The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-29
LAST OPPORTUNITY
FOR TREATMENT OF
CuPID'S CRIPPlES
Divorce Entries Made After
June 3 Are Subject to a Six
Months Handicap.

Sioux Falls. S. d. May :6-Las. call
for tiurry-up South Dakota divorces.
Only a few days remain in which the
matrimonialiy unhappy may have as
surance OF relief after six months OF
residence In South Dakota.
Any abused wife Or neglected hus-
band who arrives in South Dakota on
June Will be barely able To bring a
suit for divorce after a wait OF six
months Any arriving on June 4 may
be required to do pennance for one
year. for on November the voters OF
South Dakota will pass upon a law
submitted to them under the initiative
and referendum. providing that dt-
vorceS shall not be granted to any per
son married outside the state who has
not resided in South Dakota Tor oNe
year: The initiative and referendum
people for vote shall become laws. il
approved. after the result Of the cleo
tion is officially announced by the state
canvasslng board This board meets
December 3. so that. IL the law is ap-
proved-as In all likelihood it will De-
it will take effect on that day
Divorces arriving now are expecting
to get their suits started between day
light and breakfast. as 1t were. 1t vii!
require fast work by their attorneys to
bring their cases under the present law.
Perjury Committed Daily.
OF the 552 divorces granted in South
Dakota last year. 364 were to non-resi
dents, every one of whom came here
for the purpose OF n divorce and com
nlitted perjury by taking the required
oath thas their residence was estab-
ber. 1874 We're issued III Sioux Falls. the
chief divorce center. Without doubt
the enactment of the proposed law VIII
reduce the number OF divorces in South
Dakota to less than 200 Il year.
Another change that will be made by
the new measure. il approved. Is to re-
quire hearings Of divorce cases at reg
ular terms of court. Heretofore The
Judges have been very accommodating.
listening in chambers almost any time
to the complaints OF those chafsng
under marriage ties.
Otherwise it will be no more difficult
to dissolve marriage bonds In South
Dakota under the new system than at
present. providing the dscontented are
willing to waitSa year before beginning
their actions.
,.s--iises esa.:-t y "a al: probability will con-
tinue to be as compliment with d.
rorcees as heretofore. and the divorce
lawyers Will lose none of their cunning
in shielding their clients from publicity
Without a doubt. the approval Of
south Dakota's new law would have
the effect OF giving the Nebraska d.
vorce business big impetus. resi-
dence of six months before beginning
action is all that Is required there. but
there is the handicap of a prohibition
Of remarriage within six months. How
ever. this would require those wanting
to be rid of their mates to live away
from home only six months. as com
pared with a year III South Dakota
But. on the other hand. the grounds
for divorce I'm Nebraska are not so con-
renient as those in South Dakota. They
are. III Nebraska. abandonment two
years. habitual drunkenness. physical
lncapacity. adultery. felony, failure to
support two years. cruelty. II, South
| Dakota they are cruelty. adultery, de-
sert1on one year. physical incapacity
neglect one year. drunkenness one year
felony. The ease Of these grounds for
action in South Dakota is shown by the
fact that in 1907. Of the 552 divorces In
the state. 255 were for desertton, 1853 for
cruelty. so for non-support and "a for
wllful neglect. all general charges.
which In the cases Of non-residents. are
often not much more than nominal