The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-01-21
KEMPSON WEEPS
Editor Whose Marital Ad-
ventures Landed Him
in Jail.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Vice Chancellor Pitney Hears
a Motion to Punish Him
for Contempt.

St George Kempson, the editor and pro-
prietor of some country newspapers scat
tered through Middlesex County, whose
industry in getting rid of the mother of
his nine children and in getting a new
wife, has landed him in the New Bruins
wick jail, was before Vice Chancellor Pit
ney this morning. In 1888 Mr. Kempson
started suit for divorce from his wife
in North Dakota. She obtained an injunc-
ton restraining him from prosecuting the
suit on the ground that he was still a
resident of New Jersey and that his claim
of a residence in North Dakota was a
fraud. Thompson, nevertheless, went
ahead obtained his divorce, and married
another much younger woman. by whom
he now has one child. He was arrested
last fall for violating the injunction and,
being unable to obtain bail, has been in
the Middlesex County jail ever since.
Judge Strong, of Middlesex County,
counsel for the first Mrs. Kempson,
moved this morning that Kempson be
punished for contempt of court in diso-
beying the injunction.
The Vice Chancellor began the pro-
ceedings by remarking that he had re-
ceived number of letters in this case
by people who thought they could help
the Court. He hoped they had not been
inspired by Mr.. Kempson. In fact, one
of the letters was from Kempson him
self and another from an editorial friend
OF his. Not only was it improper to
send such letters to a Judge having a
case before him but it was probably a
criminal offense. He said he had Destroy
ed the letters without reading them.
Some people think they can influence
the Court in this way said the Vice
Chancellor
They might influence some courts, but
not your Honor's," remarked ex-senator
Robert Adrain, who appeared as counsel
for Kempson. Kempson, who sat beside
his counsel, Joined heartily in the laugh
that followed.
o1n presenting the case to the Court
Mr.. Strong spoke of the application for
the Injunction, and said it was accom-
panied by strong affidavits that Kemp
son was still a resident of New Jersey at
the time and that his residence in North
Dakota was a fraud. Kempson's condition
was that he was not served with either
the order to show cause why the injunc
ton should not issud with the injuc-
ton Itself and Mr.. Strong quoted the eyi-
dence taken on that point. A man named
Peggengilla, who has clarke of his
business in Perth Amboy while Kempson
was in North Dakota, teStifier that he had
a conversation with Kempson, in which
the latter said, 1.-THE idea of their trying
to stop me from doink anything in Am
boy. I've not been a resident of New
Jersey for some tome.
The man who served the order to show
cause told how he handed it to Mr..
Kempson, at his office in New York. as
did also the man who served the injunc-
Kempson's office in New York and was
told by young woman that Mr.. Kemp
son was out. The woman then started
to go into an inner room and the man
followed. There he found Kempson, upon
whom he served the injunction Kemp
son was mad and threw the paper out
into the hall. Continuing, Mr. Strong
said that Kempson says that for five or
six years he contemplated getting di-
vorce from his wife, but all that time he
continued to live with her and have chill
dren.
HE wanted few more children before
he left said the Vice Chancellor.
Kempson's business often required him
to make trips away from home and when
he was on one Of these business trops.
He went to Wahpeton, Richlands County,
North Dakota, and instructed a lawyer to
begin the divorce suit as. soon as the
ninety days required for a legal residence
had expired. All this time his wife and
the children were living in his home at
Metuchen. In January, 1888, he returned
to New Jersey and was here some time
when he went away again.
In June he came back and effected a
sort of reconciliation with his wife and
actually resumed marital relations with
her.
THAT we deny" said Mr.. Adrain. Mr..
Strong then went on to say that af-
ter the divorce was granted Kempson
contracted second marriage and lived
with his wife in New York.
Mr. Abrams defence was that Mrs.
Kempson waived the injunction and ac-
quiesced in the divorce. He spoke feel
children, whereat the defendant wept.
The case was on at recess.