The Washington times., 1923-08-01
THOMAS J. RYAN
|NARR|ESD.C.
BEAUTY
Ex-Member of Congress Over
comes Obstacles to Win
His Bride

Pilot Dan Cupid, working over
time at the helm, won through a
heavy sea of set-backs and steered
safely to the port Of marital bliss
the love bark of fromer Congress
man Thomas jefferson Ryan Of
New York and Mrs. Gertrude
Keleher, beautiful Washington So
ciety woman, it was learned to-
day.
They eloped and were married
at st. Bridget's Catholic Church,
Glassboro, N. j., July IA.
Cited for Calamity.
Ryan, cited for gallantry at the
French front, never fought harder
battle than he did in winning the
hand of the former Miss Gertrude
Dakin.
Obdurate parents, a divorce, and
the granting of a special dispense
ton from the Catholic church were
among the obstacles which beset
the course of true love.
The only witnesses to the cere-
mony in the quiet manufacturing
town in New Jersey were Miss Mae
Sullivan, New York debutante, and
Bert Fox, wealthy clubman, who
attended the couple. The party
chose Glassboano to avoid publicity.
Following the marriage, the new
ly weds motored to New York, where
the news was given to Mrs. John
D. Ryan, mother Of the bridegroom,
at her Riverside drive mansion.
The couple next went to Atlantic
City for the honeymoon. Mrs.
Ryan arrivd in Washington on
Monday night, and at once went
to her mother, who lives in the
Cumberland apartments, to tell of
the marriage. Mr.. Ryan is expect
ed to join his bride in this city
tomorrow, and they are to leave
for California on an extended
honeymoon Monday.
Marriage Was Unhappy.
The bride was graduated from
Holy Cross Academy here in 1917.
In the following year she was
married to John B. Keleher, well
known turfman. Following the
birth of a daughter, the Kelehers
established their home at s Leland
street, Chevy Chase.
Some time later, Mrs Keleher
sued in the District Supreme Court
for absolute. divorce. Keleher did
not contest the charges, and Mrs.
Keleher is said to have received the
house and $25, 900 in cash.
Following news of the separa.
ton, Mrs. Keleher's beauty attract
ed local art critics and representa-
ttVes of leading motion picture com
panies. She refused contracts to
become a screen star and is said
also to have turned down numerous
offers of marriage, including one
proffered persistently by a member
Of the Diplomatic Corps.
During this time the new romance
budded. Mr.. Ryan was then in
Congress and held the distinction of
being the youngest member ever
seated in the House of Represen-
tatives. Rumors of marriage flew
but difficulties besieged the couple.
Mrs. Keleher and Mr.. Ryan are
members of the Catholic church.
which does not recognize divorce.
Circumstances which preceded the
brides first marriage made 1t pos
sible to obtain a special dispense
ton.
It was shown that more than
fifteen years ago Kcleher had mar.
ried, and the first match ended in
the divorce courts a year later. On
this account, as the Catholic
church does not recognize MARI
age after divorce, Keleher's second
marital venture was not in strict
conformity with church rites and
paved the way for a dispensation
Prominent Clubman.
After a year of effort, Mr.. Ryan
succeeded in winning the dispense
ton. 1t was handle ddown during
the early part of July. The mar
riage took place on July II.
Mr.. Ryan was graduated from
Fordham University in 1908, holds
two degrees in law, and has beer
member of the New York bar since
1912.