The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-11-01
Utah Divorces.

little Way mo the SecESe FcCOIuS VI INC
'Prohaee Courts of that Territory It is
stated that nearly 5000 divorces have
been grantedln four counties of Utah
since Jan. /, fS77, and oth counties
present quite as formidable a record.
The Grand Jury at Salt Lake City have
been investigating the records, and it is
intimated their report will show that
the absolute facts of the case are worse
even than rumor has made tliem.A The
investigation brings to light some Gu
rious things, and one of the most sig
nificant is that the greatest number Of
divorces are granted in counties most
difficult of access, and least likely to be
visited by persons of an inquiring turn
of mind. The success of the divorce
business in Utah depends upon its Sc
crecy, and the further the court is from
railroad and telegraph communication
the better.
The motlets operandi as described by
our Salt Lake City correspondent is
about as follows: A man or woman in
Chicago, New York, or Boston, makes
an affidavit that he or she intends to be-
come a resident of Utah. The man
states that he cannot live peaceably or
pleasantly with his wife; that he has
been married SO many years, and that
his wife, when last heard from, was liv-
ing at such place. The Judge orders
that notice of the husbands complaint
be served on the wife, with ten days to
answer I'M. The court being located in
remote county of Utah, the time men-
toned, even if the notice is served
promptly, is seldom sufficient for the
wife to answer in person. If she re-
sided in Boston or New York, the ex-
pense of trip to Utah and of fighting
the case in court would be at least
$500. Not many women would under
take such a journey, and not many for
saken wives would have at command
the means to undertake it, even if they
had the courage. This is bad enough
as it stands, but in many cases it has
been shown that notices were sent pur-
posely to wrong places, the wife not
receiving, in fact, any notice except
that which came in the shape of bill
of divorce. In the case of a wife max
ing complaint, much the same pro-
gramme is followed, the woman in
some cases hiring q room for six
months at some point in the county,
and leaving an empty trunk in it, the
better to carry her point.
The home cases are managed differ
emily. Where man and wife agree to a
separation, there are no difficulties in
the way. Where husband has means
to compelca wife to take any particular
course of action, the lawyers manage
the case easily. The records show that
| in many cases man and wife have
eaten breakfast together as the heads of
a household, and have had a bill of di-
vorce before dinner. In fact, there
seems to be no limit to the practice of
knavery as the Probate Courts of Utah
are now organized. The privilege of
procuring Il divorce, with or without
cause, is open to the discontinued or
unfaithful of the whole Union.
| While such an opportunity is offered
to the people of the different States, IL
linois, or Ohio or New York may pass
strict laws as to divorces in vain.
Those who desire to secure divorces for
unworthy ends will avoid the law by re-
moving temporarily to Utah, and &C.
conalish without difficulty what the
law aims to prevent. The practice in
Utah not only breaks down the safe
guards in that Territory, but, in fact,
breaks them down in all the States.
The dcmoralizing influence is felt as
much in Chicago or New York as in
Salt Lake City; is not confined to one
locality, but becomes 4 general or Ma.
tional evil.
The records show that the reports as
| to the divorce business have not beer
exaggerated. The story in it's details
seems almost beyond belief, and the
schemes and tricks of the divorce law.
yers, who have been for years direct
ing, in a quiet way, the attention of the
public to an easy means of securing Iii
vorces make up not the least. startling
part of the narrative. E....
1t seems incredible that such reigr
of fraud should exist in this country; il
is worse than criminal neglect that thu
existing evil, now appearing in all it
defor1nity and extending its perniciou'
influence, should not be crushed out a
once. 1t is hard thing to say, but i
must be said, that such a state of affairs
could not exist without collision on tn,
part of the Judges and officers of tn.
courts. Investigation will meet will
much opposition from Judges and law
yers who thrive on the divorce business
but the work SO well commenced should
be pressed to the end. When the rec
ord is at last before the public, in it.
completeness, showing all the outrage!
upon law and decency, then may Con
| gress be influenced to act vigorously, a
the circumstances demand, and inaugu
rate a sweeping reform. The law es
tablishing Probate Courts should be re
vised. 1t provisions having been abused
it becomes the duty of Congress to tax,
| up the matter at once, and, by decisive
action, blot out system as ubiquitous
almost as that of polygamy itself.
| If Utah was State, its people wOul(
be held responsible. But, as in the Ter
ritories all legislative enactments arr
/ subject to revision by Congress, the PEG
pie in this case will hold Congress re
sponsible. The evil, as we have said
is not confined to Utah. 1t has becom,
National in its influence, and, if no
crushed out, must be looked upon as &
National disgrace.
The courts in Indiana and some Other
States have held these divorces invalid
and have given a temporary check t.
the business thereby, but it can hardly
be doubted that other courts, in Other
States, will confirm their legality, ant
this uncertainty will but add to the con
fusion and trouble.
Congress should take hold of the mat
ter, and, by thorough investigation
fasten first the blame where it belongs
and next provide means for the com
plete correction of the evil.-Chicdgt
Inter- Ocean.
Character Of the Tribes Of Equatorial
Africa.
Mr.. HENRY M. STANLEY has writer
letter to the N. Y. Herald, in which
he gives the following sketch of the
tribes of Central Africa:
"Tn East Central Africa the people