The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-26
THE DIVORCE TRADE.
THE CORRUPT PRACTICES OF THE UTAH PRO-
BATE COURTS oyEREAULED.

THE CORRUPT PRACTICES OF THE UTAH PRO-
BATE COURTS ovERHAULED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp.1
SALT LAKE. sept rs. 1871
The Tribune today contains the following
committee Of the Grand Jury appointed to ex-
the records OF Salt Lake County Probate Court
concluded It's abors last night, having discovered
q vast amount OF judicial corruption In the
matter Of granting fraudulent divorces. The report
OF the Grand Jury shows that 4o4 have been
determined by this Mormon tribunal within the
past twelve months, and that noasy all these
Illicit divorces obtained by parties not
residing within the Territory. II II IS
made to appeal to tho satisiaction OF tho
Court that tho plaintiff resident OF the Territory
or desires to become one tho Utah statute assumes
" give the Probate Judge Jurisdiction over the case
incompatioty oil temper IS statutory cause Tor
divorce, the language Of the law being
When it shall be made to to the satisfaction aud
peace union together and that their welfare requires
separation 6c the Judge shall grant tho decree sought
The examination by the Grand Jurys committee
will develop the fact that several members OF the Salt
Lake Bar have been engaged in tins practice II will
practising ms an attorney IN these cases 10 hrs own
court and that his clcrk and deputy cierk have like
wise been engaged in illegal divorce business
now IT WAS DOM.
Divorces will be shown 10 have boon procured by
plaintiffs who reside abroad by simply fling q com
Sctune IOTtu CAUSE VI accompanied
by affidavit that the suiior desires becoming
n resident Of Utah. The summons to dccn-
dant requiring him or hcr to answer within ten
days Is then issued and mailed 10 such Post 0dce
dress as tho complainant has by private motto desig
mated AT The expiration OF tho ton days the decree
granted In numerous the nes examined BY tho
committee show that divorces have been granted within
two days after filing tho complaint, and several DEGREES
have been entered upon the record the day Of
fling complaint Other divorces wore found To- have
been granted the mutual application OF both parties
Interested In other cases where answer has been
made by demurrer to the jurisdiction Of the court
decree has nevertheless been granted to the paintn
There are twenty probate Justices In tho territory, in
all OF whose courts this business has been carried
for tho past twenty five years. though actively
until the law OF Congress, known AS the Poland bill,
passed June, 1874, gavo the probate courts OF Utah
concurrent jurisdiction with the district courts in
divorce matters; but during the past three
years Il Is believed that divorces granted
IN this Territory number thousand, and
that parties In every S,alo and Territory in the
Union have been victmized. The Gentle ctizcns
manifest strong feeling Of Indignation against the
Probate Courts and those who arc known TO have
been engaged in tho famous divorce business. The
Grand ury make their report tho Cours Wcdnos.
day. but viii detail only few OF the whole number of
cases TO show the manner OF granting divorces