The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1908-10-05
Judge ASpinall Refuses to Seal
Divorce Papers and Shield
Rev. Mr.. Denhan.
GIVES HALL A DECREE.
Declares 1t an Outrage That
Vanderbilts Can Have Di-
vorce Papers Sealed.

A decree Of divorce was granted to-
day by Justice Asphalt in the Brook
Ign Suprems Court to z. Bartol Hall
jr., from his wife Emma, and ar at
sealed on the ground that while the
correspondent, Rev. Benjamin Pugh
Church of the Disciples of Christ, No.
go West Fifty-sixth street, Manhat-
tan. had eloped with the wife OF his
friend. he had a good reputation
otherwise" Justice Asphalt not only
refused to seal the papers, but said he
hoped that the Rev. Mr.. Denham
would get all the disgrace and publicity
the press could spread.
II am in favor" said the Court, "of
full publicity in all court proceedings.
1t Is an outrage that the m!llionaires
like the Vanderbilts can have their d.
vorce papers scaled from the public.
while the butcher and baker and candle
grace or his wife's disgrace scattered
far and wide.
The Press Moral Force.
IT regard the press as our greatest
moral force. Fear of disgrace through
publicity is the strongest deterrent oper-
ating upon those who would commit
crime"
Mr.. Hall, who is wealthy, has a sum-
mec home at Glen Cove. L. l. His wife
left him early in the summer and at the
same time DR.. Denham disappeared.
MI. Hall employed detectives and upon
their reports filed a suit for divorce.
Testimony was taken by Herbert B.
Brush as referee.
The detectives learned that DR.. Den
ham and Mrs. Hall travelled as man
and wife on steamboats, on the Great
Lakes, lived as man and wife in
various Canadian hotels and lived as
brother and sister in one room in a
boarding house In Winnipeg. Manitoba.
There was placed in evidence also
confession made by Mrs Hall to her
husband in the presence OF witnesses
previous 10 her elopement. She pre-
scented no defense.
In asking for desree for Mr.. Hall
to-day Lawyer Charles Melville Weeks
said that inasmuch as a clergyman was
named correspondent he would request
that the papers be sealed. Justice
Asphalt wanted to know why the court
should protect a man 1who vas a
minister of the Gospel.
said Mr.. Weeks THE woman has
been led astray by minister of the
gospel. This is the sort of a case the
newspapers gloat over. l don't think
the court should crafty the newspa-
pers in this instance"
''NVhere is this man now?" asked the
Court.
I'm Missouri" replied Mr.. Weeks.
Still a Preacher.
And is he still preaching the gos-
pel?" continued Justice Asphalt.
He is" replied the lawyer.
"Then," said the Court, IT hope he
gets all the disgrace and publicity that
is coming to him, The ne IS spapera
don't gloat over a case Of this kind II
is a public duty for the newspapers to
advertise the disgrace OF law0reakers,
Fear OF being written UP in the news
papers is more potent in the prevention
OF crime than fear OF the courts, The
newspapers have criticized me. and
sometimes the criticism was meriteu
and profited by 1t. ] shall not grant
your wish in this case and win seal no
papers while l am sitting on the bench"
Mr.. Halls decree is interlocutory. II
his wife makes no objections 1t win
be made absolute in three months