Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1907-01-09
PANAMA WEDDING
BEFORE SUNRISE
Rich Farmer Married to His
Slepdauehter After DivOrC-
ing Mother Of Bride
LOOKED UP LAW FIRST

NEW YORK, Jan. 9.--Jersey City has
supplied the latest marital novelty-a
pajama wedding. And the bride
"Florey' she did her part, for
she married her own stepfather
"Nelse." Frank I.ahane, the marry
ing Justice" tied the knot. but only
after the law had been looked up and
a statute found which permitted the
daughter of a woman to marry her
mothers divorced second husband
Nelson Wheeler, a retired rich far
mer, OF Norwich. Ct, who admits fol-
lowing life's burrows for AZ years. got
into Jersey City yesterday and put up
at the Hotel Metropole.
miss Flora Young. Norwich, Ct 3"
he wrote upon the hotel register di-
rectly under his own scrawl.
'tshe be coming on tine next train, ="
Wheeler announced to the clerk. with
a wink. Now tell me whar there is a
sound jedge for me and Florey is goin'
to he married" Judge Lahane was
suggested.
But Wheeler had his doubts whether
he could marry Florey. and he first
went to the law firm Of Hartshorne,
Insley & Leake for advice. Congress-
man Eugene Leake spent a good por-
ton Of Sunday looking up New Jersey
statutes and decisions relating to mar
riages extraordinary.
'Florey is my wife's Oldest daugh-
ter" Wheeler explained, land my wife
got a divorce from me four months
ago under the laws of Connecticut"
Congressman LealSe, upon learning
that Wheeler had determined to settle
in New Jersey, pored over his books
and finally hit upon an act Of the New
Jersey Legislature of 1902 which
amended the marriage law to the benz
eft of Wheeler and to others of his
predicament.
Gee whillikens, I'm happyl" was
the exclamation Of the divorcee, "and
1 bet Florey will less cry"
I Among the arrivals to-day at the
Pennsylvania station was a young wo-
man Of ample proportions in whose
cheeks We're blended the shades Of a
cut strawberry It was Florey. She
had been delayed at the Grand Union
Station in Manhattan under the inn
preston that Nelse would be there.
my, but you look purity" declared
Wheeler dancing her into a four
wheeler IAN I'm goin' to marry yer
afore sunup."
The pair were ratified through the
streets Of the sleeping city to the home
OF the marrying Justice ringing his
bell as a rooster in a neighboring yard
was tapping his wings and emitting his
first crow.
Sounds like business" murmured the
! justice. jumping out Of bed and running
to the front window.
What's the matter?" he called ON
to his rest-disturber.
1--WE want to get married" came thu
response.
That was enough for the marrying
Justice. He drew on his cravenette an'
bolted down stairs to the front door.
Nelson Wheeler and his blushin,
stepdaughter and their Jehu. McCar
thy, were ushered into the Justices par
lor Mrs Lahane, the Justices mother
equal to the emergency. was brough
IN.
I'm Nelson Wheeler, Of Norwich.
said the male part Of the CONTRACTING
parties. II married Flora's mother bu
we didn't get along well. so we got Z
divorce, and now I'm going to try he
daughter It's all right cause I've look
ed up the statutes OF this State"
In a trice Nelse Wheeler stepfather
and Flora Young Wheeler, stepdaugh
ter, were no longer steps" but hus
band and wife.
The noise OF the marriage hai
awakened the entire neighborhood, ani
upon invitation OF the magistrate