On June 29th, 1897, a man named Max H. was married to an actress on the train between New York and Sing Sing. Max had just received a sentence of four years and six months in State Prison. He had asked the authorities to allow him to be married in the Tombs several days before, but they positively refused. At the Grand Central Depot his lady love boarded the same train on which he was, with an Episcopal minister named Lindsay, who was a Tombs missionary. They were bound to be married. Dave Burke was deputy sheriff in charge of the prisoners going to Sing Sing that day. He consented to the marriage of Max and his lady love on the train, and they were married. Cupid could not be put off under any circumstances. The marriage would not have been known, but when the commitment papers were carefully examined at State Prison after the prisoner’s pedigree was given, it was found that when Max was sentenced he was single, but when he reached Sing Sing he was married. This marriage on the railroad train created a great furore in New York, and as a result, the deputy sheriff was dismissed, and the minister soon afterwards left the city.
A few years ago, Lawyer Patrick, who was convicted of the murder of Millionaire Rice, wished to be married before he was sent to Sing Sing, where he has been ever since. Mr. Patrick took pains to sound the feelings of the authorities on the subject, with the result that objections were made against any such ceremony taking place in the prison. But Cupid in this case was smarter than the authorities. On the Sunday previous to his receiving the death sentence, three persons came to the prison, a lawyer, a friend and Patrick’s lady love. The lawyer requested permission from the Warden to see the condemned man, which was granted in the Women’s Prison, where a civil contract was signed, which made them husband and wife, according to the new law. The following day Patrick was taken to Sing Sing.
During the past six years a number of convicted men awaiting trial have begged to be married before going to prison, but I have positively refused, as I found on inquiry that the object in view was solely to secure clemency for some miserable scoundrel on the day of sentence. A recent case was that of a girl named Stella Hamilton, a native of Connecticut. She called at the Tombs more than a dozen of times, and begged to be married to a convict named Williams or Willinsky. This man was a convicted pickpocket, and had served three or four terms in prison already. She told a romantic story that moved many hearts. Her story was that more than a year ago she had been saved from drowning by this man, and now she wished to marry him in return for saving her life on that occasion. Since then it has turned out that the whole romance was a scheme to get clemency for Williams.
A few years ago, a crook asked the Chaplain to marry him to a woman he had wronged, and with whom he had lived as husband and wife. I refused, as I knew him to have a criminal record. The woman had not known this, but should have made an inquiry into his character before entering into such an alliance. He wished the marriage to take place so as to secure sympathy, and save her name. After he had gone to prison, the woman followed him, and asked the Warden to permit the ceremony to take place, as soon as possible, to save her good name and that of the child, but he refused. Then she called on a Supreme Court Justice, who resided in the neighborhood, and stated her case to him. The Judge gave her an order which was served on the warden of the Prison, compelling him to permit the marriage to take place, which was performed by a minister of the Gospel the following day.
It seems the law is very clear on these things. If a man has wronged a woman under a promise of marriage, the fact that the man is in prison does not deprive her of her rights before the law. If they are both willing, she can marry him in spite of busy-bodies, judges and prison authorities.
A scene in the Tenderloin Station House at midnight.
MRS. JOHN A. FOSTER, The Tombs Angel.
