The Colfax Contempt: A Honeymoon on the Chain Gang
In a bizarre twist of justice and timing, D. Franklin Squibb married his new bride just weeks after his divorce was finalized—only to find himself serving hard labor for contempt of court.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
COLFAX, July 9. — D. Franklin Squibb will spend his honeymoon on the county chain gang assisting in improving the county roads because he married too soon after securing a divorce from his former wife.
A warrant was issued for the arrest of Squibb on the charge of contempt of court. He was fined $26 and costs. He could not pay the fine and was remanded to jail.
Squibb was divorced on January 17 and on June 29 was married to Miss Grace Stevens. He is now on the chain gang with Roscoe Buchanan, his brother-in-law who married an older sister of Squibb's wife, and is serving a sentence for selling mortgaged property.
This story highlights the rigid legal timelines governing divorce in the early 20th century, where marrying before a decree was absolute could result in immediate criminal liability. It mirrors modern discussions about the 'cooling-off' periods and legal waiting times still present in some jurisdictions today, showing how quickly personal joy can collide with bureaucratic rigidity.
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