Evening star., 1938-12-18
'Gretna Green
Bdn.Weighed
|n2Counties
Arlington, Foirfox
May Follow Lead
Of Alexandra

Of Alexandria
Only two jurisdictions remained
open last night in Northern Virginia.
to couples bent on speedy wedding
rites after Alexandria's new mar
riage mill ground to a surprising
halt yesterday on an order requiring
a three-day interval between the
for a license and its is
Suance.
However, it appears likely that
Arlington and Fairfax Countless
where licenses still are obtainable
Immediately upon request, may
tomorrow-to fore
stall any attempt to convert those
communities into "Gretna Green's"
John M. Whalen. clerk of the
Circuit Court for Fairfax County,
said last night he would take a
stand similar to the one adopted
yesterday by Elliott F. Hoffman,
clerk of the Alexandria Corporation
Court, and require that marriage
license applications be left on file
for three days if a boom" develops
in Fairfax. =.
Conference Scheduled.
c. Benjamin Laycock, clerk of the
Circuit Court for Arlington, said
he would have no comment to make
until he confers tomorrow with
Commonwealth's Attorney Lawrence
w. Douglas of Arlington.
However, Mr.. Laycock, who has
openly expressed his opposition to
the quick-marriage trade being di-
verted into Virginia by Marylands
new law requiring 48 hours notice of
intention to wed, intimated that he
may. follow Alexandria's lead if
Arlington becomes the mecca of
matrimonially inclined couples.
Mr.. Whalen, one of those who
unsuccessfully supported a bill re-
quiring notice of intentions to wed
at the last session Of the Virginia
Legislature, said he would erect no
barrier in the path of Fairfax
County couples who want licenses"
Ready to Cooperate.
Il will, however, cooperate heart
lily in any plan to prevent Northern
Virginia becoming a matrimonial
mart" the Fairfax clerk added.
His statement was made after
Commonwealth Attorney Paul
Brown of Fairfax County declared
he felt that Alexandria officials
we're entirely within their legal
rights in their new policy.
Commemorative Attorney Law
renee w. Douglas of Arlington
County said he had not examined
the law under which the Alexandria
curb was placed, but added that he
would "be glad to render an opinion
If Mr.. Laycock asks me for one"
| Alexandria became the unwilling
successor to the quick marriage
trade at Elkton and other Mary
land matrimonial marts after Mary
lands three-day marriage law went
into effect 10 days ago. An un-
precedented boom resulted and dur
ing the four hours Mr.. Hoffman S
Office was open yesterday 43 licenses
were. issued.
DcCIutS OH htStTlCtlUIlSs
When his Office closed, though,
Mr.. Hoffman declared he had de-
cided upon restrictions even more
stringent thap those of the Free
State.
His order requiring a 72-hour
lapse between applications for mar
riage licenses and their issuance was
based on Commonwealth Attorney
Albert v. Bryan's Interpretation OF
Virginia statutes dating back to
1918.
Mr.. Bryan's opinion said:
1T is my opinion that upon an ap-
plication to your Office for the issu.
ance of marriage license, you are
authorized by virtue of the provi.
sions of chapter 300, page 473, act!
of the General Assembly of 1918, t.
require that the application remain
on file in your Office, for reason.
able time. say three or four days
without the issuance of the license
to afford your office an opportunity
to make an investigation, fncludin.
the procurement of official infor'
nation and a medical report from
the parties concerned, for the pur
pose of ascertaining that none o
, the statutory impediments to tn,
granting of the license exists, ant
for the further purpose of giving al
7 opportunity to any person, knowing
, that either of the parties to be mar
, ried Is subject to the statutory disa
bilities to marriage. to appear be
, fore the clerk and present evidenc,
: why such license should not b.
!. granted"
Child Marriage Recalled.
Because of the last statement b,
the Commonwealth's attorney, relat
ing to furnishing persons the "op
! portunity" to present evidence o
1 the applicants Statutory disabilit
to marriage" some observers believ
I a recent Child bride marriage" il
!. Alexandria spurred yesterdays NOV
I by the court clerk.
A few days ago 15-year-ol
3 Maryland girl was married to a 80
year-old Washington man after sh
= gave her age as 21 The brides par
S entS at first objected to the unior
0 but later gave their consent.
t The Alexandria Ministerial A5so
citation was the leader in opposin
an invasion of marrying parsons i
e George Washington's home town.
g 1t threatened, if necessary, to tax
/, its fight to the courts to maintain
S the city's freedom from clergyme
t moving here with no church con
+. nections and with the announce
J, purpose Of getting the marriage bus
, mess.