POLICEMAN'S BRIDE OF 17.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1784, 24 June 1913, Page 2

POLICEMAN'S BRIDE OF 17.

TRTAT, MARRIAGES AS A LEGAL' INSTITUTION. New York, May 2. The existence pf trial marriagos as a legalised institution in New York Stato for girls undor eighteen years of age was illustrated afresh to-day in tho Supreme Court by Justice Giegerich before several hundred interested spectators. A pretty girl named Pearl Unkirch, who looked as if she had just stepped out of a school classroom, desired' the annulment of her maiTiago with Edward Gallagher, a stalwart membor of tho Now York police foroe, w"hero many manly feats have earned for him tlio sobriquet of "lung GallaglieT." The girl told the judge that she lost her heart to tho big and handsomo policeman in the spring of last year, soon after her seventeenth birthday. Her mother objected to tho marriage on two grounds—first, that Pearl was too young; and, secondly, that she wa,s a Presbyterian, whereas tho policeman, was a Roman Catholic. . . In May last Mrs. Unkircli visited friends at Cleveland. On her return the lovers met her armed with a marriago license, and informed her that Pearl had taken Edward's faith, and that they wero about to bo married. Mrs. Unkirch acquiesced as gracefully as she could, a,nil fitted' up a flat, which the couple occupied for three months, at the end of which time the girl decided that the marriage was a failuvo and returned to her mother's residonce! , Justice Giegeribli took seven minutes to convince himself that Pearl was under eighteen at the timo of her maiTiago in order to give her tlio right to call herself •Unkircli onco more, and the marrmgo was annulled.— "Daily Mail."