Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-07
WOULDMARRYAST0R| ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Cousin of Miss Force Offers to
Perform Ceremony.
TURNS DOWN $1,000 FEE
Rhode Island Minister Declares He
Would Not Marry Pair at
Any Price.

NEWARK. y. J.. September Follow
ing reports from Rhode Island that sew
sraI Episcopal pastors had declined to
officiate at the Astor-F Force wedding. JUS
tice Of the Peace Frederick +. Force OF
Netcong. y. J., las volunteered to per
form the ceremony and declares that his
offer NAV receive additional considera-
lion owing to the fact that he is a distant
relative OF Miss Force.
I'VE are related although it would be
necessary to go back to Thomas Force
son of Thomas Force who came tC
America in 1914 to find our common an
cestor, he explained. IF Mr.. Aston
and my cousin find any difficulty in get
Ting married they can call on me l can
issue a license and can marry them,
too
NEW YORK. September Tn spite
Of the reports from Newport that Col.
John Jacob Astor and Miss Madeleine
Force were to he married today. Col. As
tor emphatically denied that any date
Iras yet been set lie said that he would
no busy at his Rhnebeck estate for sew
cral days and that the details of the
marriage would not he arranged for some
time
Minister Refuses 200 Fee.
NEWPORT. R J.. September John
Jacob Astor has made an offer of $1,000
10 the Rev. pr Edward G. Johnson.
pastor of the First Baptist Church of
Newport, as a fec If the minister would
marry him to Miss Madeleine T. Force.
IIr. johnson refused to officiate at the
v eddiug. The offer was made through
an attorney nf Newport. William F. Shelf
field. who told the clergyman that the
ceremony was planned for some time be-
tween Monday and Thursday of this
week
DIR. johnson was tho first of the clergy
men In this locality to be asked to per-
form the ceremony. the request being
made August -. The clergyman acknowl-
edged being in the lawyers office on that
day. and was informed by Mr., Sheffield
tiat Col. Astor was willing to pay $1,000
FOR the service and no more.
Mr.. Sheffield and myself talked the
subject over. said DR.. Johnson. and
ncfore Col. Astor's name was mentioned
Mr. Sheffield stated he had client who
"auted to get married l asked him if it
as Col Astor and he replied yes, stat
ing Col. Aston wanted to be married be-
tween Monday and Thursday of this
eek. but he did not set any definite day
II was IA lot of money to refuse and a
i = temptation. but | would not marry
~. Aston, no matter what might be Of
fred me-. added the clergyman.
Judge Would Marry Them.
There does not appear to be any doubt
t'ss evening but that Ii will be possible
for a Rhode Island Judge to be obtained
IT, marry Col. John Jacob Aston and Miss
Madeleine Talmage Force, though it is
ovidcnt from the developments lately
that it has been their desire all along
to have religious marriage ceremony
t"rformed here
II is understood that Judge Baker. the
newport county member of the superior
t"Jrt has said that he would perform
IT, ceremony. He would prefer not to
sio it. 1t is stated by a friend. but if
"a lied upon he would ofticiate as a mat
ter of duty. However. just now, Judge
l:tker is his annual vacation.
-As no license for Col. Aston and Miss
Force to marry had been issued here up
- the close of business hours at the city
hall last night. it will be quite impos-
sDle for them to be married in this city
for five days. The law requires that a
l., ense to marry granted to nonresident
w oman must lay over five days before 1t
Caa he acted upon