Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-03
HUSBAND is LEGALLY DEAD
Negro Slayer Of Pasadena Car Con-
duetor Married Contrary to Law
and Against Jailer's
Orders

OCnd many llOIiilo dSOs cillI WIN was
subsequently found guilty Of murder
by jury in Judge Smiths department
of the superior court and sentenced
to life Imprisonment in the state peni-
tentiary.
Hill, who is a negro has been con-
fined in the county Jail since the night
of his arrest over a year ago, and is
now held pending his motion for new
trial which is now before the supreme
court.
The marriage of Hill to his love of
ebony hue was against the law, and
was only effected by the concurrence
of the bride, Rebirdia E. Blackman,
who adroitly smuggled negro Holiness
preacher into the county Jail.
Declared to be legally dead by the
verdict of the jury which sentenced
him to spend the remainder of his nat
Jral life in state penitentiary, Hill was
not deferred in carrying out his pur-
pose, and on December 90 Rev. James
A. Biglow performed the ceremony in
the presence of score of armed Off
GERS without even being suspected.
Clergyman Porter
The officiating clergyman when not
engaged in preaching is employed as
a porter by the Parmelee- Dohrman
company, 232 South Spring street.
The secret marriage of the dead"
man in the county Jail was first brought
to the attention of the officers yester-
day by Herald reporter. and rigor-
Gus investigation was commenced i'm
nledfately by Under Sheriff Yohkin.
The marriage license was issued to
the Blackman woman by Deputy
County Clerk Kutz, but the identity
of the groom was concealed from the
officers by the substitution of a ficti-
tious name by the bride.
The copy of the license under which
they were married by the negro min
lister is as follows:
william A. Hill, 30, native of Geor-
gia and resident of Los Angeles, to
Rebirdia e. Blackman, 10, native of
Louisiana and resident of Los Angeles"
Last night at Parmelee- -Dohrman's
establishment the porter-clergyman
made clean breast of the affair
According to his story the Blackman
woman telephoned to him and made
an appointment to perform the mar
riage in the Jail.
Marries "Desd" Man
He responded to the appointment and
together with Rebirdia Blackman's
sister he entered the county Jail on
the regular visiting day, and there in
the view of hundreds of visitors quiet
ly performed the ceremony that made
Archie Hill. the dead" man, and his
dusky love one.
The ceremony was performed under
adverse circumstances, as the murderer
was separated from his bride by a
great iron screen, but this did not
deter them nor did it serve to dampen
the ardor of their love.
With fingers touching through the
great screen, and with hundreds of
visitors passing to and fro, Biglow
whispered the words, and they were
there and then commanded to love,
honor and protect each other so long
as they should live.
"Were Hill and his bride aided and
abetted by anyone in petty authority %
This is the question that now confronts
the sheriff of Los Angeles county, and
thorough investigation is to be made.
If 1t is discovered that Hill was as
sisted by anyone in authority the Of
ficials promise there will be trouble in
store for the guilty person.
Under Sheriff Yonkin and Jailer
White are personally conducting the in
vestigation.
Marriage Forbidden
Hill made known his wish many
months ago, but at that time he was
told that a marriage was out of the
question.
When asked last night in relation to
the unique marriage, District Attorney
Fredericks refused to say what would
be done in the case.
This is the first time that it has
been called to my attention" said the
district attorney and he refused to be
quoted, other than to say that such a
marriage is invalid, one Of the con-
tracing parties being considered le-
gally dead under the law.
1t Is said that a number of the chain
gang are aware of the facts connected
with the secret marriage, but aside
from them, no one connected with the
county Jail seems to know anything
of this remarkable marriage.
The investigation win be carried on
today by the officers in charge. but
they have little, If any, clue to the
Identity Of the one responsible for the
nlsgal marriage. -,