Typed as spelled and written
Lena Stone Criswell

THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Thirteenth Year - Number 38
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, November 20, 1902

HOLDS THE COAT FOR COSTS.
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       Another Case Wherein Judge Frazier Declined A Fee.

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       One of the first cases to come up before Judge Alex Frazier was an application for a search warrant to regain possession of an over coat stolen from him by another darkey who sold it to a third.
       Constable Peebles, armed with a warrant, found and took possession of the coat alright.
       When it came to paying the costs, the complainant had not the wherewith to liquidate and Judge Frazier promptly ordered that the aforesaid coat remain in the possession of and under the jurisdiction of the court until all costs in the processing incurred be fully paid.
       This bring to mind another incident that occurred while Mr. Frazier was justice of the peace of old precinct No. 6, as it existed before the lines were changed so as to put McClanahan in precinct No. 1.  J. N. Adams was constable at the time.
       A party from Limestone county had been arrested on a charge of toying with the affections of a young lady whom he afterwards refused to marry.  The complaint was filed in Judge Frazier's court and an examing trial was ordered.  The girl was present as the leading witness for the prosectuion.  The defendant made strenuous efforts to get the case postponed until the following Monday when he would return and marry the girl and thus end the matter.  It was late in evening but the court was obdurate and told the prisoner that he must then and there marry the girl or go to jail.  The defendant reluctantly took the former alternative and while a messenger was dispatched to Marlin for the license, he remained a prisoner at court.
       It was ten o'clock at night when the ceremony was performed that made the prosecutrix and the prosecuted man and wife.
       After the ceremony was over the groom said that he did not have any money and proposed to give his wife to the court as a marriage fee.
     This the court declined with thanks and the bride and groom departed.  That was fifteen years ago and the couple have several children now and to all appearances are living happily.

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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas