DEATH-BED MARRIAGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1923, Page 2

DEATH-BED MARRIAGE.

_ PATHETIC WELSH ROMANCE. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, May 20. An effort is being made, through the High Court, to legalise deathbed marriages, performed under singular circumstances. Rees Rees, a young collier. received terrible injuries in a. colliorv accident. "Ho "us taken to Swansen' Hospital, where ho was visited daily by Florence Stevens, to whom ho was' betrothed. After a while she returned home, but was recalled when Rees was dying. He pleaded for marriage, but the Vicar of Swansea said that lie could not perform the ceremony, ns tho banns had not boon published. Tho Rev Morgan, a Nonconformist. happened to call at the hospital to see a member of his church, when Florence, running up to him said: “I want you to marry me. as my lover is dying' fast.” The minister procured the matron of t*ie hospital and another witness and recited the wedding service. Rees was struggling with death, hut he managed to place the ring on Florence’s finger. Then he sank on his pillow, gasping: “My wife at last!” Then lie went to .sleep with the girl’s hand in his. Ho woke an hour later, and. looking towards Florence, said: “Good-bye wife!” Then lie died. The minister said lie did it to make the dving man happy, believing that he had tiie power to do so, or that it could he put right afterwards. Florence says that she is quite satisfied she was married, although there was no certificate. When her lover first knew that his spine was broken he asked her to marry him. She replied that she would he faithful to him, even if ho were a cripple -for life.