The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-12
TIE DIVORCE LAWS OF EyDsaya.
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From the Indianapolis Journal, Nov. TO-
The divorce laws OF our state ana tine manner In
which they have been administered by courts
have brought lasting disgrace upon Indiana. IL ~
INSCRIPTIONS parties from other states. IL IS a
notorious TACT that our laws invite people OF all
nations 10 come 10 Indiana ana riI themselves OF
irksone marital bonds. From Russia, France.
England, Germany, The Canadas and from every
State in the union discoBiented husbands and
wives have locked 10 Indiana TO procure divorces.
As The law stood for some years. an appli-
day lie came TO the state and u few
weeks have decree releasing him from his marriage
vows. Divorce seekers hunted III couples II me-
auently happened that q lady would arrive IN Indian
apolis with male travelling companion ile her pc
tition Tor divorce from al absent husband The same
day, procure decree dissolying the marriage con-
tract, based upon the evidence OF The gentleman
friend and marry her witness before leaving town
ali OF which was accomplished within period OF
fyc or SIX weeks. A celebrated actress lied petit
ton asking divorce lron her husband on the
ground OF alleged cruelty. The charge was sustained
by proof tnat While coming from San IRAN
CISCO to New York on an ocean steamer
the lady found her affinity in gay and
festive young gentleman who was IN the
habit Of quoting Byron to her on deck While her
husband was In MS lonely stateroona. sharp rep
rmand rom her cruel husband brought tears to The
hit e womans eyes, aud for this an indiana Judge
gave her q decree which released her from the il-
suppor,aDle tyranny OF her lie2e lord. Another
case:-A lady travelling to Indiana in company with
her second choice, lii pursuit OF divorce aal q sec-
one marriage, had testified her faith In the liber.
atty of cur laws, and In The honor OF her future
in whose count her case was pending had q iL OF
stubhornness, and under tie depressing Influences
Of an kQigestble dinner had denied line application
The poor woman was IN Il dilemma, and the
plan OF escape by swallowing both horns,
had not yet been promulgated by The Sentinel she
appealed to her attorney, who informed her that
ustice and divorces could be dispensed by he Judi
clal as alone. She left her attorney IN tears. The
next morning his Honor came upon the bench and
before the reading OF the minutes, said he had 1ls.
posed oil an important case tic previous evening ia
q hasty manner and mat after considering the case
more fully he satisfied that the petitioner was
entitled to a divorce. IL was decrced accordingly.
rae lady and her witness married In haste
and the happy pair lett the city with an exalted
in Indiana mas been the scene OF such farces. Our
Legislature attempted to modify these evils by an
enactment requiring applicants for divorces to
be Sod RE residents of the State one year before
petitoning for divorce. This has iessened
Though IL has not fully met the eyi. Our laws allow
divorces for too many and too slight causes. The
list OF specified causes are:-l. adultery; 2 impo-
iency; 5 abandonment; 4, cruelty; s. drunkenness:
6, failure OF husband to make reasonable provision
for his amiy T. the conviction or either party alter
marriage OF an In aaous crime; s, any other cause
for which the court SHAH deem IL proper that a
divorce should be granted. This Last, we take It,
is s'coHlag IL strongn Tor even this time OF free love
free religion and general social dsentiralmeat
Some legislation is needed to make our Stale less
attractive to divorce hunters. Some one has sur-
gestcd an amendment TO our laws which would 90
FAR towards bringing about the desired change. ID
Is this:-Let the law provide that no indiana court
shall decree q divorce FOR any cause that has orul
mated beyond the limits OF our own State we are
ayyare that such an enactment would Impose hard.
ships IN SOM cases. but these would be greatly
oyerbalanced 10y the good results which would now
.rns. fl...