This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UNF.2ACIB/234 Message Board Post: “THE CHILLICOTHE LEADER” SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1889 (typed exactly as it appears in the paper) p.4-Listed under “Marriage Licenses, Births and Deaths” Benjamin Bost and Mary Hammon p.5: “MARRIED IN JAIL,” “Under Circumstances Peculiarly Interesting and Sadly Unique” “MARY HAMMON’S ROMANCE” A Deluded Young Woman who Started Out to Punish a Lover who Had Inflicted upon Her Suffering and Disgrace, but who Relented When She Saw Him in Prison and Wound up Her Campaign of Revenge by Marrying Him. --- The event of Tuesday, about the Court House was a marriage that occurred at the jail on the afternoon of that day - a marriage that was solemnized under very mournful circumstances, and that had about it some most peculiar features. At 2 o’clock, Tuesday, the jailor’s room was filled with a curious company, gathered to witness the unusual spectacle of a marriage in jail, and fully seventy-five people were assembled on the outside, eager to get a peep at the interesting ceremony. Seated in the jailor’s room, just before the ceremony, was a modest-looking and quite attractive young woman, of not over twenty years. She wore a rather timid look, and it was plain that she had been crying. She carried a six weeks’ old baby in her arms, and was very attentive to it. She was the child’s mother. Its father was, at that moment locked up in jail. The young woman was Mary Hammon, who lives in the vicinity of Higby’s station. She was, at that hour, unmarried. The father of her child was Benjamin Bost, a section hand on the Scioto Valley R. R., who is not over 19 years old, and who lives in Miss Hammon’s neighborhood. Bost was in jail having been put there at the instigation of Miss Hammon, who had a few days before, brought an action against him for bastardy, in ‘Squire Samuel Woods’ court. The ‘Squire bound Bost over to Court, in the sum of $500 and being unable to furnish bond, the young man was lodged in jail here Sunday night. This was just what Miss Hammond wanted - or what she thought she wanted. Four months ago, before her child was born, Bost wanted to marry her; but he had deceived her so cruelly and treated her so badly, that she would not marry him then. Finally, the child was born, and then the full measure of her disgrace and suffering was plain to her, and she became animated with a desire for revenge. She determined to bring both suffering and disgrace to the door of the man who had caused her so much grief and agony. Then it was that she determined to prosecute him. She thought it would be a source of gratification to her, to see the man who had betrayed her languishing in jail, and despised of men. This was a delusion. She didn’t enjoy it a bit, for no sooner did she see him in jail than her heart relented; her love triumphed over her desire for revenge. Bost was lodged in jail here Sunday night, and Monday Miss Hammon called to see him. Sheriff Wisehart was very kind to her, and took her into jail to see her lover. “Oh, does Benny have to stay in this dreadful place?” she exclaimed, when she was stopped in front of the heavily-barred turnstile. She had caught a glimpse of the long row of iron cells in the east corridor of the jail, and they seemed to fill her with terror. She didn’t know “that a jail was such an ugly place,” and the knowledge of the fact that her lover was behind those bars smote upon her conscience with a heavy smite. A few moments later Miss Hammon and Mr. Bost were face to face. “Oh, Benny, this is hard!” she exclaimed. “Mary! Oh, Mary!” sobbed Benjamin. In a moment, they were both in tears, and sobbing in a very heart-bursting way. The scene was an affective one, but it was oats for the crowd of prisoners in jail, who were watching the little drama with eager, guying eyes. Soon they set up loud poo-hooings, and their wild sobbing could be heard out on Main street. Hardened wretches are those prisoners. Mary and Benjamin didn’t mind them. They had their cry out, and then a long, earnest talk. When Miss Hammon left the jail, she had about made up her mind to marry Mr. Bost. But it seems that Mr. Bost had changed his mind, too. His punishment had made him a little vindictive, and the other prisoners had been working on him, urging him not to marry the girl. Some of Bost’s relatives--among them his sister--came to see him Monday, and they advised him to marry Miss Hammon. He finally consented, and so it was arranged that they should be made man and wife at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. At that hour, ‘Squire Francis Blackford was present to perform the ceremony. When Mr. Bost was first brought into the room, Miss Hammon rushed to him, threw her arms about his neck and began to cry. “Oh, Benny, this is hard,” she was heard to say again and again. When they stood up before the ‘Squire, to have the marriage ceremony performed, Miss Hammon carried her babe on her arm. Both bride and groom really felt happy, notwithstanding the circumstances under which they were married. They left the jail in a very smiling humor. Bost told Sheriff Wisehart that he “thought a great deal of Mary,” and would be true to her and “treat her like a wife ought to be treated.”