The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-22
THE CONGER DIVORCE SUIT.

THE REFEREE REPORTS IN FAVOR OF THE DE-
TENDANr-HIs SON OPPOSED TO TIE con-
FlRMATIoN OF THE REPORT.
Tho referee to whom referred the matter OF the
application OF Jane McCrea Conger Tor absolute d.
vorce the ground of adultery against Abraham b.
Conger, submitted report for confirmation yesterday
In the Supreme Court Kings county, before Judge
Gilbert in favor OF the defendant. evidence being
elected 10 show crminality on his part.
Tho confirmation OF the report was opposed by
Mr.. Clarence Conger. son oil tho dcicnaant, who
said that he objected 10 the report being confirmed
on the ground that II showed bias and prejudice The
misconduct OF tho pArticeps criminis, he said had
been msjudged by the referee, for it had shown
that sue received visits from the defendant 10 her
husbands absence. The charges had boon brought
before The Prosbytery. but tney had refused inves
tisate them.
Mr.. Robert Soweii counsel for the defendant, said
that this suit brought by lady to loose the
OF matrimony which had existed tor upward OF forty
years. The referee. Mr. Kctcnum, of the plain
tins selection, and tho hearing mad gone on oil
last summer From the FIRST the referee was preju-
diced against tho minister's wife Mr.. ketchum was
unimpcachcd ana unimpeachablc
The particulars OF the case have been published
heretofore. The referee says:-
But tho defendant accused by his son OF the crimo
charged nero. and told to visiting the parsons.
tie was younger SOU edasa,ed able and II the pro
the many ana d.ughters accussoni. ed to
and wr.h and resolve. TO-
be aneSn.rosa ane speoa h % eh.o ne would
suit and vii is sarrows.
described the relations OF the defendant,
the with h hs o %'A n , .as
mag returned subject The deiondants eoa-
Inc adieuiiy. !. ground ainoay q thus
ns sSs an ra ana MS
hlisu uu ind IA tJnus i,r a
family through lite 1t his duty protect preserve
name ana with "ids margin Of mortgage. AND and
ne engassd extensively IN stock raising ana farm
failure and the disrcpute which follows it, FOR
while "Ail that behold begin 70 him who began
eSdrsa to ausnce AND ku9wns .na .It It's
source WAS Their mothers estate snouc upon the dseov.
be first distressed ana then angry.
father confidence respect For in Gecsmbr or
Noyemoe s4 tue Younger sou became convinced of his
sninI ,hs his pin %"nss upGn her Ia h open
iicn had become necessary to stop the waste 10
the plaintiff estate np"n the paraosf Of her husband
ceipt given Wy the defendant Tor REM. paid by
part OF show the defendant! expended
y sn upon OF nh ,hs s ~. been
plaintiff In MS an .rsImeat has dressed the charge
charge. and also that the minister's wiie been utility
with sIs men whose names we been Connected here with
hers The hrst Is no longer asserted. Inc
not upon the evidence, believe
The principal witness for she plaintiff was
man named Palmer who ID seventy years OF ago
ana employed about the minister's house.
He SAID he MD himself dumb w.iter
Tor iour hours, ana while there he witnessed
gross Improperly between Mr. Conger and Ms
Northrup Though the Witness remained IN the en-
poy OF Mr. Northrap Tor two three weeks after TINS
occurrence he did not tell OF IL Tor a year utter
the Affair, whon ne informed Mr.. Conger's
son II Since then Palmer has been
indicted for perjury. Tho relcreo dIscredits
the testimony oi this witness. Testimony
was also adduced to tho effect that Mrs Northrup had
committed herself with u former pupil the name Of
the youth IN question being withheld. There were
other accusations, which were also discarded. Tho
reations OF the defendant head trustee in the
churcn, sunday school ana district school, OF which
the ludy named was teacher, brought him often TO
the MINISTER'S house, and there was no IMPROPERLY
in his visits there In conclusion the referee ADDS -
1t has OF the
of abhorred crime. called some times In
~estmvny most OpproDrous quite audible
haps even 10 her. taoush partially deaf; aud hear
among other things her words kindness toward the
young children who had been her scholars whose
susan Conkin. hal given adverse testimony this
sternly contrguicted by her
am OF opinion that the defendant is guilty Of auy
OF the acts vi adultery charged in :he complaint
the co-rcsDonuent Is not guilty o crlninu
been connected with hersin evil reports against her.
Judge Gilbert has reserved decision on tho mo.
ton 10 confirm the report vi the referee.