SKY WEDDING

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1938, Page 10

SKY WEDDING

OFFICIALS PUZZLED.

MARRIED AT 16,000 FEET. SAN FRANCISCO, July 29. California is nothing if not bizarre in its strivings to keep its name on the front page of American newspapers, and it made a bold bid for nationwide attention when a daring couple staged a marriage more than three miles up in the heavens, believing the ceremony would be attested legal. Perplexed marriage license bureau officials, Superior Court Judges, and. clerks subsequently considered the unique_ wedding of Mr and Mrs Edward L. von . Glatte, "of Los Angeles. Their task of adjudging the legality of the ceremony—at which Captain Richard Bowman, of United Air Lines, officiated—was weighted with significance. In a modern age when flying has become an accepted mode of travel, such a precedent of an, aerial wedding at 16,000 feet might lead to another sky-high marriage, it was believed. . But as Von Glatte and his bride, 'the former Jane Webster, society girl of Pontiac, Michigan, stepped aboard another United air .liner-at Burbank, hear Los Angeles, bound for a honeymoon at Detroit, the quest was far from settled. . Blithely, however, the Von Glattes headed east, confident that their wed* ding was perfectly in accordance with the law, and this was their thesis: Captain Bowman, licensed by the United States Government, carries the same privileges accruing the captain of an ocea.n liner. He commands a craft carrying, Federal mail, pay, passengers and express. It is within his right to marry persons who fly in his airship, provided such a ceremony transpires < beyond—or above—the three-mile limit.

With this, United Air Lines officials at Burbank agreed, but down in Los Anegeles, Judges and license bureau authorities were not so certain of the matter. Rosalind Rice, clerk of the marriage, license bureau, stated that she would wait until the county attorney advised her of the status of the marriage before filing the couple’s certificate, which Captain Bowman had signed. Three Superior Judges offered their unofficial opinions. Judge Still said: “It is my offhand opinion that a marriage of this nature falls within the jurisdiction of the laws of the State. There is no legal difference between it and a marriage on the ground. The laws of California must apply, even though several thousand feet separated the couple from the ground.” Judge Burnell remarked: “This marriage cannot be construed as being similar to one which might take place three miles at- sea. The sea marriage was based on a commonlaw theory, which took into consideration voyages lasting perhaps months in slow travelling sailing boats. The three-mile limit was established on the theory that a cannon’s range was three miles, and that no country could claim jurisdiction over territory it could not protect. It is not legal in my opinion.” From Dr- Ralph Walker, of the Temple Baptist Church, came this statement: “One cannot blame young people for romantic stunts at the climax of a modern courtship. It is to be hoped, however, that when the iserious business of a happy married life is entered into, they will get their feet on the ground.” Meanwhile, Von Glatte, a soft-drink company sales executive, and his bride were winging their way towards Michigan, opinions or no opinions, satisfied that their marriage was as legal as if it had been performed in a cathedral with candles burning and an organ softly playing Lohengrin.

Since officialdom was not" certain that the “sky-high” . marriage was legitimate, the couple announced the knot would be tied all over again in Los Angeles within a fortnight. " ,This was the honeymooners’ announcement at Pontiac, after .receiving notification from the Los Angeles County attorney’s office that the Country Recorder had no duty or authority to file the marriage certificate.