On July 5, 1934, 26-year-old Violet Hilton and her 29-year-old fiancé Maurice Lambert, a widower, went to the Municipal License Bureau in Manhattan, New York to get a marriage license. Violet’s sister, Daisy, went along too. The sisters were inseparable. Violet and Daisy were musicians and performers. In 1911, Violet and Daisy began performing a sister act in Great Britain. Their popularity grew and they performed throughout Europe. In 1916, they started performing in the United States. They sang in perfect harmony, tap-danced in synchronization, and played clarinets and saxophones in harmony. People flocked to see them. In 1926, Violet and Daisy were featured in an act called the “Dancemedians” with George Byrne and Les Hope. In one notable part of the act, the sisters danced the fox-trot with George Byrne and Les Hope. Les, Leslie Hope, changed his name shortly thereafter to Bob Hope. In the 1930s, Maurice was a musician, orchestra leader, and the musical director for Violet and Daisy’s vaudeville act.
As the trio waited for the clerk to return with the marriage license, crowds gathered around Violet and Daisy requesting autographs, giving marital advice, and showering them with well wishes. They learned that Daisy was engaged to be married as well. It was a joyous occasion, but what was supposed to be the happiest day for a bride-to-be was suddenly spoiled. After careful consideration, Chief Clerk Julius Brosen of the marriage license bureau denied their request for a marriage license because “the very idea is quite immoral and indecent.” Undeterred but irritated, Maurice said they would go elsewhere to get a marriage license. Following their denial in New York, Maurice, Violet, and Daisy visited the City Hall in Newark, New Jersey, but the result was the same. City Clerk Harry Reichenstein denied their request because of “moral reasons.” The trio “departed in a huff.” Violet’s attorney, Irvin Levy, filed a motion with the New York Supreme Court to compel the city to issue Violet and Maurice a marriage license. After a week-long legal battle, Supreme Court Justice Kenneth P. O’Brien denied the motion. The Court decided that Violet and Maurice “must not wed,” at least not in the state of New York.
Violet was determined to marry Maurice. “I’ve made up my mind to get married,” Violet said, “and that’s all there is to it.” In all, Violet and Maurice tried to get married in 21 states but were denied each time on moral grounds. Eventually, Violet and Maurice had no choice but to give up their dream of being husband and wife.
The moral reason for which those clerks refused Violet and Maurice’s request for a marriage license was because Daisy was always with Violet. It was well known that Violet and Daisy worked together, traveled together, ate every meal together, slept in the same bed, and bathed together.
After the states of New York and New Jersey initially denied Violet and Maurice’s request for a marriage license, scientists were brought in but were unable to agree whether Violet and Daisy were individuals or the same person. You see, Violet and Daisy Hilton really were inseparable. They were joined at the hip. They were conjoined twins.
Sources:
1. Evening Courier (Camden, New Jersey), February 22, 1927, p.16.
2. Progress-Bulletin (Pomona, California), July 5, 1934, p.1.
3. The Binghamton Press (Binghampton, New York), July 6, 1934, p.20.
4. The Buffalo News, July 6, 1934, p.36.
5. Daily News (New York, New York), July 6, 1934, p.3.
6. Brooklyn Eagle, July 9, 1934, p.13.
7. Daily News (New York, New York), July 17, 1934, p.13.