Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-08-24
ENGLAND PROBES
DIVORCE PUZZLE
Royal Commission Now Hearing
Proposed Changes,
HAVE SEPARATION PREvENTER
Proctor and Detective Force Novel
Cases-More leniency In Laws Is
Desired, Though Church of England
Is Divided on Matter.

SaSes-uoTo
Desired, Though Church of England
Is Divided on Matter.
In America when Il law becomes IN
workable on account of its age and
the changing conditions OF civilization
OF from some other reason the people
either calmly ignore 1t and allow 1t to
sink into desuetude or they have 1t
changed.
In England when 4 similar state of
affairs comes about the people usually
grumble about 1t for a generation or
two; then they begin to ask Ques-
tons in parliament, and finally 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 a 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
Englishmen have been agreed for
years that the divorce law is antiquat-
ed and that a change is needed, and
now they have got TO the royal COIN
mission stage Among the members
OF the commission are two women,
Lady Frances Balfour and Mrs. J. IL
Tenant, and they have to sit day aft
er day listening TO evidence n 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 II
has brought forth is the existence Of
the kings proctor. A good many peo-
pie knew in a vague sort of way there
was such an official. and some persons
who had run foul Of the strict regula-
lions governing divorce In this country
had good reason to know. but what his
/ functions were or how he exercised
them seems to have been a mystery
even to lawyers.
Proctor Has Detective Force.
The present holder of the office is ].
Z. Mellor, and he gets II salary OF $10,-
600 year. He has an assistant proc
tor al 5000 and a staff Of clerks to
help him, and he has an Office at the
treasury IL 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 10 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 q 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
Il 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-
band Is as bad as she and not entitled
to relief.
Divorce Question Divides Church.
D The sittings of the divorce commits
f sion have brought forth good many
other interesting things in addition t
= the existence Of this mysterious Off
[ cial. One of them is the wide diver
y gence Of opinion in the English church
J. on the subject OF divorce Officially
@ the church takes the high Catholic DO
o sition that marriage IS indiSsoluble To-
any cause. and good many church
Is men still adhere to this, but apparent
a ly there are more who are thorough,
4. dissatisfied with even the presen
"a strict divorce law and wish to hay,
divorce made a good deal easier
/" Among these are Canon Hensley Hen
II son. the famous preacher at West
10 minister abbey, who declared that tn
O present marriage laws were DANCE
10 to public morals and absolutely medias
m val in their character.
II SO far the two demands that seer
to be most insistent are that divorc
shall be made cheaper and the sexe
shall be placed on an equality as r,
~ CARDS the cause for divorce Their
Is certain limited demand for the @,
- tension Of the causes. but apparent
- public opinion would be satisfied wit
e. the present situation on this point
divorce were within reach of all an