Marriage, but no child for killer

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 5

Marriage, but no child for killer

NZPA-Reuter Nashville The new bride of a convicted murderer who will be locked up until the year 2004 says she will conceive her husband’s baby “by hook or crook,” regardless Of the state of Tennessee’s refusal to permit intercourse or artificial insemination.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections yesterday denied a request from Ralph and Mary McDonald to have a child through artificial insemination.

Ralph, aged 39, a convicted murderer, and Mary, aged 29, a nurse who shares his religious beliefs, say they will take the issue to court.

“I’m going to get pregnant by hook or crook, but Im going to,” Mrs McDonald said. “I’m going to have a child by my husband. I will use whatever legal means I

have to get a child by my husband.”

Attended by five armed guards, Ralph and Mary were married on May 24, with the groom shackled hand and foot.

They found out yesterday that the Tennessee Correction Commissioner (Mr Harold Bradley) stood between them and a baby In a letter, Mr Bradley reminded Mrs McDonald that the General Assembly had this year rejected conjugal visits for prisoners. “We’re hoping now that the courts will decide the issue. I think it’s more of a question of her rights right now,” McDonald says. McDonald is ineligible for parole until 2004. In addition to the life term for murder, he is serving between two and five years for shooting at the dead man’s wife.