The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-04
Do II nov aud do 1t carly, II
Thus avoid the hurly-bmiy.

Ia u Bon of the late Thomas Graham
Murray. who was senior partner OF tho
great Edinburgh arm OF lawyers,
Todds. Murray & JAMESON.
Lord Dunedin's people hail from Perth
shire, and he was educated at Har-
row and Cambridge, was the champIon
racquet player at Harrow and played
IN MS college eleven at the university
lie makes his home Mt Stunton a beau
tiful place In Pcrthshirc. near Dunkcld.
on tho most picturesque portion OF the
ray. nearly opposite Murchly Castle,
and sat in tho last Unionis. Cabinet
as Secretary for Scotland. abandoning
his portfolio to become Lord Justice
General and Lord President OF the
Court of Session OF Scotland, which liz
the Scotch equivalent for tho Lord
Chief Justlccship OF England
The principality OF Scotland, OF
which he is the Keeper OF the Great
Seal. Is dignity created by the King
and Parliament OF Scotland In the If
teenth century. for the benefit of tho
heir apparent to the crown. and differs
from the heir apparent's principslity
OF Wales. In that It carries with It the
possession OF certain lands and reve-
nues In the northern kingdom. where
as nothing OF the kind goes with the
title OF Prince of Wales.
The presence OF a proctor in divorce
proceedings in tho State of Kansas Is
so great on innovation here in Ameri.
ca that II may be as we'll to explain
that he is most important factor ir
all divorce trials In Europe. His par.
ticipation In the trial Is species OF
reminder that there arc thrce princ,-
pals In every marriage, namely, this
husband. the vito and the state. mar.
riage being not merely an ccclesiasti-
cal. but also legal condition. Tho
State has therefore a right TO be con-
suited In the dissolution of the con-
tract: not in the person OF the Judge,
whose duty Is restricted TO the dis
pensation of Justice. but by counselor,
who abroad is known as the procurcur,
or as tho proctor.
In England he Is known as the
Kings proctor. Six months elapse
there before the decree nisl, pronounc-
ed by tho judge. Is made absolute. Tho
very use of the word "nisi" In con-
nection with the first decree means
that 1T shall only be made absolute in
the event of nothing turning UP to
prevent It,
1t is the duty of the Kings proc
tor to ascertain during those six
months II there is not something Of a
nature to render the divorce undesir-
able. Thus. collusion between the
petitioner and the respondent In bring
ing the proceedings Is forbidden by
English law; and IL any trace thereof
can be found by the Kings proctor. or
is brought to his notice through third
parties, the final decree la refused.
Then. too, II, the divorce having been
pronounced against the respondent,
the Kings proctor asccrtains that the
petitioner has likewise been guilty OF
marital misconduct, he intervenes, and
the first decree Is quashed
In one word. the Kings proctor very
effectively prevents any fraud or
evasion OF the striot law, in the mat
ter of dissolving the marriage tie; and
he Is terror to those who appeal to
the courts without having their skirts
entirely clear.
There Is no doubt that were other
States to follow the example Of Kan
sas, the scandals in connection with
the granting of divorces in this coun-
try would be greatly reduced in num-
Der, and would no longer be lightly
regarded as q very customary luxury
of the rich, ignoring their responsible
ity In the matter OF the State.
Copyright 1911. by the Brentwood
Company