The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1911-09-27
DIVORCE IN.
RENO HELD
ILLEGAL
Chicago Judge Rules That No
Nevada Decree Is Good
in Illinois
MANY MARRIAGES AND
CHILDREN AFFECTED
Lawyers Believe Decision Will
Be Upheld by United States
Supreme Court
LARGE PROPERTY RIGHTS
ARE PUT IN JEOPARDY
LARGE PROPERTY RIGHTS
ARE PUT IN JEOPARDY
[seeeial Dispateh % The caIll

~ HICAGO, Sept. 2s.-Judge Adelor
J. Petit presented the Reno hur-
ry-up-divorce trust a dose ofju-
dicial knockout drops today. IN
decision handed down in Cook COUNT
circuit court he held that virtually n
Nevada divorce decree was good in TT
state of Illinois
The decision is regarded by lawyers
generally as the biggest boost that ever
has been given in this state to the
movement recently espoused by Presf-
dent Taft for divorce laws that will be
uniform throughout the nation.
1t is of vital Importance to many
Chicago and Illinois divorces. It in
wolves the validity of a large number
of marriages It raises the question
Of the legitimacy of numerous children.
It puts in jeopardy property rights Of
value
Ruling Considered Sound
If Judge Petft's decision represented
merely the view of one member of the
bench it might be of only passing i'm
portance, but lawyers are of the opinion
that it reflects the best thought of the
Judiciary throughout the country. They
point out that it is the application to
concrete set of facts of a general ruling
already promulgated by the supreme
court of the United States
They prophesy that if an appeal from
the ruling is carried to the tribunal at
washington the decision will be sus-
tained in every point.
The case decided by Judge Petit was
that of Louisa McGrath against James
]. McGrath, both of Chicago. Mrs Nc
Grath had brought action against her
husband for separate maintenance.
Reno Decree Rejected
A1cGrath set up in his answer that he
had been divorced He produced de-
cree issued by court in Reno and
asked that his wife's suit be dismissed.
Judge Petit refused to accept the
Reno decree as conclusive. He in
sisted on the right of the courts of
Illinois to 20 into the facts. AS re-
suit of his investigation he came 10
the conclusion that McGrath went to
Reno for the express purpose of OBJ
tanning divorce.
This decision is in line with a ruling
by the supreme court of the United
States in the spring of 1905 In that
case it was held that divorces obtained
in states that do not have jurisdiction
over both parties to marriage are not
enforceable outside the state granting
them.
CONSERVATION in Society
That ruling. created CONSERVATION in
fashionable resorts like Newport, where
many wealthy women were making
their homes after having secured di-
vorces in South Dakota Among those
affected were Mrs. Henry TurnbuH of
New York. afterward married to Judge
John Clinton Gray of the New York
court of appeals; Mrs. Frederick Neil
son and her daughter, Mrs. Hollis H.
BunnewelI, sister of Mrs. Reginald
Vanderbilt Mrs. r. L. Armit, daughter
Of ~AI'' Adams; Mrs. Jennie B. Fosdike,
later Mrs. Charles H. Hilds: Mrs Gudet
Durvea. Mrs. r. II. Townsend. Mrs.
Duncan Elliott and Mrs. Herbert w.
Bowen.
Since the Sioux Falls, S. D.. divorce
mill was put out of business by the
state legislature Reno has been the city
of refuge for the domestic misfits of all
parts of the country.
only one thing could have induced
them to live six months in Nevada.
That was the desire to get divorces.
Under Judge Petits ruling thsze di-
vorces have only to be attacked be
declared invalid