The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-15
TWO ROMANCES SUBJECTS
OF SPECIAL INQUIRY
One Involves New York Parties and
a Principal in the Other is St.
Louisan-First Surrounded with
Mystery, But Second Makes no
Bones About His Shatterd Hopes

The possibility of the ilIegality OF
the marriages performed on licenses
issued in the city of Hammond has
caused widespread interest Already
many reports have come in of attempts
to prove that certain marriages were
invalid on the strength of the adverse
decision given to Clerk of the Court
Shortridge by Attorney Lowden o.
Bomberger, who was employed to in
vestigate the matter
Inquiries come from various sources,
and to say that a great many families
are agitated by the possibilities in
volved would be putting it mildly.
There is one eastern case which is in
vested with a great deal OF mystery
and THE LAKE COUNTY TINES is in re-
ceipt of a letter from ]. Y. Martyr,
, st. Louis man. who was married by
Judge Mcmahon last December and has
repented thus early OF his act. He is
especially anxious to know whether
his marriage was legal or not. as if
he discovers that he was never legally
united to the wife whom he is now so
desirous of casting aside, he viii be
saved the expense Of divorce.
Martyrs Letter.
The letter follows:
Editor LAKE COUNTY TImEs-Dear
Sir-Wish you would send me all copies
of THE LAKE COUNTY TIMES containing
any account of the question of the
legality of the court at Hammond to
issue marriage licenses. ! am very
much interested, for IL 1t is decided
that the court had no right, it Will save
me the expense OF securing divorce
from the woman I foolishly married,
Z IL
Would appreciate very much if you
would write. giving me your personal
opinion and that of those on the
ground in a position to know any
thing about the case. Thanking you
in advance, I am yours very truly.
J. y MARTYN.
''723 Frisco Building. St Louis"
Martyr is well connected in st. Louis.
his father being a prominent official
of the Pullman company in that city
His present matrimonial venture, it
is understood, is his third The mar
rlage performed in Hammond last De
cember was kept secret for some time
after 1t happened. but it finally Leaked
out, and was the subject of much gos-
sip among the friends of Martyr and
his bride who is a Chicago girl.
In the instance of the eastern mys-
terry, prominent legal light came to
this city from New York and at the
present time is endeavoring TO prove
that a certain couple were married in
Hammond illegally in the effort to set
tie some legal tangle. The lawyer
gave the name of J. +. Cummings, but
refused to reveal the identity of his
clients.
During the course Of his stay in this
city he visited Justice of the Peace
Frank Prest, and conferred with him
as to the probability OF the marriage
being Illegal. He dropped q remark
unwittingly, which leads the justice to
belieye that his case has a connection
with one which attracted attention
some time ago in this city at the time
the license was issued. The whole af-
fair was clothed with an air of un-
usual romance
When the license vas issued the
man in the case gave his occupation
as banker and his residence New
York. The couple were married bv
Judge Jordan. who cannot recall their
names at the present time. Tbe cir
cumstances in the case lead him to he
lieve that the lawyer Who mas been
in Crown Point and Hammond eor
some time is here IN the interest of
this same couple.
Many Remember the Occasion.
The story OF their coming to Ham
mond viii long be happily remembered
by several people in this city and was
enc of the things which makes ti,e
latter long for the return Of tne
mill. The couple came here from
Chicago in beautiful French mske
automobile. and aroused no end OF
curiosity. The bride was richIy
gowned and her hands were radian,
with jewels. The man had a bank
roll as big as the trunk of a tree M
was not particular how he spent il
either, and got rid of about $I0o be-
fore he was speeding on his return "a
the windy city with his bride
Charles Flagg. who showed him to
the way of the residence of Deputy
Clerk Carrie Miles. received a dona-
tion of a couple of eagles. 1t is not
known what Miss Miles received. but
Judge Jordan was handed a twenty
Tor his services in tViuC rba knot