The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-05-17
THOUGHT SHE WAS DIVORCED.
But It Seems There Was a Fault in til
Documents in the Case.

Alice Lenox Hodge was a divorced
woman day before yesterday, but to-
dy she is again the lawful wife of Jas.
Henry Hodge.
Judge Reed set the divorce aside yes
terday and by so doing caused a good
deal Of interest about the court house,
and the boys in the district clerks Of
fee smiled in knowing way.
Clerk Bridgeman and his deputy.
Charles Luling. has been making it hot
for some of the attorneys for some
time, and this case was brought back
into court because the proper entries
had not been made in the district,
which entries in addition to making
Mrs. Hodges divorce legal would have
necessitated the payment of costs in
the case.
The story as related by the officers
about the court house is to the effect
that J. c. Bentley. as attorney, brought
suit for Mrs. Hodge to secure a divorce
from her husband, James Henry
Hodge. The case came UP for hearing
some six weeks ago and the divorce
was granted by the court.
1t seems that Deputy Sheriff Will
Jams was bondSman for costs in the
case and that the district clerk told
Williams that he must pay the costs.
Williams called on Mrs. Hodge and
she informed him that she had paid the
costs and exhibited the original jour
nal entry signed by Judge Reed, and
then Williams called on his honor.
Judge Reed had been annoyed by
just such cases and he told Williams
that he must be mistaken. but Will
Jams insisted and Mrs. Hodge held up
the journal entry before his eyes.
This aggravated Judge Reed and upon
further investigation he found that
Mr.. Bentley had secured his signature
to the journal entry, and instead of
having it recorded in the clerks office
and getting an abstract with the seal
of the court. Bentley had given Mrs
Hodge the original journal entry signed
by the judge, and told her 1t was all
right.
Judge Reed then called the case and
set the divorce aside. This caused a
good deal Of excitement about the court
house, and some of the officials asserted
that there are other divorces in the
same fix as this one, and are liable any
day to be set side.
A reporter for the Eagle asked a
prominent attorney how such things
can happen, and his reply was that the
attorneys have TO pay up the costs
when the journal entry is presented to
the clerk for entry, and he could see no
object in Withholding ii unless it was to
get around the payment of the costs in
1t, or did not know that it ought to be
recorded.
one reason that caused so much in
terest yesterday to center in the action
of Judge Reed in this case. is that there
has been sort of bush whicking war
rare for some time going on between
the district clerks office and some of
the attorneys in regard to costs due the
office and this was taken to indicate
that Judge Reed intends to take a
hand whenever any irregularities are
called to his attention.
\ reporter for the Eagle called at
Mr.. Rentley's Office at o'clock last
evening, but he was not in He called
al Mr.. Bentley's fine residence. 1925
North Market. half hour later and
pressed the electric button which
brought young lady to the door.
She returned and sent the attorney to
the door. and after being informed OF
what had been done in his divorce case
he was asked TO give his version of the
case.
Il did not know that he had set the
case aside. nor do I know that he could
90 such a thing. even Of he desired IN
90 So" said Mr.. Bentley.
Il saw Judge Reed at noon today
and he said the case would stand just
IS it was for the present
Il am unable 10 tell why all this fuss
has been stirred up. There was only
three days that had elapsed when this
fuss started. and two OF those days
there was no court. il having been ad-
lourned in order TO let the Knights
Templar occupy the court room
Il have not been in active practice
for some time. but this Mrs. Hodge who
was granted the divorce, is a cOlored
woman. and was a domestic in ny
family. She wanted divorce and her
husband did not object. and l promised
10 attend 10 the case for her. thinking
that She was entitled 10 some consider
alton from ME because she had worked
in my family.
Il do not suppose that the costs IN
the case viii exceed g or s., and l am
unable 10 tell why all this muss should
have been stirred up in 50 short a time
after the case was decided N court"
Miss OLpACRE (who has still got skittish
.Eaysl-"Isn't il sad, captain. when wOul-
q perceiveS that she's grown oiderfr The
aptain-"Yes. but its more sad when she
DOESN'T perceive Judy.