Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1913 — ACCOMMODATING CLERK STRANDED OVER NIGHT [ARTICLE]

ACCOMMODATING CLERK STRANDED OVER NIGHT

Clerk Perkins Helps Young Couple to Get Married and Then Comes to Grief. 3 — ii Richard Morehouse, of near Wheatfield, Appeared at County Clerk Perkins’ office late in the afternoon New Years day for the purpose of getting a license to marry Miss Cecil Clifford Cooper, of north of Wheatfield, that evening at 7 o’clock. When asked by Clerk Perkins where the would-be bride was, Morehouse said he had forgotten to bring her along. As the law requires both parties to a marriage to be present and sign the application when it is issued, Mr. Perkins had to inform Morehouse he could do nothing for him, and that the wedding would have to be postpoped until he could bring the girl to town. Seeing Morehouse’s downcast countenance when he told him this, the clerk relented and agreed to go to the home of the bride and make out the license if the groom would furnish the transportation. To this Morehouse readily agreed, and made arrangements with a local garage to take Mr. Perkins there. They arrived at the home of the bride about 5 o’clock in the evening just as it was getting dark. Mr. Perkins invited the chauffupr into the house to get warm but he declined and said that he would wait. Mr. Perkins went on into the house and in a few minutes had the application filled out, but going outside to start on the return trip, he found the car gone, the driver having evidently misunderstood his order. Mr. Perkins was more dumfounded than the groom was when he was denied his license at the clerk’s office, but was somewhat relieved when the groom promised to get him to Wheatfield that evening if he would remain to the wedding. As there was nothing else he could do he consented to this arrangement. The wedding took place at 7 o’clock, Squire VanDusen, of Wheatfield, officiating, and Mr. Perkins acting as best man. After the wedding Mr. Perkins was taken to Wheatfield and spent the night there, arriving home at noon today, Mr. Perkins wants it understood, however, that in the future the bride must come to the court house, or there will be no wedding.