Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-12
PASTOR, 81, TRIES
TO WED GIRL OF 10
The Rev. G. E. Fitzhugh Gets Mar
rage License, but Can't Find
Any One to Perform
Ceremony

BALTIMORE, Sept. ii. - The Rev.
George S. Fitzhugh, pastor of st. Bar
nabas' Protestant Episcopal church at
Curtis Bay, who Is 81 years of age and
has grown children, is anxious to mar
ry Lulu virginia Frazier, a girl OF 10
years, whom he brought from Virginia.
A stormy scene with his daughter,
who has been his housekeeper, when
she learned of his purpose brought on
a serious attack of neuralgia of the
heart, and the clergyman Is now lying
seriously i'll at his home. Last night
Fitzhugh's life was despaired or, but
today, though still suffering severe
pain, in an interval between two faint
ing spells he wrote the following ex-
plantations:
1t Means Adoption
"By procuring a license means only
virtually an adoption of very small
child. BY a technical marriage her
status is greatly promoted and she be-
comes my heir at my death.
"Old William Fitzhugh of Eagles
Nest, Va, married Miss Tucker be-
fore she had completed her eleventh
year and kept her at school until she
was 16 years of age, and then she be-
came his actual wife and the head of
his house.
"From her are descended all of Gen.
r. e. Lees children, of Virginia"
The wife of Gen. Lee, it may be
stated, was Miss Mary Custis, grand
daughter of the wife of George Wash
ington.
While Mr.. Fitzhugh was writing his
statement little Miss Frazier stood at
the head of the bed and gently famed
him. The little girl seemed much inter-
ested in what was going on, and Mr..
Fitzhugh paused in his writing now
and then to murmur that In case he
should die he wanted the little one well
cared for.
Gets License
About a week ago Mr.. Fitzhugh took
the girl to Ellicott City and tried to
procure a marriage license, but on &C
count of the youth of the girl 1t was
refused without the consent of the
girls parents. This Mr.. Fitzhugh sub
sequently obtained and the license was
issued. He told one of the clerks that
he was devoted to the girl and his
object in marrying her was to have a
pension ne was drawing go to her In
the event of his death.
Mr.. Fitzhugh's failure to marry the
little girl after getting the license was
due to his inability to find minister
willing to tie the knot. He applied ia
the Rev. A. r. Snedegar, pastor of the
Curtis Bay Methodist Episcopal church
and requested him to perform the cere-
mony. This Mr.. Snedegar declined tc
do, although Mr.. Fitzhugh displayed
the license and a letter which he said
was the written consent of the girls
mother and stepfather.
The girl has been In Curtis Bay about
six weeks, and she was brought there
by Mr.. Fitzhugh, who met her at the
home of his son, the Rev. Edward Fitz.
hugh, who is minister in the noun
tains of Virginia.
Mr.. Fitzhugh became deeply inter.
ested in her and brought her home with
him. He told his daughter that he In,
tended to take care of the child, ant
Miss Fitzhugh received her into tn,
family and did everything possible fol
| her comfort.
Mr.. Fitzhugh Is Virginian and wei
connected, being a descendant of tn
| Fitzhugh family of that state. His wifi
died a few years ago.