Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-22
CHANGING THEIR COGyOuENS.
LOCALIZED Assumption OF New Names
Well Know Applicants.
From the Y. z. Grauhic-

The chan ring Of unpleasant cognomeas or
for assuming family names, in order to derive
some peclniaTy benefit and for many other
reasons, is now becoming quite a business of
its own Lawyers employed TO carry the cases
through the court Of common pleas reap a good
harvest in the shape OF fees should their clients
be rich, as they often are. The reasons assigned
By the applicants not Only interesting but
Curious and amusing. will be found in the
records of the court of common pleas during the
past year
Mr.. Nathaniel Jarvis, jr., clerk of the court Of
Common pleas. said: ''Our applicants for having
their names changed are representatives of al
IN st every profession to the humblest and
most plebian rank of life We are physicians
editors. actors dentists. stockholders, down to
the poorest German groceryman or the artistic
chiropodist."
Little difficulty is experienced by getting the
consent of the judges to the change OF name,
providing fair reason can De given for doing
SO. The applicant has to make affidavit setting
forth the grounds of his application. the amount
OF debts contracted if any. at that time and
whether any judgments have been recorded
against him. If these questions are answered
on oath satisfactorily. the Judge seldom refuses
to grant their request.
Among the more prominent persons who ap-
piled during the year to assume new co9nOmens
were the wel-known and popular actor. John
II.
Marion Sims. Napoleon Washington Green, the
author and ether lesser lights
The ground on which Mr.. Raymond made his
application was that his real name was John T.
OBrien; that he was As years old. and lived in
east 23d street; that he has been an actor for
the past Is years, and that during that time he
has attained some considerable reputation i'm the
theatrical profession as an actor, playing under
the name Of John I. Raymond. He claims that
he is not known. nor would he be. if he assumed
the name of o Brien at this time and he wished
to legally take his stage name for various other
reasons.
Judge Daily granted the application without
any hesitation, The application was made and
granted before Mr.. Raymonds marriage this
year. so that his wife could be married in the
name she bears.
Mrs. Miriam Florence Leslie. the widow of the
late Frank Leslie. applied to have her name
changed to Frank Leslie on the ground that her
late husband published number of papers in
his own name, and that by his will he be-
queathed his business and name to her and re-
queSted that his name should be continued and
assumed by her Unless her name was changed
she would be greatly injured in her business as
Publisher Judge Van Brunt granted the appli-
cation.
Frances HafTner Rossbach applied to Judge
DAILY TO allow her son, who is under age to
take the name of Francis Haffner Ross in place
OF RoSSbach. She claims her husband aban-
doned her and his family eight years ago. and
Is now engaged IN the lottery business and thus
has brought disgrace upon his family. Her son
Is engaged as book clerk and is her support.
Judge Daily Thought the ground of application
sufficient, and granted the application
Napoleon Washington Green was not satisfied
with such three household names and was
granted permission 10y Judge Daily to have his
name altered. His ground of application was
That he Is the author OF several plays written
and published by him under the nOna,ae de Qte17.e
OF Napoleon Green Washington. He saws he
assumed his name of N. W. Green at the request
OF his father, who died some two years ago; that
he Is now engaged in writing other plays and
works. and anxious to take up the assumed
name Of his writings. Request granted
Charles William Stuckenrath wanted his name
Changed TO Charles William Stokes. He is an
actor by profession. and has been playing under
the assumed name since he was seventeen wears
old. He claims that his original and prOper
name causes him much annoyance and that his
friends ridicule him whenever his right name is
mentioned. This tends to disgrace him in the
eyes of the public and friends. He is also
obliged to sign his proper name to any legal
document Request granted, together with
that of his wife.
Edward Lehman asked permission to take the
name OF Edward Burger on the ground that his
mothers name was Bunger. No marriage cere-
mony had. however, taken place. His brother
mad informed him of the actual condition of
affairs and had threatened his mother that if she
Dequeathed any money or property to Edward
Lehman he would contest his fathers will. 1t
being shown that his mother intended to leave
MN property belonging to her at her death.
JUuSc Daly granted the application.
Another case is that of John TOvey the pub
Usher and proprietor of the German and Aneri-
can By-e,reT;s' Journal. He claims that he was
born in London, England, and after arriving
here became reporter on one of the morning
papers. and afterwards became prOprietOr of the
above named journal The principal ground for
having MS name changed to Alfred Egbert John
Ioyey is that he has cousin here named John
IOvey. and this causes him much ANNOYANCE in
his business as publisher Permission granted
- Dr Il
bins. the wel-knOwn physician. He wanted
ms name changed to Harry Marion Sims, as he
~ Ia partnership with his father and that if that
Is done he will receive great pecuniary benefit
oy reason Of his fathers reputation. Application
granted
One of the large progeny of the Smith family
was another applicant. He claimed that he was
son of Theodore Ledyard Smith, of South
NoTwaik; that he is studying medicine and
dentistry at the New York College and wants
10 be a leader in his future profession. He said
That owing to the large number of the Smith
family, he wanted his name changed to Theo-
dofe Ledyard. by way of distinguishing himself
Carl Erewen came from Prussia. GERMANY i'm
1910 Previous TO that he served in the 39th
regiment of the Prussian army and having
trouble with his commanding officer he fled TO
Parls Under the name of Carl Newburo he
came to this country and served in company II
OF the 18th New York cavalry regiment under
that name, and was married, naturaliZed and
does business under the assumed name He ia
street. and claimed that If he took his regular
name his business would be ruined.
Cornelia cambridge Green, a daughter of
George Washington Green, applied for and was
granted permission To change her name like her
brother. Napoleon Green Washington, to C. b.
Green Washington.
The name of John Watson was objected to on
the ground that there were no less than eighteen
John NatsOns living in this city. and that great
many Judgments had been fled against one of
them. which had caused him much ANNOYANCE
As ne was supposed TO be the party owing the
money His name was changed to John Arents
Watson. the middle name being that of his
mother.
novel request was that of an artist from
Bavaria. whose proper name was Dressler Since
he has been in this country he said he had been
compelled to paint inferior pictures to make a
living, aud had assumed the name of Dressler
Turner. The application being novel one as
well as honest, Judge Daily granted it.
One Hamilton too many. A curious ground
OF application was that of Nathaniel Horace
Hamilton. who wanted his name changed to
Edmond Horace Hamilton. This gentleman Is