The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-17
THE HAPPY LAND FOR UNHAPPY
MARRIED COUPLES.

THE HAPPY LAND FOR UNHAPPY
MARRIED COUPLES.
The Indianapolis Journal of November 10
says
The divorce laws of our State, and the
manner in which they have been administered
by our courts, have brought lasting disgrace
upon Indiana II is useless for us to say
that we are imposed upon by unscrupulous
parties from other States. It is notorious
fact that our laws invite people o f all nations
to come to Indiana and rid themselves of
irksome marital bonds From Russia France,
England, Germ any, the Canadas, and from
every State in the Union, discontented hus-
bands and wives have focked to Indiana to
procure divorces. As the law stood for some
years, an applicant for divorce could file
petition the day he came to the State, and in
a few weeks have a decree releasing him
from his marriage VOWS. Divorce seekers
hunted in couples. 1t frequently happened
that a lady would arrive in Indianapolis
with male travelling companion, file her
petition for divorce from an absent husband
the same day, procure decree dissolviug the
marriage contract, based upon the evidence
of the gentleman friend, and marry her wit
ness before leaving town-all of which was
accomplished within period of five or six
weeks celebrated actress filed a petition
asking divorce from her husband on the
ground of alleged cruelty. The charge was
sustained by proof that, while coming from
San Francisco to New York on an ocean
steamer, the lady found her affinity in a gay
and festive young gentleman who was in the
habit of quoting Byron to her on deck while
her husband was in his lonely state-r room. A
sharp reprimand from her cruel husband
brought tears to the little woman's eyes, and
for this an Indiana Judge gave her a decree
which released her from the insupportable
| tyranny of her iege lord. Another case:-A
| lady travelling to Indiana in company with
her second choice in pursuit of divorce
and q second marriage, had testified her
faith in the liberality of our laws and
in the honor of her future husband in a very
unequivocal manner. The judge in whose
court the case was pending had fit of judi
cial stubbornness, and under the depressing
influences of an indigestible dinner had de-
MED the application. The poor woman was
In q dilemma, and the plan of escape by
Swallowing both horns" had not vet been
promulgated by the Sentinel She appealed
to her attorney, who informed her that JUS
tice and divorces could be dispensed by the
| judicial fiat 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 disposed of an
important case the evening previous
in hasty manner, and that, after con-
sidering the case more fully, he was
satisfied that the petitioner was en-
titled to q divorce. 1t was decreed ac-
cordingly. The lady and her witness
were married in haste and the happy pair left
the city with an exalted opinion of Indiana
| justice. Nearly every court house in Indiana
has been the scene of such farces. Our
Legislature attempted to modify these evils
| by an enactment requiring applicants for
divorces to be bona fide residents of the
State one year before petitioning for divorce.
| This has lessened, though it has not fully met,
| the evil. Our laws allow divorces for too
many and too slight causes. The list of speci-
| fed causes are:-1. Adultery; 2. Impotency;
3. Abandonment; 4. Cruelty; 8. Drunkenness;
| G. Failure of husband to make reasonable
provision for his family; 7. The conviction
of either party after marriage of an infa-
nous crime; 8. Any other cause for which
the court shall deem it proper that a divorce
| should be granted. This last, we take it, is
looming it strong" for even this tune of free
love, free religion, and general social olsen
thralment. Some legislation is needed to
make our State less attractive to divorce
hunters. Some one has suggested an amend
ment to our laws which would go far toward
bringing about the desired change. 1t is
this:-Let the law provide that no Indiana
Court shall decree a divorce for any cause
that has originated beyond the limits of oul
own State. We are aware that such an
enactment would impose hardships in some
cases, but these would be greatly over
balanced by the good results which woult
! flow from the chan pe