The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-04-16
THE OPERATION
AND OUTPUT or
A DIVORCE MILL
Dull Prospects and Profits From
a Business Founded on Mat.
rimoniaI Misfits.

Sioux Falls, 8. D., April 1.-THE
money panic OF last fall not only has
upset the diamond industry Of the
country; 1t not only has put "a. 000, 600
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 SO lawyers. 40 doctors, "a board
ing house keepers, dozens of milliners
and scores of retailers in clothing are
mourning the day that a financial colio
set In. For the Sioux Falls lawyers
that divorces are q luxury, and
tina their number falls of in hard
times quite as does the sale of dia-
monds and oriental rugs. And the
SIOUX FaIls lawyers ought to know.
why, 1 have a only two divorce
clients since call money went up to
12b in New York" walled a well known
attorney OF Sioux Falls a day or two
ago. IF this keeps on n bunch of
sioux Falls attorneys will be looking
Tor work in the harvest fields this sum
mer."
Last year there were 22o divorces
granted to non-residents in the state of
south Dakota, n most OF these were
nanoled by Sioux Falls lawyers.
Inc divorce business Ia worth not
less than $50, 900 a year to the Sioux
rails bar, In a ear of average con-
nuolal explosions. And If it were not
Tor this 1000, needless to say, Sioux
Falls would not have so many attor-
neys.
Attorneys Sec the Finish.
The divorce business seems % be
ABOUT over" lamented one of the pro-
pr1etors OF the handsome Cataract no.
Tel: This proposed new law. together
WIN the hard times, seems to have
frightened them away. We cannot look
for much more Of such business"
Tn average attorney fee for a South
dakota divorce Is about $3.50. As was
once the custom Of the railroads. the
lawyers charge VIA the traffic will
pear. Those who come here and work
throughout their six months ojourn I'm
order to pay expenses are fortunate
enough TO obtain matrimonial freedom
oy paying their counsel 800. But many
Others are good for $500 or more. The
largest Zee ever paid to a local attor-
ney was $1,000 to G. o. Bailey, perhaps
the leader OF the local bar. w. q.
Porter received a 81, 900 fee for the DI-
pont decree and the local ATTORNEYS tell
or another 5000 fee for a default de-
cree.
Usually a divorcee secures her sttor-
ney before she arrives in Sioux Fails
especially II h is well-to-do. Imme-
diately upon her arrival she Is taken
In charge by her counsel. who secures
TOT her a private furnished home II she
10 secretive about her mission. She ia
driven directly to It upon her arrival
and her lawyer her living 40
that 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 no to disclose, even by a hint.
mat she has come for q divorce: she
must 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-
can't for a divorce swear that residence
has been established in good faith, and
not to obtain a divorce, and II news
papers were given announcements OF
the intention to secure such a decree
the courts, complacent as they are.
might be disposed to examine into the
truth OF the required affidavit, especial
ly If there Is any chance OF trouble with
the defendant.
Method In the Game.
Then, when the decree Is obta ined
the attorneys exercise the utmost care
to keep the proceedings from becoming
public. The South Dakota practice is
peculiarly favorable to them, for II al
lows q hearing or decree to be made by
a judge Of the circuit cour at any OF
the points within his circuit. SO. a
JuN6C hiiBhI grant d nearing 10 a d.
vorce case in chambers at Sioux Falls
and then write the decree in Flandreau
or Canton or three or o other towns.
Because of this practice 1t Is almost i'm
possible for the newspapers to find who
has obtained a divorce or the evidence
upon which 1t was granted.
An average divorce should be worth.
In a six months residence, $500 to a
grocer, 500 10 some physician, $500 to
the dry goods dealers, $50 to some dem
fist, 5000 to the owner of her house, and
S25 to some florist.
For example, Mrs. Jarvis Hunt, OF
Chicago. recently stayed in Sioux Falls
just ten days and 1t cost her SO, 500. She
visited by her husband a week
after her arrival had been
by the newspapers and within Just 40
minutes he made his peace with her.
In the meanwhile she had brought six
blooded horses, in a special padded ex-
press car, had rebuilt a stable to give
them comfortable quarters, had moved
n q c~emmodiOus house and fitted It
for the season. had leased her house for
six months. and had established her
retlnue Of servants. These expenses,
together with those of her hasty depar-
ture and her attorney fee. easily footed