The Charlotte Democrat

A Forced Marriage Declared Void.

A marriage contract entered into under coercion is void. The case came from Livingston county, and the circumstances in brief are these: Some time since a young man named George R. Brown, a resident of East Rush, made complaint that he had been coerced into a marriage with a young woman named Lois Barber, at Avon. The case was brought up before Judge Rumsey, and by him referred to George W. Rawson. Brown said that he was attending to some business in a blacksmith shop at Honeoye Falls, when Chester Bristol, Deputy Sheriff of the county, called him out and told him he must go down to Avon and marry Miss Lois Barber, a sister-in-law of Bristol. He told Bristol that he did not love her enough for this, but was informed that Miss Barber had confessed having been criminally intimate with him, and that he must marry her. Brown denied the fact, but excuses did not avail with Bristol, who enforced his demand with a revolver. They called for the young lady at her father's house, and she was ordered by the brother-in-law to accompany them. They stopped at a house and a minister was procured by Bristol to perform the ceremony. The minister asked Bristol whether there was any reason why the parties should not be united, and he said no. The parties themselves were not asked any such question. Having thus been married by force, the parties returned to the bride's house; where the unwilling husband left his wife and went to his own home. Brown denied under oath having intimate relations with the young lady, either before or after marriage. Justice Smith granted a decree declaring the marriage null and void. Both parties were allowed the privilege of marrying again.