DEATH-BED MARRIAGE.

Evening Star, Issue 12899, 23 August 1906, Page 1

DEATH-BED MARRIAGE.

DRAMA OF A SCOTTISH CEREMONY. One of the most extraordinary actions of declarator of ma.rriage < ever heard in the Court of Session, Edinburgh, came before Lord Johnston recently. Ihe plaintiff ia Jane Dick, or Young, residing at 7 Workmen's Buildings, Ayr, and she seeks to have it declared that she was tho wife o( the lato Mr Quinton Young, who resided at 105 King street, Wallacetown, Ayr. In reply to Mr Watt, K.C., the plaintiff, who is thirty-six years of age, said that sho becamo acquainted with Mr Young when she was seventeen years of age, and ho kept company with her up to the time of his death. He was a moulder when she first met him. As a result of tho acquaintanccsliip sho had seven children, and five were still alive. Sho never lived in the same house as Mr Young, but ho visited her regularly at her mothe-r's house and she visited him at his father's. Ho spoke to her several times about marriage, the first time being just after she had her'first child. Counsel: Why were you not married at that time?—Becauso my mother would not allow it. Witness went on to say that he repeated his proposals of marriage, but. she had her mother and father to keep. Young died on June 1, 1905, of Bright's disease, after an illness extending over eleven weeks. A fortnight before he died ho said to her: "I thank we will get married, Jeannic." She told him that he had better wait till Tie was on his feet again. The night'before he died he again spoke of it. "Joannie," ho said, "both of us are getting married to-morow night." No one was present at, that time, as his father had gone to tho minister's house. Counsel: Do you know why his father had gone to the minister?—lt was to gd> both of us married for the sake of Sao children. She added that Young waa quite sensible when ho said they should: be married the next night at 6cven o'clock. She did not think that he was so near liia death. Did he think his death was near?—He never said. On the night of the death of Mr Young the minister came to the house shortly before seven o'clock.. He inquired of the sick man if he knew what he hidi come for, and got the reply that he had. come to make Jeannie his wife. Before Mr Young died the minister said a prayer, read aloud portions of the Bible, and then performed a short marriage ceremony, tho parties agreeing to take each other as husband and wife. The minister then handed: tho sick man a paper, and asked him to put lus name to it. He replied that he could not write, but on the suggestion of the minister he put a cross to it. The woman signed tho pa-per, and Mr Young's father and sister signed it as witnesses. The document was read out to all in the house. For a number of years before his death Mr Young had paid the witness 12s per week for the support of/ the. children. • On the day of his death she got 12s 6d from his sister as the change from the money with which tho latter had purchased a ring. Mr Young had instructed her to purchase a ring, which he gave to the -witness aiter tho marriage.. It is said that you prevailed upon the man to marry you. Is that so?— No. : Did you use any persuasion or force in the matter? —No. Was it his own free will?— Yes. It was intimated that there would have been no defence by the brothers and sisters of the deceased but for the fact that a sub. stantial estate is involved. The father of Mr Young gave evidence to the effect that he made all th& arrangements for the marriage at his son's suggestion, and that the plaintiff had nothing to do with it. The mmister who performed the ceremony died in December last. The'hearing was adjourned.