The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-17
QUICK DIVORCE IN OKLAHOMA.
More than 1000 Persons Said to he
Seeking Its Advantages.

Dakota Is said to be fast losing its laurels
as divorce center in favor of the new
Territory of Oklahoma. Stories have long
been afioat intimating that the most thriv-
ing business OF the new Territory was
the granting of quick and easy divorces TO
all applicants, and the subject has just been
investigated by a special correspondent of
the Dispatch. who presents remarkable
glery iifaii
According TO- this writer every facility
is offered in OkIa1lotIid for any one to pro-
cure a divorce. with all the rights in prop
erty and children usually given to the ag-
grieved party, without, practically, any one
but the divorce seeker and the court Off
GERS knowing anything about the transact
Ion until Tit it IS all over and the decree
rlt0ry, he says, more than one thousand
persons from other regions seeking to es-
tablish legal residence preliminary to
applying for divorce. In the Territory capt.
tai there is colony OF two hundred or
more such people, quartered in fashionable
boarding houses: established especially for
such custom. They are said to be mostly
society folks from the large cities of the
which to base their complaints, or who
in their own homes would subject them.
Many, maybe most, are living under as
sumed names, which they can do under the
law. All sorts q social functions foreign
TO that rough region are maintained for
the amusement of these temporary exles
and all manner of entertainment is ar
~.
all wealthy. they spend money lavishly
and their custom is. appreciated and sought
after.
A residence of ninety days in the Terri
tory Is required by the Oklahoma divorce
laws. Ninety-one days after first setting
foot in the Territory the applicant may file
his application for divorce. He may do this
N any district court. 1t is not necessary to
begin the suit IN the county in which the
applicant is supposed to reside. 1t is quite
possible to live in Oklahoma City under one
name and file application In some remote
county under the applicants real name.
This: it is declared is largely done. Pub
,imns of the local paper is deemed by the
law TO be adequate service on the defend
ant. and when the case is set for hearing
but one witness is required to establish the
allegations made by the complainant The
hearing may be had i'm the Judges private
chambers, with only the judge, plaintiff
is no difficulty in having all papers in the
case promptly sealed away. 1t is asserted
that In the case of people living in district
under an assumed name and bringing suit
in another. only the Judge and attorney
know anything about who the divorce seek
crs are ard what their mission is.
usual cause for action is gross neglect of
duty" and, under this head, like the police
court charge of ''diserderly conduct" any
thing under the sun can be offered AS a
frequently the suit is filed and the decree
taken within an hours time, the papers
nluVtn away anu tfle tuSDdnu or wife pnD-
ceeded against know nothing of the matter
until he or she is served with certified
copy of the decree OF divorce. The Dis
patch correspondent says that the trouble
IS not much with Oklahoma divorce
laws az with the manner in which they are
administered. The looseness Of administering
tn" laws il. he says. disgrace 10 the
Territory. Until ten days two weeks ago
the territorial law permitted action for d.
vorce to be brought in probate courts. and
more than five hundred divorces have been
granted by these courts. This law was APP
proved by Congress. But the SUPREME
Court held. on an appeal, that the Law was
contrary to the organic act. and, according
ly. all DEGREES granted by probate courts
were invalidated. In the meantime many
of those divorced had remarked, and the
Legislature had TO come To their relief with
a special act legalizing the divorces that
had been granted by the probate courts
The correspondent gives. the names of many
residents of New York. Philadelphia Bos-
ter. Brooklyn, Pittsburg and other Eastern
cities who. he SAYS, are at present living in
Oklahoma City. qualifying In residence pre-
paratory to getting an easy divorce.