The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-14
HEIRESS WHO
EL0PED WED
ON DEATHBED
Grace Mclaughlin Made
Mrs. Stevens by Dispensa-
tion of Havana Bishop.
HER FORTUNE GOES TO
HUSBAND AND AUNT

Word reached this city yesterday that
Miss trace Mclaughlin. who died in
Havana last Monday, Was married on
her deathbed the day before to George
NJ. Stevens with whom she eloped last
January. In will made on March 30
and filed with Juan Carlos Andreu. a
notary public OF Havana. she left her
estate, valued al $4,000. to her husband
and her aunt. Mrs Catherine Ingles, with
whom she lived up to the time Of her
elopement.
Three weeks before her death Mrs.
pneumonia deveioped and three physi-
clans were called IN. They informed
Stevens that there was not much hope.
He and two nurses were az her bedside
almost constantly, One Of sher physi-
clans was Dr. TorralbSS a prominent
specialist. who represented Cuba at a
recent medical conference in Washing
ton When the end came stevens COL
Elapsed. almost mental az well as physi-
cal wreck He is now under the care OF
Or. Torralbas.
II Mrs. Stevens had lived nine days
longer the couple would have been civ
last Sunday has not been registered and
therefore is not legal: Father Mendez
who had been in constant attendance
upon Mrs. Stevens since the elopers ar
rived in Havana. about two months ago.
heard her confession and decided TO
grant her wish to be married. although
Stevens's divorce will not be effective
until April 10.
The priest had been taken into the
nf nasir
that when they elOped TO Philadelphia
they honestly thought they could be
married there at once.
The rules Of the Catholic Church pre-
vented such a marriage without ais
pensation from "A Bishop. and ibis could
be had only after the divorce had been
legally granted. This news was shock
to Miss Mclaughlin and Stevens. who
had adopted the Catholic faith as
proof of his affection for the comely
heiress.
Miss Mclaughlin was TOO much
ashamed to return home after the fact
got out that she had eloped, and being
a deyOut Catholic would not listen to
marriage except In her church. After
"A time they came back to New YORK,
in the hope Of finding some way of being
married here. Failing again, they went
to Key West. F1a., and then to Havana.
There they found the church rules just
as stringent. SO they decided to wait
until the divorce granted to the hrst
Mrs. Stevens became final
The Catholic Bishop OF Cuba was ap-
pealed to and he issued a special dis
pensation for the marriage. The bans
we're read last Sunday and they were
to be repeated next Sunday.
When Miss Mclaughlin was told that
she was in danser of dying. she asked
that lawyer be sent for. as she wanted
10 make her will. The lawyer called
In a prominent American resident OF
Havana, who became witness TO the
document.
All the while Miss Mclaughlin was
pleading with Father Mendex IL IL wes,
not possible for her to be married before
the time set. Stevens was equally So
IicitOus Last sunday afternoon, when
death seemed only a few hours away.
the priest acceded to her wish, although
he knew the marriage would never be
recognised In a court,
The excitement of the marriage over
and having achieved her purpose, the
now Mrs. Stevens quickly became
weaker Monday morning she lapsed
into Inconsistencies and died a. II
as,eep at noon. On Tuesday she was
buried. When word OF her death
reached Mrs. Ingles, her aunt. at I West
I2sth street. this city, a consultat tion
was held, and II was decided to have
Mrs. stsvens's body brought here and
buried In the family plsG