The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-08
DIVORCES WITHOUT LAW OR MARRIAGE.

A reporter of the New York World has
Just exposed the nefarous process by
which the so-called divorce lawyers pro-
cure divorces for their clients annulling
the marriage contract. The public, on
very many occasions within the past few
years, has been largely indebted to the
indefatigable newspaper reporter for
exposing the wrongs and frauds and out
RACES that exist in public institutions or
are perpetrated under the guise of off
cial or professional authority.
The Worlds reporter, under instruc-
tions from his employers, took steps last
January to procure divorce by the sid
of Mr.. Munro Adams, attorney, who has
for a long time advertised in the New
York Herald to the following effect:
A LEGAL DIVORCE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS
A-Var.ous Caus s. scandal aVo,ded: zee Cuntin-
GENT consultations free MUNRO ADAMS, At
torney, 1874 Broadway.
As the reporter was a single man, the
exposure of the rascally methods by
which fraudulent divorces are procured
is not only etfectual but startling Only
a synopsis of the routine by which this
single man procured a divorce from
an imaginary wife can be given.
Adopting an appearance of rural sim
plicity he called upon Mr.. Munro
Adams and made known his desire for a
divorce on the ground simply that he
chad got tired of his wife and wanted a
fresh one" He was informed that there
must be legal cause alleged, such as in
fidelity, desertion or incompatibility;
and that if he aud his wife had ever had
any cliffs" the application could be made
on the latter ground of incompatibility
of temper. So that was settled. Then
came the demand for a retainer of $50,
part of which only was paid down. A
false certificate of marriage was produced
as issued in st. John, New Brunswick.
A complaint was drawn, which the plain
tiff was required to swear to. As it al
legged "incompatibiIity of temper" when
in fact the only cause was that he "want-
ed to get new wife," he refused and
was told that "the oath could be arranged
but it would cost little more" The
paper was duly signed and the attesta.
ton signed by some rascally or bogus
Notary without the oath ever having
been administered.
The next move was to bring the de
fendant, Mrs Sarah Maria Bowes," into
court. This could be done either by
publication Of summons or by an admis
sion of service. The latter course wa
determined upon. The plaintiff was ad
vised how he might probably by fraudu
lent representations induce his wife t(
sign the admission which was formally
prepared by the lawyer in such way a
not to betray to the defendant the objec
of the suit. By the help of friend a
st. John to simply renal the papers
this branch of the business was got aloni
with. This move was simply lega
fraud upon supposed defendant anc
unsuspectins wife-the procuring sig
nature by false pretenses.
Here all care and labor on the part o
the plaintiff ceased excepting that o
paying over little money whenever h
called for "free consultation" But h
found that his business was dragging
His attorney was afraid that the plain
tiffs wife or her friends might max
trouble" and the plaintiff himsel
Thought they would" So another pape
wal ing all service of all papers, was OF
tanned from the imaginary "Sarah Ma
ria Bowes," when the attorney assure
his client that it was safe to go ahead.
On the 18th of March Mr.. Bowes, tn
snterprising reporter, who up to this tim