Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-19

Dexter. Me-. Jan. 1S.-(SpeciaO "A
romance and Jail wedding was nipped
in the bud this morning when Town
Clerk ]. w. Haines Of this town. act
board of selectmen. refused to issue a
license for the marriage of Joseph
Downing, now a prisoner in the Som
erset county Jail at Skowhegan and
Mrs. Mabel Corson. Had the license
been issued the couple proposed to
have been united in the Office of the
Skowhegan Jail. where Downing is held
awaiting the action Of the Somerset
county grand jury on a charge Of
breaking, entering and larceny in the
night time at the general store Of New
land Woodcock at Ripley.
The selectmen received tip Of the
filing of marriage intentions several
days ago and this morning when Mrs.
Corson went to the Office of Town Clerk
Haines for the necessary papers she
was informed by Mr. Haines that the
SO1SSIhICil lletu ASSuCu IHSlI uSl1OAS ~
him to refuse the license He referred
her to Chairman Hasty Of the board
Mrs. Corson Immediately interviewed
Mr.. Hasty who is also an overseer of
the poor and the towns legal adviser
In spite of her somewhat vehement
protests at the interference Of the. mu-
nicipal officers with her romance Chair
man Hasty refused to bulge an inch
in his determination to prevent the
marriage. 1t was an unsatisfactory In
terview for Mrs. Corson and she VOW
ed to employ counsel and find out if
the selectmen could prevent her mar
riage to the man of her choice even
if he is prisoner in Jail at the pres
ent time.
Chairman Hasty stated that the rea-
son for the towns action in the mat
ter is that Mrs. Corson is pauper on
the town of Scion; that she has ap-
piled for help from Dexter which was
furnished and for which Scion paid.
Should her marriage to Downing be al
lowed she and her several children
would become legal charges on the
town of Dexter. Chairman Hasty also
called attention to the fact that Down
ing is almost totally blind and faces
a possible term in the State Prison at
Thomaston for the crime to which he
entered plea of guilty in the prelim-
mary hearing before Trial Justice Pat
tee at Ripley.
Mr.. Hasty also intimated that if Mrs.
Corson should bring any action against
the municipal authorities they would
defend it in court to the best Of their
ability.
The intended Jail wedding and it's un-
expected baking brings another chap
| ter in series of events which have
| been the chief topic of conversation
| here for the past two weeks. Chapter
one came about two weeks ago when
Downing was arrested charged with the
! burglary at Ripley. He was traced to
his dooryard by Deputy Sheriff Leven-
seller of this town and a search of the
| house brought to light the loot taken
! from the Woodcock store. Downing
admitted the break and said his com.
panion was the little u year old daugh-
ter of his housekeeper. Mrs. Corson
The girl went along, Downing said. tc
select the goods at the store. Mrs
Corson told Deputy Sheriff Levensellel
that Downing forced the little girl t
accompany him. Downing also claim
ed he made the break to secure foot
for his starving family. He was turn
ed over to Somerset county as tho
break occurred in Ripley across the
line from Penobscot
Not satisfied with the appearance oI
things at the Downing farm Deput,
| Levenseller made a second and more
thorough search of the house and dis.
covered an amazing amount Of loo,