they were first cousins, a relationship
considered too close in Oklahoma TO ad-
NIT of a marriage After hearing all the
evidence the jury declared them not
guilty.
The complaining witness in the case
was a prominent Syrian merchant of
Oklahoma City, by the name OF Silas
Noufal, who wanted the girl himself.
Both ElKouri and Noufal came TO Ok
lahoma a number of years ago and both
knew the girl in their native country and
both had paid her court. Noufal is
considerably her senior. but is wealthy;
Both Noufal and EIKouri kept up
correspondence with the girl and finally
while Elkouri, a young man of her own
ago, is a member of a cooperative Syrian
love was returned by the girl and they
swore to be true while young ElKouri
made a fortune for himself in America.
Noufal made her proposition to pay
her way to Oklahoma City from Syria
in case she would marry him upon her
arrival here. She agreed. but at once
notified her younger lover TO meet her
upon her arrival in Oklahoma. AS con-
sequence Noufal paid the freight. while
Elkouri got the girl The latter met
her, accompanied her to Mangum and
they were Immediately married. the
event being the biggest social occasion in
the history of the colony.
Finding he had been duped Noufal,
with the assistance of his sister, began
a campaign to secure possession of the
bride for Noufal, and warrants we're is
sued at Mangum for the arrest of FL
Kouri and wife. charging them with vio-
lating the marriage laws The scene was
not unlike a visit to the Pike" at the
ST. Louis fair when the trial occurred
recently. AS a result of a formal trial.
the jury disagreed and the second was
scheduled for the case. There were sew
rial interpreters for tn Syrians. and prac-
tically men, women and children of the
colony We're a unit in swearing that
Michael and his wife were only third
although they had to admit.
when closely questioned that they did
not know what relation a cousin is to
another. Finally three young Syrians
swore that they had been offered ten
dollars each to swear against ElKouri |
and his wife, and this seemed TO be a |
,lincher in the minds of the jury. which |
out only long enough TO sign !
A verdict acquitting both parties
The three young men also swore that !
Noufal told them that he intended to get /
he girl any way; that if the law did not /
separate her from her husband in some /
manner he would abduct the bride. At /
er the verdict was announced Elkouri |
md his wife lelt the court room. happy /
rs larks. and followed by the entire /
.olony of chattering foreigners. The girl |
proved to be a bright witness. rattling off 4
Ter talk when becoming excited and al
ways having a ready answer that pre-
rented her being caught by the attor-
leys in the case. Both Noufal and his
lister took the stand in his defense. claim
ng the young couple were first cousins.
ut the colony Syrians were too many
or them.
1t developed during the trial that the
arents of Mrs. ElKouri have written
Soufal from Syria that they have an
ther daughter at home. not quite so
God looking. however, as Mrs Elkouri.
hat ne may have for a wife by sending
or her