The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-27
DIVORCE BUSINESS AT FARGO.
The laws OF North Dakota Make 1t
Easy to Secure Release.

st. Paul (Minn-) Dispatch.
North Dakota has gained considerable no.
with which divorces secured within its
borders. Fargo, the metropolis OF the State
has secured more fame in this direction
ess,jy rscched. and its hotels are new, and
there are numerous private boarding houses
that cater especially to those who are there
TO end marital troubles.
Tnsre was a time, soon after the division
of The big Territory into the two States
OF North and South Dakota, that the
southern twin rather excelled in the divorce
business. The laws OF the two States on
the matter were then Identical, and Sioux
Falls, which occupies the same position in
South Dakota as Fargo does In North Da-
kota, was the Mecca to which all would-be
divorces turned. 1t was more easily reached
than cities in the latter State. and soon
won fame all over this land in that line
But there came a change. The legislators
Of the southern State three years ago
were affected by wave OF morality, and
changed the law. Under the existing stat
utes the henpecked husband or much-abused
wife must serve six months before applying
for decree.
North Dakota solons refused to change
the law. which only requires a ninety-day
residence before beginning action for di-
vorce, and the tide Of divorce immigration
turned that way. People who had at that
time already spent two months In South
Dakota went there, and soon secured their
DEGREES. Fargo's fame soon began to gain
circulation in the East. and to-day 1T is
noted far and wide for being the easiest
place In the Union 10 secure legal separa-
ton.
The moduE operandi is easy. A resident
Of the Eastern States, who has found the
bonds OF matrimony CALLING, purchases a
securing an excellent boarding place, and
has plenty OF time in which to get ac-
quainted before employing an attorney
Lawyers are everywhere, and some OF the
cheaper element have men on the outside
TO steer the Divorces their way. Frequently
attorneys are engaged before coming TO the
t.tn \ toh al a1xrfa in hA To-
Once there and an attorney engaged, the
rest is easy. In nine cases out of ten the
defendant in the suit is as willing that de-
cree should be secured as the plaintiff, and
:. aids In every possible way by accepting
service and employing a local legal light to
look after his or her interests. In such
cases the decree is often secured within
ten days after the ninety days have ex-
pired. In fact. it has sometimes occurred
ty-one days after the applicant arrived in
Fargo. On these cases, of course. personal
service was secured, and there were no
contests In the matter OF alimony or other
features. In cases of desertion. or in others
where the residence of the defendant is I'M
known, six weeks additional Is required for
the publication of summons. The attorneys
fee varies with the trouble necessary to
secure the decree and the ability of the
plaintiff 10 pay. Some pay only $50, while
others pay all the way up to $500. and in
some cases more. The colony includes peo-
pie In all walks OF life. Even laboring men.
who could no longer stand the TRADES of
and work while establishing their residence.
These are the exception. however The
seekers after single blessedness are, as a
rule, well supplied with funds, and able TO
pay literally for what they get Some dis
tinguished people have been temporary resi-
dents OF the State for this reason. They
men and women In all walks of life
and titled foreigners are not an exception.
The divorce business has frequently been
referred TO as a North Dakota industry.
and Is really TO be regarded as such. A can
vass OF the hotels and private boarding
houses shows that there are to-day about
80 members OF the colony; This means
from 900 to 5000 per month for the hotel
men OF the city, II also means from 5000
TO $4,000 per month for the local attorneys.
In addition TO these expenditures. the stores
receive directly. perhaps. 5000 per month
I'm the way of trade.
The sentiment of the citizens is entirely
In favor OF the industry" The ministers
don't kick, for their collections are larger.
and their congregations embrace lawyers
and hotel people who are directly benefited.
The newspapers are satisfied. for they pub
lish the summonses and frequently get some
sensational news. In fact, the matter Is
looked at purely from a business standpoint
and is advocated on all sides.
Another noticeable feature Is the haste
with which some of the plaintiffs again
rush headlong into matrimony after having
been granted divorce. One case is on rec
ord where trip was made from the Judges
chambers to the license room and return
and the second marriage was performed by
the kindly court in fifteen minutes after
times, are not so anxious, but the majority
marry again within six months after being
divorced.
All kinds OF schemes are worked to avoid
publicity. Members of the colony Otter
live there under assumed names. and dc
everything possible TO keep correspondent:
OF Eastern papers from learning their his
tory. To deceive their friends the contin
gent sometimes rents boxes in the MoorheaC
friends won't know what they are doing
out West.