The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-10-14
KANSAS CITY WILL PUT
CURB ON EASY DIVORCE
Special Attorney To Investigate
All Applications and Co
Operate With Court.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Oct. 14-ln
future years divorce attorneys may
talk about what happened in the good
old days OF 1910 and 1911. when
divorces were granted In the record
time OF minutes and 20 seconds
Dut no more will Divorces walk
out OF the courthouse with DEGREES
under their arms three minutes after
they enter. The free and easy" days
are over, judges say. The old ma
chlnery, run at excessive speed the
last few years. when twenty-five to
fifty divorces In a day wasn't consid-
cred such a big days work. has been
slowed down a bit.
An attorney representing the state
aud society will begin investigating
all divorce cases to be tried at the
next term OF court within a month.
And that attorney will place his ser
vices at the disposal OF the courts at
the trial of each divorce case.
Judges Adopt Resolution.
The following resolution was adopt
ed by the eight circuit judges of Jack
son county In a meeting en- banc.
"Inasmnch as the volume OF divorce
litigation is constantly increasing In
our courts, and under the existing
system OF procedure there Is POSSIBLE
ity of fraud being perpetrated upon
the courts in cases where no defense
is made; to the end. therefore, that
the courts may be more fully ac-l
quainted with the facts In any divorce
action where the defendant makes
default OF fails to appear at the trial,
be II
Resolved, That In the future the
Circuit judges of Jackson county, Mo-,
at the trial OF such cases, will hear
such testimony as may be offered by
licensed attorneys employed by the
board OF public welfare OF Kansas
City, Nc"
1t Is the first long step to curb the
rush OF divorce seekers to Kansas
City from other parts OF the state and
from other states, and TO enable the
judges to distinguish between the
worthy and unworthy divorce seek
ers. II was Judge Thomas J. See
horns plan and was unanimously
adopted by the eight judges.
Approved BY County Court.
Immediately after the judges had
adopted the resolution, Judge Seehorn !
went before the judges of the County
court and informed them OF the action
OF the Circuit judges. Judge III. G.
Gilbert, Judge K. l.. Martin. and
Judge z. =. Axline OF the County
court said they approved the plan and
directed Judge Seehorn to prepare an
order to put on the minutes of the
County court appropriating 500 q /
month to pay the expenses of an at |
torney to investigate divorce cases |
before they are tried.
The attorney will be connected |
with the free legal aid bureau of the |
board Of public welfare. He will be |
empowered to take dispositions in any
part Of this and othr states. so that a
person coming. here from another
state simply because this city has the
reputation of being an easy divorce
mart" will be disappointed In the
future.
The plan II slmilar to that in Eng
land. where all undefended divorce
suits are contested by special proc
tor.
Divorce Seekers Face disappointment
Nine suits for divorce were fled to-
day. Since the agitation for an in
vestigation began there has been a
rush OF divorce seekers to file suits. |
They are trying to get their cases
heard before the Investigators begin |
their work But they are too late. !
There win be only a few divorces
granted the remainder OF this term
and the new rule will be put into ef- |
feet on Nov. Is, by Judge Guthrie.
The judges believe that a thorough |
Of each divorce case
will deter many people from bringing |
suits after petty family quarrels and
instead Of 1000 to 1900 divorce suits
a year. as has been the case the last
two or three years, there probably
will not be half that number.