“Wedded but Parted,” “Wife in Name Only,” or “Loved and Lost,” would probably have been the title that Laura Jean Libby would have chosen for the romance, one scene of which was staged in this city Wednesday afternoon, when, not the cruel and disdainful rival, but the beautiful and attractive deputy in the register of deeds office, snatched the marriage license from the very hands of the officiating magistrate, and thus put a stop to a marriage between a 13-year-old girl and her lover.
Miss Mildred Braxton, aged 13, and Cary Harrison, some years older, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Luby Cade, came from Lenoir county to Smithfield Wednesday and tried to obtain a license to get married. It seems that they had been to Wayne county and had failed, but the persistence of Cupid caused them to speed on to Smithfield where they made another effort. As Miss Luma McLamb, clerk in the register of deeds office, was working away at her books, a man and woman came to the office and inquired where the health officer might be found. She gave them proper directions, but in a few moments they returned, asking if a Wayne county health certificate would not do. It was the noon hour and Miss McLamb was the only official in the office, but she never once lost control of the situation. She told them that they would have to hunt a Johnston county physician. In a short while they returned, flung down a health certificate from Dr. A.H. Rose and asked for a marriage license. The young deputy inquired who was to get married. The man answered that he was the fellow. Miss McLamb told him that the bridegroom could not procure his own license. Nothing daunted he stepped to the door and called in another man who gave his name as Duberry Langston who swore out the license, stating that the age of the bride was 18 and the bridegroom 23. They were then ready for a preacher or a magistrate. They left the register of deeds office, found Mr. D.T. Lunceford, a justice of the peace, who has his office in the courthouse, and were ready for the “lived happily ever after” chapter when the proceedings which frustrated the marriage plans took place. About this time some one casually called to Miss McLamb to come see what a baby she had sold a marriage license for. Miss McLamb rushed into the hall, saw the bride-to-be a different person than the one for whom she thought she had sold a license, and as the justice of the peace was pronouncing them man and wife, tore the license from his hands.
“Hold them until I get the sheriff,” urged Miss McLamb, and she hastened to the sheriff’s office. In a few minutes passers-by in front of the courthouse saw four fleeing figures cross the street to the post office with Deputy Sheriff H.T. Chapin close at their heels. They had evaded the justice and were hastening to the garage. The couples were escorted to the courthouse where it developed that Mr. and Mrs. Cade had started out to masquerade as the couple who wished to get married, in order to get the license. Things went well until they were told the bridegroom could not buy his own license. Then it was he called in (line obscured) . . . procured by illegal means. All four were placed in jail after warrants had been sworn out and as we go to press they are still there.
Sheriff Parker telephone to relatives of Miss Braxton in La Grange, and the parents of the girl are momentarily expected. The trial will be heard in Recorder’s court next Tuesday, when it will be determined what penalty for such an offence will be imposed.
Some have been interested in whether the couple was really married or not. Some state that it was no marriage, while others insist that it probably a case of married in haste but repent at leisure.
From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Johnston County, N.C., Friday, Dec. 18, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073982/1925-12-18/ed-1/seq-1/
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