A DEATHBED MARRIAGE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2587, 31 May 1923, Page 4

A DEATHBED MARRIAGE

A LEGALISATION SOUGHT. London, May 20. An effort is being made through the High Court to legalise, a deathbed marriage performed in singular circumstances. Rees Rees, a young collier, received terrible injuries in a colliery accident. He was taken to Swansea Hospital, where lie was visited daily by Florence Stevens, to whom'lie 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 he could not perform the ceremony as the banns had not been published. The Rev. Morgan, a Non-Con-formist minister, happened to call' at the hospital to see members of hischurcli, when Florence, running up, said: “I want you to marry me. Oh, my lover is dying fast.’ The Minister procured the matron of the hospital and another witness and recited the wedding service. Rees was struggling with death but. managed to place the ring on Florence’s finger, then sank on his pillow gasping: “My wife at last!’’ and went, to sleep, with the girl’s hand in his. He woke an hour later, and looking towards Florence said: “Goodbye wife,” then died. The Minister says that he did it to make the dying man happy, believing lie had the power to do so, or that it could be put right afterwards. Florence says she is quite satisfied she is married although there is no certificate. Vi hen her lover first knew his spine was broken, he asked her to marry him, and she replied she would be faithful to him, even if he were a cripple for life.