The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-25
GOTHAM GOSSIP.
A Discussion OF More or Less Infamous
Cases Of Divorce.
How They Are Helped On by shyster Law
yers-Evfdence Often Manufactured
to Order-Business Sometimes
Dull.

yers-Evfdence Often Manufactured
i to Order-Business Sometimes
Dull.
| New York letter to Philadelphia Press
A few weeks since the New York Herald
published lists of divorce cases pending in
Philadel phia, Chicago and New York, show
ing such multiplicity of infelicitous do
nestle existence as made the articles a
text for comment in every paper from Maine
to Georgia from Cape Cod to San Francisco.
1t is popularity believed that the nearest
aud dearest thought in the minds OF women
in general, and young women in particular,
is OF marriage. A perusal of court records
here and hereabouts, not to mention those
furnished by the fertile population of the
great growing West, would seem to indicate
thought toward divorce. Possibly, however,
as there can be no divorce without marrl-
age the precedence of the holy ceremony is
as normal as it is universal. 1t would appear
that divorce, like marriage, isn't confined to
any special class or age. In this state there
is but one cause for which divorce can be
granted, and that is the breaking of the mar
riage vow. In other states there are divers
causes-such as abandonment, cruelty and
incompatbility of temper. Strange as II
may seem, in spite OF the belief that every
woman, in her girlhood, regards mar
rage as the ultimate step this side
of perfect happiness - for is there
not proverb which says: "Get mar
ried and be out of the troublesome worldT
"a majority OF petitions for divorce come
from the fair sex. Men, as a rule having
made bargain, be il good or bad, think the
best way is to stand by the contract, what
ever 1t may be. This is explainable in many
ways. A man in business naturally regards
his contract as something sacred and bind
ing Then, too, men, as a rule are but little
at home. Their residence to them is place
OF rest, where they eat, drink. sleep and pass
an occasional hour. They mingle with the
world they have the attraction of society
and business, while women have not only to
lind their pleasure, but their work at home.
Their first duty In the morning are those OF
housewifery, and everything hinges upon
the house-its cleanliness, its proper look. |
its comfort. They have the management of
the servants and the care of the children, so
that, if they don't find what they looked for
In the man OF their choice, thew naturally
bearable or uncopgenial. Whether this |
philosophy be correct or not, the fact re-
mains that majority of divorces are first
sought by the wife.
HOW THEY MAY BE GRANTED.
Although, so far as actual deeds are con-
cerned, there is but one for which divorce
can be granted, according to the revised
statutes of this State, the Supreme Court |
may, by sentence of nullity, declare void
h.. - e. al
lowing causes existing at the time of the
marriage: First, that the parties, or one of
them, had not attained the age of legal con- |
sent; second, that a former partner, husband
or wife, is still living, the former marriage
being in force; third. that one of the parties
is an idiot or lunatic; fourth, that
the consent of one of the part.
les was obtained by force or fraud and fifth, /
that one of the parties was physically inca
pable of entering into the marriage state
OF late years. however, q new idea seems to
have entered the matrimonial mind to
such an extent that the Legislature has
been compelled to take notice of it, and the
Supreme Court has been authorized to
grant for cause q superintendent an abso-
lutte divorce-from the bed and board for
ever, or for limited time, on the complaint
OF q wife.
Our courts in their wisdom having n oted /
that the details attending divorce suits In
this city were generally Of q prurient and
scandalous character, appear to have resolved
to send them, in almost every case, to a
referee, before whom the case is tried pre-.
cisely as it would otherwise be before jury.
and the law expressly provides that when |
such suit Is before referee no parties, save
the attorneys in the case, shall have access to
the papers.
There are all sorts of men in the legal pro-
fession, and some of them are up to tricks
and devices in re divorce which the Bar AS
ISOLATION would hardly dare endorse. "Dl-
vorce without publicity" simply means that
q well-feed attorney can easily have papers
quietly served and the case sent before q !
convenient referee. That's the whole story
in nutshell, snd rather than have the OF.
fensive details spread before the reading
public, the courts very often grant referee
applications when Jury trial would be
better for all honestly concerned. Jost
now there is q dearth of material in this
line of litigation, but human nature is las
it was" and ere long the mill will begin to
work and the law will fast undo the action
of the clergy.
THE AGENT AND ADVOCATE.
A divorce lawyer devotes himself to this
branch of his profession exclusively. He is
sometimes an ex-member of the bar who
has been disbsrred for dishonest practices
and can not appear directly in the case him
self. He hires some shyster lawyer to go
through the formalites OF the courts for
him, and sometimes succeeds in inducing a
barrister of good standing to act for him.
His office is usually in the quarter most fire.
quented by practitioners of standing and is
located in some large building with long
halls. so that his clients may come and go
without attracting special notice. The outer
Office is fitted up in regular legal style, with
substantial desks and tables, and the walls
are lined with cases of law books. The pri-
vate consultation room is elegantly fur
nished and is provided with the cosiest
ARM chairs. in which ellie q Is can sit at their
ease and pour into the sympathizing ears of
the counselor" their tales of woe.
/ Let us seat ourselves, unseen, in the pri
vate Office of q leading divorce firm. They
sre located at the rear of q superb building
on Broadway, aud have elegantly fitted up
apartments. Counselor, the head of the
firm, conducts the cons aItations. He is q
portly, smooth faced, oily tongued man,
possessing great powers OF cheek and plausi
bility-just the man TO lead hesitating eli