Is She His Wife? - 1892

HIXON, STAYT

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 6/4/2017 at 15:10:06

The Clinton Daily Age, Clinton, Iowa, February 4, 1892

Is She His Wife?

In 1888 Miss May Hixon, in a leap year fashion, proposed marriage to Prof. C. B. Stayt, of Afton, a wealthy man. He accepted and in June 1890, they mutually agreed to become man and wife, without other ceremony, and began living together. In October 1891, she threw up the sponge and quit. He wants to sell property, but cannot give good title, because, if she is his wife de jure she has an inchoate right to his estate. He asks the district court to decide whether he is actually a married man, and whether Mary is his wife.