The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-19
lust Ten Minutes
For a Divorce
Surprising Statistics From the
Chicago Courts

CHICAGO, March ls.-Chicago Is likely
once more 10 assert it's supremacy. II has
justified it, pretenson 10 be the largest
hog market, the largest cattle market. the
largest lumber market, the largest grain
market. the largest stove market the larg-
est packing centre and the largest railroad
centre In the world. Now It seems to be
reaching out for the distinction Of being
the largest divorce manufacturing city OF
either hemisphere.
While the divorce laws Of Illinois may
b. said 10 be dangerously lax TO use
President Roosevet's words, they can
scarcely be said TO be 1indiferenty adj
minlstered' 80 far, at least as Chicago Is
concerned. The Chicago Judges who hear
the cases demand, as a rule the fullest
proof Of the existence Of the ground on
which divorce is sought. That proof given,
the decree Of divorce must issue. Generally
speaking, il il the system, not the admins
tration, which causes the Chicago divorce
mills 70 grind 80 fast and readily.
The word mills" Is used with intention
IL epitomizes the local divorce courts in
action. II is estimated that not more than
2 per cent Of Chicago divorces arc con-
tested. the vast majority being defaults.
This article, accordingly, deals with default
divorces.
Here are no laws delays and long argu-
ments. here are no rhetorical appeals. no
ten hour cToss-examinations, no splitting
OF legal hairs and citations from the re-
ports and textbooks. Not at all. The
Illinois divorce laws were built 70 work
like a steam saw. They do so
On Saturday morning, which is the great
default divorce day Of the week, the Illi-
nois laws can be seen cutting the bonds
of marriage at the rate Of ten minutes to
n marriage and 10y the dozen. There are
usually four courts grinding out divorces
The speed with which husband and wife
are parted Is like the fash of the guillotine,
While three witnesses are generally heard
the complainant and two friends, who
tell Of the cruelty or desertion or other
act alleged against the absent husband or
wife-no superhuous time is consumed.
The Judge frequently asks the questions
himself 70 bring out the salient and neces-
sary points as quickly as possible. There
Is no Jury in defaults and the cases are
heard in open court.
The writer has seen testimony given and
q divorce granted In three minutes and has
often seen testimony given and divorces
granted In Ave or six minutes. Disre-
garding exceptionally fast moving cases.
IL IL fair 10 say that the average Chicago
divorce Is heard and granted in approx
mately ten minutes.
The law gives so many grounds for di-
voroe that Il Ia an unlucky spouse, indeed,
who cannot supply proof under one Of them
in short order II is common procedure
for the complainant 10 set up two OF more
causes in the bill and then prove that which
seems the easiest on actual trial.
The complacent law Of Illinois permits
divorce for eight causes, including such
as desertlon or habitual drunkenness for
two years, cruelty and attempting life Of
spouse. Not to throw any needless Difficult
ties In the road Of the seeker for divorce
from an outside State who wants to avail
himself Of the Illinois law, a residence Of
one year IL all that Is demanded.
To this accommodating catholioity Of
the Illinois law Ia due the tremendous di-
Vorce court business Of Chicago. The
following tables show, In the first figure
column, the divorce cases heard In Chicago
during the period Of four months from
Oct II, 1904, to Feb. 10, 1906, and, the causes
Of suit. It may be said that leases heard
might virtually read 'decrees granted
for divorce decree Is not refused in moro
than one out Of every fifty cases brought
to trial. The tables also show, in the
second figure column, the number Of new
suits fled and the causes alleged.
rom MONTH"; OUTPUT or THE CHICAGO DIVORCE
MIL1S