New-York tribune., 1900-11-10
PLOT TO GET DIVORCES.
TWO MEN ARRESTED ON CHARGE
OF CONSPIRACY-CHANGE IN THE
LAW SUGGESTED.

Henry ziemer lawyer, ffty-six years old.
of No. S66 Lexington-ave.. with offices at No
$50 Broadway, and man known Frank VIII
son. a cigarmaker. thirty-hve years old Of No
315 East Seyenty-seventh-st., were arrested by
Detectives Cuff and McNaught, OF the District
Attorneys Office, yesterday a charge OF con-
spiracy to defeat and obstruct the ends of JUS
tice- They were arrested at the suggestion Of
the Justices OF the Supreme Court that certain
men were engaged in a conspiracy to defeat
the ends Of justice by giving fake evidence in
divorce suit proceedings brought in the Supreme
Court 1t is alleged that in three separate
divorce suits Zierner has appeared counsel for
the plaintiff, and Wilson. under a different name
in each case. the principal witness for the
plaintiff. The were arraigned before Re
corder Goff. who a committing m Magistrate
and committed to the Tombs in 81 900 each
a young woman who gave the name of Mary
H Tompkins arrested with the two men
but her connection with the case was not dis
closed. She taken to the District Attor-
ney's Office. where she made a statement to Mr.
Unger. and was then committed to the House OF
Detention. where she will be held a witness
She made a long statement which il is said will
impcate others and will result in their arrest
Mr.. Unger said part OF her statement would
be made public that would be to place an
obstacle in the way of completely working out
the
The two were arrested in the Office OF
Grosvenor s. Hubbard, a lawyer at No 35
WalI-st He is the referee in divorce proceed
ings by Mrs. Byrde G. Herrick against her hus-
band William c. Herrick. Ziener acted as Mrs
Rerrick's counsel and Wilson the principal
witness in her favor. Ziemer and Wilson were
arrested in the act of placing their respective
signatures 10 the evidence
Detectives Dunn and Mcknight last evening
band for absolute divorce. The arrest was
made al the woman's home. No. 500 Bedford
ave. Brooklyn on a warrant issued by Recorder
Gof. The woman locked up in the House
Of Detention.
In July last a similar given refer
ence to Abraham A. Joseph. lawyer In that
case, II is alleged Ziemer and Wilson also ap-
peared. the former counsel for the plaintiff
and the latter. under the name Of James Had
den. the prin-ipal witness against the de-
fendant In September Frank D Shaw. a law
yer. Of No 100 Broadway. was appointed referee
IN divorce suit. and again Zemer and his COM
panion appeared II Is alleged, with Wilson IN
der the name Of Henry Fisher. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Unger says that Amos G Russell
acted the stenographer IN each Of these cases.
Russell yesterday identified the two men.
The alleged conspiracy brought TO the
attention Of District Attorney Gardiner by the
Lawrence. before whom the Herrick divorce
proceedings had been begun. Mr. Gardiner at
once designated Assistant District Attorneys
Unger and Gordon 20 investigate. after q
ference between them0and the Supreme Court
Justices. The result was the arrest OF Zien1er
Wilson and Mary II. Tompktns.
In answer to questions by Recorder Goff,
Ziemer said he lawyer Of good repute, and
enjoyed reputation Of twenty years standing
IN L5a sLa hall ba
at q nominal sum. Mr.. Unger explained that
probably several others implicated IN the
case, and that he knew of at least two others.
He then requested that bail be fixed at IS 900 in
each case.
wilson refused to give his right name
Justice Lawrence said he had nothing to say
of the yesterday. but might have later.
Justice Scott said he knew Of the case. He
said the first information IN the case was con-
veyed to the Supreme Court Justices by Mr..
Russell. the stenographer Justice Scott said un-
douhtedly several divorces were frauduIently
obtained. He said:
a a layer gets case for either the husband or
on the side. to put in an appearance and nfe an
answer in the case In many instances the de-
When the application for referee is made the
d a a a the and case is To be d
ref Wben nG ts o ease fan go before
fore the referee the dummy lawyer appears. asks
almost equivalent to divorce decree being entered
One thing, this exposure will have the effect OF
causing to be introduced into the next Legislature
bill to provide who shall serve as the
Queens proctor serves in England whose duty IL
IS TO look carefully into all the testimony and
ests OF the defendant guarded and that no
fraudulent means used TO obtain the decree
There decree cannot be entered for six months
after the taking of evidence
Frank D. Shaw, the lawyer would neither
affirm nor deny the report that he had the rec
ord OF both men looked up, and had placed much
Damaging evidence in the hands Of the authori-
ties.
1t is said good authority that the alleged
conspiracy does not exist alone in New-York
County. but that there was a general scheme
county and begun up the State. The parties
ngur1ng in these were not necessarily
those whose names have been made public but
others are alleged to be in the same general
conspiracy.
CHRISTIAE BROTHERS, SERTICES HERE.
Washington, Nov. s-The Christian Brothers Or
der in this province will hold services in New York
City next week in honor OF the recent canonzation
OF their founder by Pope Leo XIII. The services
VIII open next Tuesday morning in the Cathedral
parts Of the country expected to attend
among those who will officiate these services
are the Papal Delegate. Archbishop Martineii
who leaves here for New-York early next weeK
Archbishop Corrigan, who is sing pontffcai
mass on the opening day, and the bishops Of Nal
chester, \; Il. Buffalo. Brooklyn and Ogdensburg.
Cardinal Gibbons will be unable to attend on az
count of engagements elsewhere. Three pontfhcal
masses Will be celebrated