The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-04-16
OPERATION
AND OUTPUT OF
DIVORCE Mill
Dull Prospects and Profits From
a Business Founded on Mat
rimonial Misfits.

81 lou diiS, d. L., ApTil IL liz
money panic Of last fall not only has
upset the diamond industry OF the
country; it not only has put 81, 900. 900
worth of private yachts on the mar
ket at New York for bargain prices; 1t
also has made fearful inroads into the
divorce business of south Dakota.
The IS lawyers. 40 doctors, "a board
ing mouse keepers, dozens of millifers
and scores OF retailers In clothing are
mourning the day that a financial collie
set In. Fol h Sioux Falls lawyers
say that divorces are a luxury, and
that their number falls off in hard
times quite as does the sale of dia-
monds and oriental rugs. And the
Sioux Falls lawyers ought to know.
Why, I have had only two divorce
cllents since call money went up to
l25 in New York" walled a well known
attorney of Sioux Falls a day or two
ago II this keeps on a bunch OF
Sioux Fails attorneys will b looking
for work in the harvest fields this sum-
mer."
Last year there were 220 divorces
granted to non-residents in the state Of
south Dakota, and most Of these We're
handled by Sioux Falls lawyers.
The divorce business is worth not
less than $4,000 a year to the Sioux
rails a In a year of average con-
nubial explosions. And if it were not
for this $50. 900. needless to say. Sioux
Falls would not have so many attor-
neys.
Attorneys See the Finish.
Inc divorce business seems to be
about over" lamented one Of he pro-
prietors of the handsome Cataract no.
TEL. Ih1s proposed new law, together
frightened them away. We cannot look
for much more of such business"
me average attorney fee for a South
Dakota divorce Is about $3.50. AS was
once the custom of the railroads, the
lawyers charge what the traffic will
bear. Those who come here and work
throughout their six months sotourn In
order to pay expenses are fortunate
enough to obtain matrimonial freedom
by paying their counsel 500. But many
others are good for $500 or more. The
largest fee ever paid to a local attor-
ney was $40, 900 to c. O. Bailey,
the leader of the local bar. w. G..
Porter received a 81, 1000 fee for the Du-
pont decree and the local attorneys tell
Of another 5 1000 fee for a default de-
cree. ~
Csualiy a divorce secures her attor-
ney before she arrives In Sioux Falls.
especially If she is well-to-do. Imme-
alately upon her arrival she is taken
IN charge by her counsel. who secures
ior her a private furnished home If she
is secretive about her mission. She ia
driven directly to 1T upon her arrival
and her lawyer arranges her living so
mat her Identity may not become
known for days or weeks. In addition.
she must be coached for the inevitable
visit from newspaper men. She is eau
TONED not to disclose, even by a hint.
that she has come for a divorce. she
u say she has been attracted by the
climate. or the air of South Dakota has
been advised for her health. For the
South Dakota law makes every appli-
cant for a divorce swear that residence
has been established in good faith. and
not to obtain a divorce, and If news
papers We're given announcement Of
the to secure such a decree
the courts, complacent as they are
might be disposed to m INTO the
truth of the required affidavit, especial
ly II there is any anc of trouble with
the defendan
Method in the Game.
Then, when the decree is obtained.
the attorneys exercise the utmost care
to keep the proceedings from becoming
public. h South Dakota practice is
peculiarly favorable to them. for it al
lows a hearing or decree to be made bv
a judge of the circuit court at any OF
the points within his circuit. So. a
judge might grant a hearing to a di-
vorce case in chambers at Sioux Falls
and then write the decree in Flandreau
or Canton or three or four other towns.
Because of this practice it is almost inn
possible for the newspapers to find who
Has ODlallleu II u1NOrCe or the evidence
upon which it was granted.
An average divorce should be worth.
in a six months residence. $500 to a
grocer, 500 to some physician. $500 to
the dry goods dealers. $50 to some dem
fist. $500 to the owner sf her house, and
S25 to some florist.
For example. Mrs. Jarvis Hunt. OF
Chicago. recently stayed in Sioux Falls
just ten days and it cost her SO, 500. She
was visited by her husband a week
after her arrival had been nounc
by the newspapers and within Just 40
minutes he made his peace with her.
In the meanwhile she had brought six
FLOODED horses, in a special padded ex-
press car. had rebuilt a stable to give
them comfortable quarters, had moved
into a commodious house and fitted it
for the season, had leased her house for
six months. and had established her
retinue OF servants. These expenses,
together with hose of her hasty depar-
ture and her attorney fee, easily footed
to SO, 500.