The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-29
ELOPERS COMING
 HERE TO WED ARE
 BARRED AUGUST l
New Law Requires Non Residents to Give Five Days Notice of Intention to Marry.

After August 1, Bridgeport or any other city in Connecticut will no long CT be a Gretna Green for persons in neighboring states who desire to wed in haste It will be just as easy then for persons who intend to marry to obtain a license in their home town but, persons going. to a town other than that in which they reside must apply and wait five days before the registrar of vital statistics in that town can issue the necessary license.
 There is a little loop hole in the law however. If a couple go out of their home town for a license they can get it provided the judge of. probate for the district where they intend to mar ry or the person who intends to join them In marriage, renders a decision in writing that in his judgment the public good requires that they De
 married without delay.
 The law differs from that of Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island in the re- spect that in those states the law re- quires all persons, whether or notthey are residents of the town where they apply, to wait the five days
 Town Clerk Thomas received an at tested copy of the law from the secre- tary of states office this morning. It reads as follows:
 Section 1. No persons shall be married until one of them shall under oath inform the registrar of births,
 marriages, and deaths of the town in which the marriage is to be celebrated the name, age, color, occupation, birthplace, residence, and condition whether single. widowed. or divorced, of each. If either of such persons is a resident of said town such registrar shall issue his certificate that the parties therein named have compiled with the provisions of this act. If neither of such persons is a resident of said town said registrar shall not issue such certificate until the fifth day following unless the judge of probate for the district in which the intended marriage is to be celebrated, or the person who is to join said part ies in marriage, after hearing such evidence as is presented, renders written decision that, in his opinion, public policy, or the physical condf- ton of one of the parties, requires the intended marriage to be celebrat- ed without delay. Upon receipt of such decision said registrar shall file the same a public document, and shall immediately issue his certificate that the parties therein named have complied with the provisions of this act A certificate when issued as aforesaid shall be a license for any person authorized to celebrate mar. rfage to join in marriage, within said town only, the parties therein named, but no such certificate shall be issued if either of the aprties is minor un- til a parent or guardian having con troI of such minor shall give to the registrar his written consent. In the case of a minor having no parent or guardian who is a resident of the United States, the consent of the first seIectman of the town where such minor has last resided for the period of six months shall be sufficient Any registrar who shall issue such certi- fcate before the expiration of the period hereinbefore specified or who shall Knowingly issue such certificate without such consent shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars and every person who shall join any -.4rsons in marriage without having