The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-14
MRS. CONGER' DIVORCE SUIT.
Justice Gilbert's Decision ConArmIus the Re
port OF the Referee.


In the divorce suit in which Mrs. Mary
Rutgers McCrae Conger is plaintiff. and ex-
State Senator Abraham b. Conger defendant.
Justice Gilbert confirmed yesterday the report
OF the referee. Mr.. Edgar Ketchum. which was
In favor OF the defendant The plaintiffs at
torney. Clarence Conger the defendants son.
objected to the confirmation OF the referees
report. alleging that Mr.. Ketchum being of
pure mind himself. had failed to appreciate the
value OF the testimony which had been offered
against Mr.. Conger. his father The case is
unusually interesting. The couple were mar
ried in 1886 by the Rev. Dr. Krebs in this city.
the wife being the heiress OF Col Henry Rut-
gers Of New York. who left her eighty lots of
land. the rents Of which amounted to from
$4,000 to $4,000 a year. Mr. Conger became a
tenant by courtesy Oh the birth Of child and
became entitled to and fully received the in
come.
farm at Hayerstraw \. y. stocked L with valu.
called Walibere and lie owned the ' property mfy
Ne was one OF the most respected residents of
'ho r., COUNTY; u. pastor Of the church was
wife Margaret Gregory Norihrup in the parson-
age. Mrs Northrup is the person who is Inpli-
Gated in the charge, on which the suit for di-
There was no trouble in the Conger family
until November. 1873 when Mr. Concer was
thrown from his carriage. and was SO severely
injured that he could not attend TO business.
4 son Clarence took oh argc of his Office in the
upie D ~ IN ms ETY. and found on
managed his wlies fine estate. and that he was
almost hopeless bank rupt. There were lis
ana Judgements against him amounting to
$1,000 on record. II was in consequence Of
that the divorce pro ,eedings were begun
ms son having ssertcd that the ac-
9n b was mo hbser5sary to stop the waste
alleged paramount. The complaint accuses
Mr.. Conger of acts Of inhdeity with Mrs. North
rup. "a tho parsonage at Waldberg, from Janu-
airy, 1874. to the beginning OF the action, in sew
eral places II this city; and at Cochet9n. N Y.
Northrup In now preaching.
me plaiInif swe ,ar to her Ignorance Of the
day one OF Mr.. Congers sons undertook to Ice,
lure him on the alleged intimacy with the
PR. hers WIZ? and Mr.. C2nger resented his
father, was obliged TO ieaye his home and to
i is alone in THIS ci,y. The minister and his
hent OF excitement oyer the scandal.
The case before the referee was full OF dra-
Ireieree notes 10 ms report. The suit was con
Quoted entirely TX the sons. the wife not mp
pearing at ail The ministers wife, who is
deal. attended faithfully exhibiting much pa
tence toward her arcusers. and touching The
referees heart by little acts of kindness to the
nesses against her. Tho only direct testimony
against the defendant was that Of John Palmer
the referee concluded that Palmer had sworn
Ihlsely, anu testimony was given 10 show that
Palmer was drunken tramp. and that he had
bAid that he wls 10 get ~ day and house for
lie Tor his testimony. There were 200 pages
Of testimony taken before the referee and
twelve hours were consumed IN the argument
The referee. who. singularly, Is the Same per-
son who forty-ilvn years ago enrolled the
parchment which gave the plainuifi the title to
her rlrh estate, eAonerates the defendant on all
Charges oil inhdellty md wholly cXonerates
Mrs Margaret drrgory Northrup. In the arcu-
mutation of disastcr Mt Maldbcrg the tax col
lector sold the library uf Mr.. COnger for n song
ana the ShcriH sold some short horn cattle tnr
slOOO, when were at once resod for sl2OuO
and $50 thoroughbred horses for 50 900 which
were resOld for ,25OOO
Justice Gilbert in his opinion says that he
hnds nothing which would justify the withhold.
Ing ol the judgment directed by the referee.
There was SUM Hlcnt evidence to sustain his
conclusions, and he did not fool called upon to
rehcind ms determination. That must be done
II ~ all by an appellate court.