Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-26
ARE WORTHLESS.
THE DIVORCES ISSUED TO HEBREWS wHO
ARE IGNORANT
The Action Of the New York GIard Jury Causes
Ore vietmized Wife to Have Hsr Husband
Anss,ed-Soms Trouble Among The
Russian Jewish Element.

New YORK, December 95.-The grand
jury for December handed up TO Judge
MARITIME, in Part /, General Sessions,
yesterday, three preSentments condemn
ing the practice OF granting ecclesias-
tical divorces by Jewish rabbis, regard
less Of State laws; recommending the
enforcement OF the laws Of lss6 provid-
| ing for the establishment OF municipal
lodging houses; appointment OF matrons
for police stations. and condemning the
practice OF using the criminal courts for
the payment of debts.
In Offering the presentmonts Mr..
kilian Van Rensselaer,, the foreman OF
the grand jury, said
During the past month there were
brought 10 our attention matters which
resulted in the finding Of these three
presentments. We were visited by a
delegation of representative Hebrews.
headed by DR.. Gotthel, OF Temple Eman-
ucl, who impressed us with the necessi-
ty OF framing some law 10 prevent the
granting OF promscuOus divorces by
rabbis to the more ignorant class OF
Jews. As result Of these ecclesias-
tical divorces, which are recognized In
Russia and some other countries Of
Europe, many ignorant people make
themselves liable TO imprisonment here
for bigamy.
1--WE have had several eases before u
where a jew had been married In Rus
sia and raised a family. They would
emmigrate to this country, whore the
kt,e hn nj t,Taxs1I sanlr a IftnFaa from lis
wife. He would go 10 his rabbi. as I'm
Russia, and get divorce and then mar
ry again, utterly ignorant OF his viola
tion OF the law. Several OF these vic
Tins Of their own ignorance have been
sentenced from this court for the crime
of bgamy. The fault lies with the rab-
bis who grant the divorces, knowing
them TO be OF no value In the United
States"
The presentment which the grand
jury handed up on this matter proposed
that it be made n miSdcmeanor for any
rabbi To grant ~ ecclesiastical divorce
until after divorce had been granted
by court Of proper jurisdiction.
An example of the vicious system
was brought TO light at Essex Market
Police Court to-day. Agent Erlich. Of
the United Hebrew Charities, arrested
Kopel IIirShoyitZ, a Polish jew. at No.
l2s Hester street. last night, for de-
serting his wife, Ida Chase Hlrshoyitl.
who was found destitute in a hoycl in
the rear OF No. 80 Forsyth street. In
court the prisoner was accused OF hav-
ing made preparations To be married ON
Friday evening to Bcsic kranz, a belle
OF the Jewish quarter, who earns money
at tailoring. The presents had been
bought and rooms hired. Miss kranZ's
relatives were In court to-day and vowed
all sorts OF vengeance against Mrs.
lIirshovitz. They said she was no long
er kopel'S wife, he having got a divorce
from her. Mrs. llirshoyitz was too sick
to come to court and her husband wa,
held for examination.
The accused took his arrest very cool
ly aud said that the plaintiff had no
claim on him As her husband. for the
reason that he had secured divorce
from her in October of this year. lie
produced a paper to prove his assertion.
The document was as follows:
NEW YoRK, October IL. 1880
Know by all those presents that !, Chaie
Hirshowitz, county and State OF New
York in consideration OF the sum ofss law
ful money Of the United States, paid 10 me
by Kopel Harris, Of same place, divorce
said Kopel Harris from me rs husband.
which he was to me until now, and hereby
agree not TO have any claim against him
whatever, and will not bring any suit
against said Kopel Harris In any civil or
criminal courts for TO support me or a child
which may have hereafter and also allow
said Kopel Harris 10 get married TO whom
he may choice, and will not interfert with
any one he shall get married 10, ana will
not have no claims 10 him as a wife forever
from date.
10 CHAIE her y mark HIR,moyITz.
Signed in the presence of M0yin Folk
Below the name Of Folk was the word
Rabbi or Notary, which was erased.