Deathbed Wedding Was Not Genuine

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 297, 30 November 1936, Page 8

Deathbed Wedding Was Not Genuine

WANTED TO HELP DYING FIANCE To bring hope and joy to her dying fiance a girl went through a bedside marriage which she now declares is not genuine. Muriel Smith, of Moor place, Gosforth, Neweastle-on-Tyne, was the bride. It was first announced that she “married'” a Dr. Hugh P. Brown two days, before he died in a London hospital after an operation for appendicitis. But at her Newcastle home, Miss Smith—still grief-stricken —told the Daily Mirror the full story of how she went through with this “marriage.” “I did it because Hugh wished it, and in the hope that it might save his life,” she said. “1 arranged the marriage ceremony, which I know was not genuine. 1 did it only for Hugh’s sake. The doctors told me it might even save his life, so L went through with it. “The marriage service was read by a solicitor. It was, of course, a deception, but we did it for the best. “I have known Hugh for many years and we have been engaged for a-long time. We had hoped to be married in London last -week-end but his illness stopped, the ceremony.” Miss Smith added that Hugh R. Brown was not the proper name of her fiance. “1 am keeping that a secret for domestic reasons,” she said. “Nor can I reveal where ho is to be buried, I shall not be at the funeral. “He thought the wedding was genuine and he died believing I was his wife. I have been a Roman Catholic for two years, though my parents are Protestants.” The couple were to have been married by Father Clifford, of Gosforth. He is at present on holiday in Scarborough. “I introduced Miss Smith to Roman Catholicism,” Father Clifford said. ‘‘The day before the marriage was luo to take place I received a message that the doctor was suffering from acute appendicitis. In view of this I wired to London cancelling the marriage. “I was surprised to hear the wedding had taken place in hospital.”