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EASY DIVOHCK. ISome time ago we gave 5^e t'-'Plt;'rience of h Chicago lady who went from one to another of the lawyers in that city who ad-veitise to procure '‘divorces without pub- I licity.” It may be interesting t uur readers to learn the precise means by which gucb a result is accomplished by which a woruaD, for instance, can be divorced from I her husband, and know nothing of the I fact until ordered to vacate her home. IUtah, the home of more foul vi'liiny than any other portion of this fair earth of equal area, would seem t) have framed its I laws on purpose for the Convenience of I persons desiring to perpetrate this cruel wrong. The act of Congress of Jane 22,1874, provides that “probate courts, in tbeir respective counties, shall have jurisdiction in suits of divorce tor statutory causes.” The divorce law of Utah says: “If the court is satisfied that the person applying is a resident of the Territory, or wishes to become one, (this is to enable convened Mormons to rid themselves easily of their unconverted wives who refuse to emigrate,) the court may grant a decree, for various reasons, among the rest, “when it shall be made to appear to the I satisfaction of the court that the parties I cannot lire in peace together. And again: “The defendant, unless in case of absence provided for, shall have the right to appear, I and shall receive proper and timely warn- 1 ing, »fcc. The Supreme Court of tbe United States, in the case of Cheever vs. WiIsod, 9 Wallace, p. 108, has decided that a decree of divorce which is conclusive in a State or Territory where rendered, is equally conclusive everywhere iu the courts of the United States. And now for the details of the proceeding:John Smith, of Dubuque, gets tired of his wife, He goes to a lawyer in town— we ought mention bis name, but as be takes The Times regularly and pays for it promptly it would scarcely be proper to do so; besides, there are several of them here, to say nothing of one or two who have latt ly moved away—and inquires if it be possible, as he may have beard it was, to obtain a divorce from his wife, and she know nothing about it t II it is too late to prevent it; and if so, the cost of tae proceeding? He is ti 1J it can be done for— in the case we have in our mind’s eye the price wa9 fixed at $150. Tbe Dubuque lawyer pockets $50. and 6ends the $100 j and a statement of the case to the Chicago advertiser of “divorces without publicity.”! The Chicago lawye.* semJs the statement ! of the case and $50, (pocketing the other I $50.) to George A. Webster, of Balt Lake City, U. T. Webster files bis declaration, including that John Smith, though not now a resident of Utah, wishes to become one., Webster, having in mind the clause of the ! law that the defendan shall receive proper and timely warning to appear, “unless, in case of absence prodded for” suggests that as time is precious, newspaper notice j be omitted; that a written notice be stuck f up on a tree, and defendant be called at the door of the court room when toe case comes on. Tbe case comes od; Mrs. femitb, of Dubuque, fail* t appear; the decree is entered up against her; and the poor woman, without a warning or a thought of such a thing, is turned out of tue home she assisted to gain, and I turned out upon the streets a beggar, and with the stigma of a divorced woman resting upon her.Wc submit that this sort of thiag is a disgrace to our legal practice sod to civil;-i /Ation. Th« hurt* itpmpnt thwt utw»h
Newspaper Details
Daily Times
Dubuque, Iowa, US
Fri, Mar 23, 1877
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
IN, USA 14 Dec 2018
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