Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-19
CHINESE AND
NEGRESS WED
COUPLE GET LICENSE AFTER
MUCH RED TAPE
Minister Is Puzzled, but No Law Pre-
vents Such Union-Can Keen
Sheck and Anna Laura
James Marry

Queer propositions have presented
themselves to the Rev. c. II. Anderson
since he took up his life work as minis
ter of the gospel, and came to be pastor
over a mixed flock of negroes, Italians
and Mexicans in the northeast portion OF
town, but the oldest proposition of all
confronted him yesterday.
Accustomed as he is to dealing with
hard problems presented by his mixed
congregation, he was surprised yester-
day when a good looking Chinaman and
negro woman presented themselves to
him and asked him to marry them. The
minister had met many strange comp1na-
tions of races and nationalities, but this
new one was poser
He wanted to do the right thing, as the
couple said they were in earnest. An
investigation of the standing OF the
would-be groom proved him to be e
spectacle Chinese merchant, who has
paying business down in Chinatown. He
said he had means to support his bride In
proper fashion, and that she would not
have to live on rice and chop suey il she
did not wish to.
Can Keen Sheck is the name Of the
groom, and he has clean, oriental face
and wears baggy silk trousers, long
cue neatly tucked up under his European
hat and the ends of his shirt tail dangle
loosely around his knees. He is dignified
and Intelligent, and claims that he has
genuine affection for the colored lady
Of his choice, whose name Is Anna Laura
James.
Mrs. James (she is a widow is 33 years
of age, and Can Keen Sheck is 40 years of
age. He was born in China and came to
this country number of years ago, be-
fore exclusion laws became strict. He
does not speak English well, and had to
take an interpreter to the court house to
translate for him. He says, however,
that his bride can understand him per-
fectly.
The Rev. Mr. Anderson could find no
reason for not marrying the couple, but
he wanted to be sure, so he took the
sutor with him to see Deputy District
Attorney Hartley Shaw. to make certain
of the law on the subject.
Mr.. Shaw said he could find no statute
prohibiting such a marriage. The laws
on the question prohibited the marriage
of Chinese, negroes and several other ror-
eign races with white people, but there
was no law saying they could not inter-
marry among themselves, If they so de-
sired.
This point settled, Mr. Anderson de-
parted with the determined suitor and
went to the marriage license office, where
he applied to Deputy Watson for the
| license.
Cant do it," said Mr. Watson.
When he was told of the legal opinion
| of Attorney Shaw he went to the tele-
phone, but Mr.. Shaw had gone out to
lunch.
But the Chinese lover was not to be
| daunted He returned to the side of his
| dusky bride-to-be and assured her he
| would continue on the trail of the deputy
until the elusive document was forth
| coming. At o'clock the patter of Car
Keen Sheck's Chinese shoes were heart
coming up the court house steps and th'
celestial suitor took seat In the office
the county clerk, with his interpreter
his side.
This time the deputy district attorne.
was available and told Mr.. Watson tina
he could safely issue the license. Glee
fully the Oriental painted the unintelligi
BILE hyeroglyphics representing his nam
upon the book of record and paid owe
his 81 in silver, not scrip.
Later in the day the couple were unite(
by the Rev. C. H. Anderson, who glanced
after them with sigh of relief as they
went on their way