The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-01-25
FORBIDS MARRIAGE
OF INCOMPETENTS
RICHMOND, Va Specla

RICHMOND, VA Special
Marriages OF drunkar0s, drug
hends and diseased people is for
hidden in . bill introduced i'm the
House OF Delegates today by W.
ID. Peyton, OF Stafford county,
and n penalty OF 500 and
years Imprisonment is provided
for anyone contracting such
marriage, any clerk issuing lii
ceDse 10 such people, knO~i-.S
their condition, and any minister
performing the ceremony.
The object of the bill is to put a
legal check upon the Inherited ten
denotes towards drunkenness, immoT-
ality and physical degeneracy.
No man OF any age will be allowed
TO marry, II the bill is passed. unless
he can show that he is mentally and
physically sound.
No woman under forty-hve years or
age will be permitted TO become a
party to q marriage contract until she
has given similar assurances.
The bin will probably meet con-
siderable opposition, as II appears at
fsrst glance to be unconstitutional.
Many influential members or the
House, who have examined 1t, now
ever, have given il their unqualined
endorsement, and say that when me
measure is generally understood IL Will
be generally approved.
The full text Of the bill rs as foIlows'
"a Bill
An act regulating marriages and
the assurance of marriage licenses,
Prohibiting marriages in certain cases,
providing penalties for the violation
OF the provisions Of this act
Be il enacted by the General Assem-
bly, OF Virginia:
Section l. No woman under the
axe of lorty-fiVe years, or any man of
any age. except ne marry woman
over the age oil forty-hNe years, either
of whom IS common drunkard.
habitual criminal, epileptic, imbecile,
feeble-lnInded person, idiot or insane
person. or person who has heretofore
been afflicted with hereditary inSan-
tty, or addicted to the habit of NOR
phine, cocaine, opium or similar mar
cotics or any person of any age, who
Is afflicted with any contagious ven
ereai disease, shall hereafter inter
marry or marry any other person
within this State.
Section 2. No clergyman or other
officer authorized by law TO solemnize
marriages within this State shall here
after knowingly perform marriage
ceremony uniting persons in matri-
mOny, either of whom is a common
6runkard, habitual criminal, epilep-
tic imbecile. feeble-minded person,
idiot or insane person, or person who
has heretofore been afflicted with
hereditary insanity, or a person who
Is addicted to the habit of morphine,
cocaine. opium, or similar narcotics,
unless II De lndt the TO
such marriage is over the age of forty
five years, or any person OF any age
who is afflicted with any contagious
venereal disease.
Section 3. The clerk OF the circuit
court OF the county. or of the corpora
tion or hustings court of the corpora
ton in which the female to be mar
ried usually resides, before n mar
riage license is issued upon the pay
ment Of a license fee of one dollar
r..T ort Of.
20 make and file in his office upon
blanks, 10 be provided for by the
county or corporation for that pur-
pose. an affidavit, showing that such
applicant is not common drunkard
hahitual criminal, epileptic, imbecile
feeble-minded person, idiot or insane
person or person who has heretofore
been afflicted with hereditary insan.
ity. or person who is addicted to tho
habit Of morphine, cocaine. opium, oil
similar narcotics, unless il be that tn,
female party is over the age Of forty
i've years.
Provided. that in addition. the aft
davit Of the male applicant for sucf
marriage license shall show that sucl
male is not afflicted with any con
fagious venereal disease.
Such affidavit may be subscribed
and sworn TO before any person au
fhorized 10 administer oaths; anyon,
knowingly swearing falsely TO any O
the statements contained in the aft.
davits mentioned in this act shall h,
usot ped -,-sahAeX of perjury and pun.
tshed as proviNed by ia. laws OF the
State OF Nirginia>
Section 4. Any person knowingly
violating any OF the provisions of thi:
act shall, upon conviction thereof. b,
punished by a fine OF not more thar
one thousand dollars, or confinement
in Jail not exceeding one year, or both
n0TIND ClDTDInCE