The Washington herald., 1911-11-24
LAW ON TRAIL Of
REV. HUNNICUT'S
WEDDING BUREAU
District Attorney Wilson
Files Petition.
QUICK INQUIRY is MADE

Aroused over the conduct of Rev
George J. S. Hunnicutt, who conducts
a marriage office" near the City Hall,
and who is said to employ "cappers"
to secure marriage business, The Wash
ington Herald about two months ago
investigated Hunnicutt's right TO per-
form marriages, and after thorough
examination of the legal questions in
volved, arrived at the conclusion that
Hunnicutt was not a duly ordained
minister of the Gospel within the
meaning of the law, and that for that
reason his authority to perform mar
riages should be revoked. The Minis
ters' Alliance took the matter up, and
at a meeting resolved to petition the
District Supreme Court to revoke Hun
nicutt's authority
HISTORY OF "CHURCH."
Chief Justice Clabaugh, into whose
hands the ministers petition was placed,
turned it over to United States District
Attorney Wilson, directing him to in
Vestigate the matter and make report of
his findings. Samuel Nice. Hawken, as
sistant United States attorney, was in
trusted with the task by Mr.. Wilson and
yesterday the district attorney filed his
petition to revoke Hunnicutts authority.
Justice Barnard issued a rule against
HunniCutt. requiring him to show cause
Friday, December l, why the authority
he has to solemnize marriages should
not be revoked.
The petition sets forth that at a meet
ing OF ten persons held November a.
1909, the Peoples Nonsectarian Church
was organized, and that these persons
did not claim to be members of this So
called church, and that they did not
agree upon any common system of faith
nor adopt any costitution or rule or by
laws prescribing any rites and cere-
monies to be observed by the members
of the sO-"alleG church.
1t is fUrtner stated by the district at
torney that the trustees failed to file q
certificate of their election, as provided
by the code, and that the certificate
which was filed later was defective.
Incorporation an ''Evasion."
That the Incorporation of this church
and the alleged ordination of Hunnicutt
were in reality a mere evasion of the
spirit Of the statute is the declaration
of the district attorney. and were devised
and intended to deceive and impose upon
Justice Barnard and TO procure from
him an authority which. had he been
fully informed in the premises. he would
not have granted.
Hunnicutt, according to the petition,
has employed "cappeTs,'' who intercepted
parties on their way to the clerks Office
10 obtain marriage licenses and solicited
Of such parties the privilege of perform
ing the marriage ceremony. 1t is also
claimed that Hunnicutt pays a portion
OF his fee to the agent or 'capper" who
secures the business for him
This conduct on the part Of Hunni-
cutt." continues the district attorney.
and his method Of securing the prfvi-
lcSe of celebrating marriages tend to
bring discredt upon this honorable court
in connection with the exercise of its
power to authorize fit persons to per-
form the marriage ceremony and its
power 10 issue marriage licenses, and to
bring discredit upon the holy rite of
matrimony; and petitioner states that
Iiunnicutt is, by reason of the facts set
forth above. not entitled to officiate at
marriage ceremonies, and is not a proper
or Mt person to have authority from this
honorable court TO celebrate marriages
In the District of Columbia"