The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-23
Law and Dcccncy Set at
Defiance.
THE DIVORCE JDeGLERS OF new YORK
Divorces Procured at Short
Notice.


Much has been written concerning the loose
divorce laws or Indiana. Illinois ana Connecticut,
ana 1t ID generally supposed that those States olrer
facilities Tor severing the marriage relation which
can be found In no other section. The statutes Of
this state refusing divorces except for tie crime OF
adultery, 1t would seem that New York should DE
the last place IN which o person would apply for
divorce trivial grounds of complaint. and there Is
popular idea that with all the evils which society
suffers In this city the divorce business has
not attained O footnold here, This impress
sion Is very erroneous. The accommodations
afforded at Western railway stations. where
trains SAID TO stop fifteen minutes Tor divorces
are equaed II not surpassed, In this respect In New
York, and any married man or woman who dis
covers lew affinity can here be cut loose from u
matrimonial partner In the most expeditions man
ner. 1t - not necessary for the applicant for
divorce TO endure the disagreeaple notorety OF
publicly prosecuting hts case. nor for HIM to
await the usually tardy process OF the courts
in such cases. Indeed the applicant need not APP
pear personally In the at all and II he prefers
1t and has the money to pay the tee demanded
hs may simply state his wishes TO the
procurer, who WIN himself make out complaint,
manufacture the necessary anidavits, push the case
through the court and forward the applicant decree
OF divorce IN an incredibly short period
There Is probably no more complete system OF
fraud and outrage In existence than some OF the
divorce procuring concerns OF this city II IL not TO
be inferred that every lawyer who is particularly
successful procuring divorces is knave, for
spectacle attorneys very careful how they pro
ceed IN such cases aud do not take them without
good evidence Of the truthfulhess or the complaint
made by the applicant. But there s a class
Of men who make regular business of
procuring divorces. who keep about them
poV 70 F,n
evidence. and VINO viii get decree OF divorce for
any person al short notice. Not only are false af
davis made out, but judicial signatures forged
and, in nine cases out OF ten, the credulous appi.
cant receives for his money q decree Of divorce
which VIII not stand moment when disputed by
regular legal proceedings. Scarcely day passes
without the publication Of suits setting aside such
fraudulent divorces; ou. these form very small
portion or the divorces obtained by manufactured
ana Quietly procares a divorce divorce also. In
preference to making fight, unless money or the
possession OF children Is Involved The divorce pro-
curer does not care whether the decree be valid or
not He agrees to get decree for a certain sum OF
money, and does not trouble himself about subse-
quent counter proceedings unless there Is chance
for another lee. Should there be an investigation
the parties represented as witnesses IN the aidavts
can never found, for the signatures all bogus
and the defendant must content himself with getting
the decree set aside without tue satisfaction OF pun
lshing the perpetrators Of the outrage
There Is one class OF applicants. however, who
are always furnished by The procurer With genuine
divorce. THIS Includes married persons who may
society is such TO make 1t certain that the de-
fendant would contest divorce decree unless based
upon positive and genuine evidence Oh adultery.
Such parties II living New York, generally insist
upou having divorce IN conformity with the laws
OF the State, and willing to pay the procurer
sum sufrciently large to induce him to work up the
case In elaborate and perfect manner Two Illus
trations VIII suice to show the exact nature OF this
class, and the means employed by the procurer In
obtaining a valid divorce.
First Is the husband who Is convinced OF his wfc's
indellty but has no positive evidence Of crllnalty
on her part, aud apples TO the Irocurer t. make
free man OF him. The procurer details detectives
who are always kept 1T hand for such cases, to
watch the suspected vile, and, nnany II the hus-
bands susplconsare lust the guilty pair are caught
ony indiscree and Is simply rir.ing the desectives
are prepared 10 swear that they Witnessed criminal
conduct on her part. and Will fngeniously manuiac-
ture out or circumstances fayorin2 suspicion posi-
tive afldavlts OF guilt impossible to dlsprove III
court There Is no doubt that many cases have
occurred where Jealous husband has been divorced
upon the convection OF his wife OF adultery when she
was perfectly innocent, the procurer perpctrating
THIS outrage upon both parties merely TO make his
fee.
Next Ia the wife who desires a divorce. but has no
grounds OF suspicion that her husband is uniathfu
She may be IN love with smother man, or may have
no other reason for separation tnan the ordinary
troubles OF the married state. she communicates
with divorce procurer, and II prepared TO pay
handsomely Is assured that the divorce will be OBJ
tanned. The unsuspecting husband may be perfectly
upright In his conduct ana 50 Respectable IN all his
be discovered 10 weave INTO evidence Of adultery,
and the pr0curer sends fascinating woman to
entrap INN. She Is beautiful, accomplished
and apparently very paragon OF propri-
ETY.. She plays her game with e0naummate
adroitness aud sooner or later involves the
the procurer convict MIN OF adultery. tho decree
OF divorce issued by the court and the unfortunate
husband - eft TO pay the bills and mediate upon
the baseness OF mankind.
These cases are among the least villanous opera
tons OF the regular divorce prccurer, aud divorces
thus obtained cannot be set aside. Fortunately they
are comparatively few In number, but the other
class OF divorces includes innulnerable cases and
invoves complete system or perjury and forgery
from beginning TO end. To ILLUSTRATED
Mrs. John smith, residing In New York, writes to
the divorce procurer tnaL her husband iitreaed
her tnat she suspects him OF adultery, ana that
wants a divorce. The procurer replies that II she
certain sum OF money and pay another amount upon
the divorce being obtained her wishes shall be graft
ned. Next Efal brings the complaint TO the pro-
curer, who calls Ia his professional perjurers and
acquaints them with the contents OF the complaint
IT. however, 1t Is not strong enough the pr0curer
makes out another, FORCES the signature OF Mrs.
Smith. and, enclosing the new complaint In docu-
ment signed with bogus name IA PLAINTIFFS attor-
ney sends 1t 10 The referee appointed by the court
take testimony In divorce SUITS The law requires that
the defendant shal be summoned TO appear; and to
get this difficulty the pr0curer fills out the fol-
lowing form OF AFFIDAVIT and attaches 10 IL bogus
nane.-
spperior Court ~ a. cSy q yrs Fork. -, being duly
annexed the defendant In this action
delivering TO and leaving WITH said defendant -, per-
sonay, copy OF said ANNEXED summons n In the
the aforesaid to be ths defendant this
action 49,, 49, -