The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-07-31
A NEEDED CHANGE.

The Hartje divorce case in Pitts
burg is becoming decidedly unsavory
to the general public and serves to-
call attention to the importance of
some radical changes in the divorce
procedure of the courts. 1t is not
necessary to discuss the merits of the
divorce question. 1t seems to be one
of the necessary evils of modern civil
ization. That it is abused can not be
denied. Neither is it necessary to
state that it too often serves the pur-
pose of assisting those who have as
sumed the responsibilities of the
marital relation to throw them off at
will in order to crafty the tickle fancy
with some other individual. But the
character of man which Hartje has
shown himself to be is strong argu-
ment in favor Of releasing any woman
from her marriage relation with him.
1t is not necessary that the fabric
OF the law which was recognized by
the first historical law giver should
be destroyed merely because it is abus-
ed. The need is for an improved
method of procedure which will keep
from the public 80 much of the detest-
ible scandal which usually marks the
trials especially when the parties be-
long to what is termed the higher
circles of society.
There are plenty of women who
move in those circles who are orna-
ments to their sex and as pure and
virtuous as any who ever trod the
earth. They are mothers who have
given to their children every reputa-
ton is just as sacred to them as to
any other. But when by some fate
they have formed an alliance with
a villain and monster who is un-
worthy the respect much less the love
of women. and by their brutality have
been compelled to seek the courts of
the country for redress, there should
De some way Of preventing the at
tempts of these depraved husbands
from dragging their names in the gut
ter and besmirching their regulations
by means of perjured testimony.
AS women and mothers they are
disgraced because the stories have
been utilized by the press to crafty
the sordid craving of the public for
the sensational and scandalous.
Courts of equity which have close
ly followed the practice of their Eng
lish models have to some extent ac-
complished the secrecy of the matter
and at the same time given the parties
all opportunities for bringing out the
facts in their testimony. The practice
In these courts is to have the testimony
taken before commissioner outside
OF court and by him reduced to writing
and in this form submitted to the
judge. Under it's equitable power the
court can require the testimony to be
taken in the presence only of the
parties interested and their attorneys.
and can in the same way punish any
one for the disclosure or publication
of the same.
In this way, while the attempts to
besmirch the name and character of |
the wife may be placed in the record
1t is kept from the gaping public and
in time is forgotten.
The changes which have been made
In the construction and practice of
equity courts under the modernization
Of the judiciary have given an OPP
portunity for the taking of the tes-
timony in open court and permits all
he adden power of voice and gesture.
It makes what would otherwise be
spectacular seem decidedly common
place.