Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1870-11-25


The people of Indiana are coming
/ to realize the tendency of their loose
system Of procuring divorces. The
Indianapolis Journal says:
The divorce laws of our State. and
/ the manner in which they have been
administered by our courts, have
brought lasting disgrace upon lndi-
ana. il is useless for us to say that
we are imposed upon by unscTupu-
lOus parties from o'her STAGES. 1t is
a notorious fact that our laws invite
people Of all nations to come
to Indiana and rid themselves Of
irksOme martial bonds. From Rus.
sia, France. Germany, England. the
Canadas, and from every State in the
Union, Disconnected husbands and
wives have flocked TO Indiana to pro-
cure divorces. AS the law stood for
some years, an applicant iTr di'
vorCe could file n petition the day he
came to the State, and in - few weeks
have q decree releasing him from his
marriage VOWS. Divorce seekers
hunted in couples. 1T frequently
happened that a lady would arrive
in Indianapolis with male travel
ling companion, file her petition for
divorce from an absent husband
the same dey-prOcure n decree dis
solving the marriage contract, based
upon the evidence Of the gentleman
friend, and marry her witness before
leaving town all of which was ac-
cOmpIished within u period of five
or aix weeks. A celebrated actress
filed a petition asking a divorce from
her husband on the ground of al.
legged cruelty. The charge was sUs-
tanned 10y proof that while coming
from San Francisco 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 his
lonely State-TOOm. A sharp repri.
mand from her cruel husband br0't
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 iieGe
lord. Another case: A lady trav-
cling to Indiana in company with
her second choice in pursuit OF dl-
vorcc and second marriage, had tes-
titled her faith i'm the libcrality Of
our laws and in the honor of her flu
ture husband in a very cquivocal
manner. The Judge, in whose
court her case was pending, had a
fit of judicial stuhb0ruCss, and under
the depressing influence Of an in~
digestible dinner had denied the APP
plicatiOn. The poor woman was in
a dilemma, and the plan of escape by
"swallowing both horns" had not
yet been promulgated by the Sentinel
She appealed to her attorney, who
divorces could be dispensed Ivy the
judicial fiat alone. She left her at
tOrRey in tears. The next morning
His Honor came upon the bench and,
before the reading of the minutes,
said he had disposed OF an imports
ant case, the evening previous, III a
haSty manner, and that after c0usld-
ering the Clge more fully he WAS sat
isfied that the'petitioner'was entitled
to a divorce. 1t was deCrecd accord
ingly. The lady and heR witness
were married III haste, and the hap.
by pair left with an exalted Opin-
ion Of Indiana justice. Nearly
every Court House in Indiana has
been the scene of such farCts. Our
Legislature attempted to modify
these evils by an enactment requiring
applicants Cor divorce to. be bo"G Fsje
resi- leuts Of the State one year before
petitiOning for divorce. This has
IessOned, though ii has not wholly
met the evil. Our laws allow di-
vOrces for too many and too slight
causes. The list of specified causes
are: |. Adultery; ,. impotcmcy; 3.
AbGndOnment;4 4. Cruelty ;5'Drunk-
enncss 6. Failure of husband to
make reasonable provision for his
family Z. The conviction Of either
party, after marriage. Of nm infamous
crime; s. "Any Other c0"2c for 1nhich
the CcI.'t &h0N iccm IL IrOpfr TINT a
djCOrcc ShOuld be gruufci.' Ihis
last, we take it, is Coming Il stIorg'
for even this time Of free love, free
religion, and general socini diSin.
thraliment. Some legislation j.
needed 10 make our state less attract
i've to divorce hunters. Some one
has suggested an amuudmc;t to our
laws which would go far toward
bringing about the desired chanEC.-
1t j. this: Jet the law provide til t
no Indiana court shall decree di-
vorce for any cause that has OrigiUa,
ted beyond the limits Of our own
State. We are aware tina: such att
enactment would impose hard,hip7
in some eases, hut these would I've
greatly Overbalanccd by the good
results that would flow from the
ChaUru