The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-18
TIE DIV0ROE Ia WS or INDIANA

lHE LII FOHOH LII NO UT INOIAHd.
An snterprising correspondent of a Western
paper has done signal service to society by
raking up and publishing the law of Indiana
under the operation of which so much scan
dal has arisen in domestic life throughout
the country. The law in question was passed
rs long ago as May, 1852, and bears the title
of "An Act regulating the granting of di-
vorces, notification of marriages, and de-
crees and orders of court incident thereto"
Many Of its provisions are as fair and wise as
could be desired, in view of the fact that
modern civilization demands that, for certain
causes, it is both proper and desirable that
the marriage relation should be terminated
before death. But in other respects the
law is of the loosest character conceivable,
and it is not matter of surprise that incom.
patible ladies like Mrs. Mcfarland Richard
son should eagerly embrace the opportunity
which its looseness offers for shaking off the
yoke of matrimony.
The first provision affecting the granting of
O divorce exhibits the characteristic looseness
Of tho whole act, although it was only by
direct violation of its letter as we'll as spirit
that the Rev. o. B. rockingham was ena-
bled, in tho famous death-bed scene at the
Astor House, to render thanks for what Rich
ardson and Mrs. Mcfarland were yet to be
! TO each other, in addition to what they had
Z been to each other in the past. The section
requires that any person who files a petition
for divorce shall have been at the time "a
bona tide resident of the State one year
previous to such fling This is we'll
enough, except, perhaps, with respect to the
length of the period of residence required;
but If it were enforced in all cases, vast
number of incompatible couples would still
be laboring under the depression of their in
compatibility. Another requirement prelimi-
nary to the filing of the petition is that the
petitioner shall be s'a resident of the county"
in which the petition is filed at the time of
filing. Nothing, however, is said about a
bona tde residence in such county, and the
door therefore stands wide open for all the
i incompatibility which has bona Jide resi-
dence in any part Of the State to walk out of
it in some obscure corner where divorces are
> dispensed by hberal-minded judge, in the
midst of q practically unsettled country. It
Ia, perhaps, excusable on the part of the peo-
pie of Indiana that they have taken the pre-
caution to increase their own facilities over
those which they offer to the outside world
But whom we come to the section which
Z prescribes the causes for which divorce may
be granted, we encounter still more amazing
laxty. Among them are the following
abandonment for one year.
"Cruei treatment OF either party BY the other.
.Habitual Drunkenness OF either party, or the
failure o. the husband to make reasonable provision
"Any other cause for which the Court shall deem
II proper that o divorce should be granted"
The first three causes here enumerated are
assuredly very liberal, and their strictest en-
forcement would afford relief to an amount
Of incompatibility that it is depressing TO con-
template. But Indiana goes the whole animal
while about the disgraceful business, and does
nothing by halves Therefore divorce may
be obtained for 'any other oeuse that The
Court shaA deem IL proper that a dioorcs
shoul6 BE- granted" What tremendous loop.
hole is here presented, through which victim
of incompatibility can vault; what perfect
paradise is here opened up to those who are
weary Of their welded life, or anxious Ia