Missouri Valley Times

CAN'T WED FATHER'S WIDOW IN IOWA

Des Moines Man Tries to Get Permit to Do So, But Fails.

Des Moines, Ia., March 13. - F.J. Shoemaker, 3412 Oxford street, Highland Park, late Saturday applied to the district court for a license to marry his stepmother. He was refused the permit by Deputy Clerk Joseph Maher under that section of the code which says no man shall marry his father's widow. The young man, who is 27 years old, went away brokenhearted.

Myrtle J. Shoemaker, whom he would marry, is but 25 years old. She married his father John M. Shoemaker ten years ago, when she was 15 years old. The elder Mr. Shoemaker died last summer and since that time the son has lived at home with his stepmother, who is his junior in years. The constant association ripened into love and they determined to get married. With a witness young Shoemaker applied at the clerk's office for a license.

His Admission Fatal.

The similar names aroused the curiosity of the clerk.

'Have you been married to this woman before?' he asked politely as he proceeded to fill in the license stub.

'No.'

'So the nonres should be the same, are you any relation?'

'No blood relation.'

The clerk was satisfied until he asked the next question.

'Where do you reside?'

'3412 Oxford street.'

'Where does the lady reside?'

'3412 Oxford street.'

'Are you any relation?'

'Well, you see it is this way.' explained the youth. 'She married my father, but he died last summer.'

'Well, I am sorry, but I am afraid I cannot grant this license.'

'Can't grant it?'

'No; not that I would not like to accommodate you, but the law forbids.' And the clerk showed the statute to the young man which satisfied him, but he went away dejected and downhearted.