NEWS: Article, The Maysville Bulletin, 26 Jan 1893, Mason Co., KY Aberdeen Marriages
to STOP

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Submitted by: Jan Gillespie (gillespie1949@yahoo.com) Date: 11 June 2000
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The Maysville Bulletin,January 26,1893 - Aberdeen Marriages to stop, Mason Co

The Legislature of Ohio to Put a Stop to "Aberdeen Marriages."

A Bill Pending That Will Forever End the Illegal Business if Passed.

The Columbus, Ohio correspondent of the Enquirer say: "Aberdeen, the famous Gretna
Green in Brown County, is to lose all its charms for runaway lovers if a bill
introduced in the Senate become a law. Senator Phillips, of Adams, is the author of
the measure, which is designed to do away with that extreme informality in matrimonial
matters for which Aberdeen is chiefly noted.

"After the death last year of "Squire Massie Beasley, who had married so many hundred
of eloping couples at Aberdeen, John P. Purdum became the Justice of the Peace and
wholesale dispenser of matrimony, and the reputation of Aberdeen has not waned.
Indeed, it is said that "Squire Purdum bids fair, if not interfered with, to eclipse
the record of his celebrated predecessor, so numerous are the "nuptial knots he ties.
The indications are, however, that "Squire Purdum's business is to be greatly
curtailed.

"The bill introduce by Senator Phillips is the result of a movement that has been
inaugurated among the citizens of Brown County to do away with the marriage business
at Aberdeen.  It is proposed to put a stop to it completely, and Senator Phillips will
be co-operated with by the Representative from Brown.  The bill provides that if any
Justice, minister or Mayor authorized to join persons in marriage shall solemnize the
same without bans having been published or a license obtained, as required by Section
6,389 of the revised Statutes, he shall pay a fine of not exceeding $1000. and be
imprisoned not more that six months, or both.  A penalty of $500. fine is prescribed
for even attempting to illegally perform a marriage ceremony.

"There always has been a penalty for marrying couples as did "Squire Beasley, but that
dignitary was never prosecuted.  He was quite a power in the politics of his community
and managed to frustrate all efforts to indict him.  Senator Phillips bill not only
increase the fine, but provides the additional penalty of jail imprisonment.  As the
office of "Squire of Aberdeen is worth about $5000. a year under the present order of
things, it is not improbable that the bill will receive considerable  opposition."
-------------------- The Enquirer correspondent does "Squire Purdon an injustice in
the above.  Mr. Purdon announced when a candidate that if elected to succeed "Squire
Beasely, he would not marry any couple unless they had complied with the law; and so
far as the Bulletin is informed he  has kept his work.

The business has been practicably broken up by the firm stand the press has taken in
the matter since the death of "Squire Beasley, but the bill mentioned above will end
it forever.  It should be passed.