The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-08
WATCH DIVORCES.
Kansas Bar May FOll0w Lead of
Missouri Court.
Divorce Proctor Will Investi-
gate Every Case Filed.
BEAT RENO RECORDS.
One Separation is Asked for
Every Four Marriages.
NOn-Residents Of State Abuse
Laxity of Laws.
BEAT RENO RECORDS.

Kansas City. No. Nov S.-A divorce
proctor" whose salary is TO be paid
from a fund raised by the reform orr
CARNATIONS CT Kansas City to cope with
the divorce evil is to be placed in Of
fee here on November 13. This unique
Office was created as a result Of public
indignation aroused by the loose run
ming OF the divorce machine which has
been 50 VIGOROUSLY bad that mlsnated
persons, fiot king to Kansas City from
all parts of the country have been
granted separation on slight preteAts
and on short residence.
The proctor will have the power 20
summon witnesses, to go into other
states and take dispositions and to cross
examine witnesses at the trial here OF
would-be divorces
Kansas Bar Considers Plan.
Judges, attorneys and reform leaders
interested predict that the new office
will become general. Already the Kan
sas State Bar association has under
consideration a plan to establish q like
Office in the large cities of that state
The creation of the office was sug-
gested by Judge Thomas ]. Seehorn
and approved by the other seven cir
cult judges of Jackson county, No,
before whom divorce trials are held
here. When an effort to name proc
ter was made however, the county
counsellor held that he could not be
legally appointed. Outside forces then
took the matter in hand.
One Divorce for Four Weddings.
In the last year the ratio of divorces
to marriages in this city was one to
four During the 3 court days of Oc-
toDer, 1911, Sc divorce suits We're filed
here as compared with "A suits brought
in the corresponding time last year.
Fifty divorces were granted in one
day at the last term of court and "a
suits were flied on another day. Thirty
persons were given divorce DEGREES dur
ing a two-hOur morning session.
Of the suits tried here in the last
year about so per cent were not con-
tested. OF the default cases. one-third
were fled by nonresidents of the state.
The law requires that persons from
other states must live here a year to
establish a residence This law is
easily evaded and many persons have
secured divorces without being here
long enough to be listed in the city
A serious defect of the law is that
personal service on the defendant is
not neces~ Try. Notice by publication IS
sufficient. One of the circuit courts of
the county is at Independence, Mo. A
large percentage of the suits are filed
there and the notice to the defendant is
published in an inconspicuous paper.
After the publication. most of the SUITS
are transferred to Kansas City for trial.
How Divorces Are Secured.
Collision between nonresident bus
bands and wives has been frequent |
If the "indignity'' is committed in the |
state a residence of one year is not |
separate after two weeks of married |
life They came here together Upon |
their arrival at the Union station the |
husband slapped his wife. He then /
caught the next train for Texas. His |
wife got the name of witness to the |
Shaping and after remaining here q
few weeks secured a divorce
Many persons have come from ST.
Louis, st. Joseph and other parts of |
Missouri to file suits because they be-
lieved it easy to get DEGREES here
There have been numerous instances
of newly separated persons going direct
from the divorce court to the marriage
license buresu, obtaining a license and
being remarked within tie hour
Proctor Has Whip Hand.
The proctor will seek to chance al