The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-04-10

The Chicago Inter Ocean recently
published an account Of interviews had
by q young woman who dared" with
the various lawyers of Chicago who ad
vertise their ability 10 procure divorces,
Pretending TO be married woman
seeking divorce, she tells the causes
assigned by herself, and the promises
and prices asked, giving the names OF
the contracting lawyers. To the frsI
she said her husband wss kind, treated
her well. and gave her what she wished
but she was tired OF him and sorry she
had married him. The lawyer said
that Was reason enough, and he would
get divorce in q month without letting
her husband know what she was about
for one hundred and nfty dollars-ten
dollars in advance.
To the second she told the same tale,
except that her husband was too de-
mestic In his tastes, wanting to stay ai
home, while she wished for gaity, par.
ties and theatre. Her reasons were
pronounced good, and divorce prom
ised In sixty days. price seventy-hve
A third was told that her husband
was kind, treated her well, and she had
nothing against him, but was older
than she, very quiet, and always want
ed his own way. Divorce promised Ia
twenty-eight days. price forty-two dol
lars.
A fourth said that IL she was unhap.
py that was enough, and she could
have divorce in twenty-five days for
eighty dollars, half in advance.
The dfth divorce broker was woman
She was told that the applicant could
swear to nothing against her husband q
character; though she had no particu.
lar affection for him he had made her
respect him. She was assured that
that was of no consequence, and a di-
vorce conld be had in q month for $50
in three weeks for sl75. and in two
weeks for 600.
In all cases, the victim OF this doub-
ledyed villiany was to have no notice
OF its concoction. The Inducements 10
the libertine to accomplish his infa
nous purposes through the marriage,
with the intention OF ending his game
with divorce as soon az he tires Of his
toy, are not the least of the atrocious
features of this satanic business.
The Detroit Free Press quotes O dis
tinguished judge OF that city, where
seven hundred and -fifty-two cases for
divorce have been filed within -four
years, as saying, 1--WE have fallen up
on an era OF divorce and the sooner the
courts begin to scan that class of cases,
as they are bound to, the sooner will
the present disgraceful condition oi
thtn0s hantn tA xaan1 The he.
OF divorce suits is perfectly appalling
to all persons who have any notion oi
the sacredness OF the marriage relation.
Families are broken mp; and there has
sprung mp q sentiment of utter hippan-
cy concerning marriage obligations.
This remark npon the fippancy with
which this serious subject is treated
finds q remarkable illustration in the
Inter Ocean itself. Within a week af.
ter it's publication of this correspond.
ent's revelations. on which il comment.
ed with Just indignation. il publishes a
long, humorous article about q Brook
lyn divorce case, in which Mrs. Sprai
wants to be separated from her husband
because ne hit her on the head with Q
pie. The divorce is said 10 hinge or
the question whether il was mince ol
pumpkin PIE. The subject ha'
grown too serious for joking, and We
hope TO see the press Of the whole
couAtry uniting in demands upon the
law makers everywhere TO put on the
brakes, and stop this voful decline iu
public morality; To make at least 9
stand in favor Of the sanctity oi
marriage and the security Of homes.
The DEGREES obtained by these di
vorce lawyers are granted, il is said, by
Territorial courts under tcrrestria
laws, and though they might not be re
cognized in some OF the States, they
necessarily have some measures OF va
lidity. These courts are subject to til,
laws OF Congress, and must be reached
by the action OF that body IL the Terri
torial Legislatures will not reform
them.
Since this was written we are in re
csipt Of the New York World. with tn
opinion OF Judges Davis, Brady ant
Daniels Of the Supreme court Of New
York, disbarring one William ii. Gale
lawyer, for enticing a woman into |
hotel, registering her as his wife unde
an assumed name, and keeping he
locked mp in room all night, TO max
an apparent case OF infdelity, tha
might be sworn 10 by witness for di
vorce. The husband was 80 divorced
bnt Judge Davis, who granted il, oI
the facts appearing, set aside the de
cree. and his action was affirmed on ap
peal. The court investigated the Law
yer's conduct. and. being satisfied O
his guilt. annulled his license An,
struck his name from the lists Of tn
profession he had disgraced and de
graded. IL is comforting 10 know tina
even one OF these profaners OF law ha
come To grief.