Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-08-18
ENGLAND PROBES
DIVORCE PUZZLE.
Royal Commission Now Rearing
Proposed Changes.
HAVE SEPARATION PRE:yENTER

Proctor and Detective Force Novel
Agents In Breaking Up Prearranged
Cases-More Leniency In Laws Is
Desired, Though Church Of England
Is Divided on Matter.
In America when law becomes un
workable on account of it's age and
the changing conditions of civilization
or from some other reason the people
either calmly ignore it and allow it to
sink into desuetude or they have it
changed.
In England when a similar state of
affairs comes about the people usually
grumble about it for a generation or
two: then they begin to ask ques-
tons in parliament, and finally a royal
commission is appointed to inquire in
to the whole business.
The commission holds an immense
number of sittings, takes reams upon
reams of evidence and publishes a
whole library of reports. After the
lapse of few more years these re-
ports are digested and parliament gets
around in its leisurely way to abolish
ing or amending the law in question.
English Now Investigating.
This process is going on now in rela-
ton to the English divorce law. Most
Engishmen have been agreed for
years that the divorce law is antiquat-
ed and that change is needed, and
now they have got to the royal COM
mission stage. Among the members
OF the commission are two women
Lady Frances Balfour and Mrs. j. H.
Tenant, and they have to sit day aft
er day listening to evidence great
deal Of which is quite unprintable.
The commission so far has elected a
lot Of interesting information, but
about the most interesting thing that it
has brought forth is the existence of
the kings proctor. A good many peo-
pie knew in vague sort of way there
was such an official, and some persons
who had run foul Of the strict regula-
| tons governing divorce in this country
had good reason to know, but what his
functions were or how be exercised
them seems to have been a mystery
even to lawyers.
Proctor Has Detective Force.
The present holder of the Office is ],
P. Mellor. and he gets salary of $1O,-
600 year. He has an assistant proc
tor at $1,000 and staff of clerks to
help him, and he has an Office at the
treasury in Whitehall. He is supposed
to inquire into every undefended di-
vorce suit, and for this purpose he can
call on the detective staff at Scotland
Yard.
This is why those who think they
have fixed up nice, friendly little di.
vorce case which will go through with.
out trouble and without publicity are
surprised to find themselves Swallowed
by shrewd looking men in the most
unofficial of plain clothes. but with ex.
tremely broad toed boots, and later on
to find that some one or other has in.
formed the Judge they were really
quite friendly and didn't need sever
ance of the marriage bond at all.
AS a matter Of fact, however, the
kings proctor seldom moves Of him.
self. He usually is set in motion by
some busybody or some person who
is interested in the case. Thus wife
who has been adjudged by jury guilty
Of unfaithfulness and against whom
decree nisi has been pronounced may
set the kings proctor on the track Of
her complaining spouse. with the re
suit that the Judge decides the hus