The Detroit times., 1913-09-03
new FAMILY"
COURT EOPENED
SANS CEREMONY
Three Divorce Cases Heard In
Initial Session of Domestic
Relations Tribunal
ALIMONY AWARDED EVEN
WHEN NOT ASKED
Judge Lacy Lays Down Rule
That Fathers Must Aid In
Children's Support

The domestic relations court OF
Wayne county, the only one Of its
kind which has the full powers Of q
circuit court. opened its first session,
Tuesday morning, with Judge Arthur
j. Lacy on the bench. No pomp OF
ceremony marked The unique occas'
ion. The sessions will be held tempo
rarily in the juvenile court room.
The conduct of the cases as they
came before him was illustrative OF
the methods which the new Judge has
declared he will follow In the effort
to adjust difficulties In the way that
Is best for all concerned.
In the first two DEGREES granted, he
requested counsel for the mplainant
to prepare orders for alimony, even
though 1t was not asked. The reason
he gave for this action was that the
fathers in each instance ought to con-
tribute toward the support and educa.
ton Of their minor children.
Decision was reserved for 30 days
In the initial case heard, that of d.
0A0 0ooAA0S 0ANlo ~. OuNOSnOtp RAO
the chief probation officer, Sidney r.
Miller. was instructed to investigate
the case la the interim, and, II posi-
BILE obtain the presence Of the de-
PENDANT In court when 1t comes up
again for decision.
Mrs. DuRocher testified that she
was married 10 years ago in Windsor,
and that during the six years she
lived with her husband she was forced
to work In different department stores
In Detroit because he did not support
her.
Why did you leave him?" asked
the court
well. you see. Judge" was the an.
swer, he was all the time criticizing
me and finding fault, said was a
milestone around his neck. He made
life miserable for me 30 that I just
couldn't live with him."
The suit Of Jessie M. Lee, OF Rom
illus, against Edgar c. Lee, was the
next called. She told Of their life
together from the time they we're mar
ried In 1897, till they parted in 1904.
and Of his drinking and cruel treat
ment which she said commenced
when they had been married about
six months.
The Judge granted the decree, and
told the attorney to draw up a peti.
ton for alimony although 1t was not
asked. The evidence shows" he
said, that there Is in this case q boy
whose aducation has stopped with the
eighth grade, but who should be given
better education. There ought to
no w fNv m N ~ 80 d
court to insure 1t to him and II coun-
sci will prepare the petition and cite
authority for its being done under the
bill he has filed I shall sign a norder
for $500 alimony to be paid in In
stallments of $50 each six months"
Verona G. Bell was granted a de-
cree from her husband, James. who
deserted her. she said, last February.
The man, she testified. hated children
and slapped one of his own when 1t
was three weeks old. because 1t would
not stop crying.
The following court attaches were
sworn in Tuesday morning:
Sidney r. Miller, who will be in
charge OF the probation officers as a
chief deputy or assistant to the Judge;
Harry T. Dennis, who will direct the
investigation work; Probation on
GERS John ]. Mcknight and Joseph
Stachura, and the woman probation
officer. Mrs. Mittie B. Mcintosh, who
will be assisted by Miss Florence Nc
Knill.
The clerical work of the new court
will be handled by Homer Carr The
official stenographer is James p.
LANGLEY. who for 20 voars has hoon
the stenographer Of the Twenty-hrst
judicial circuit. Judge Lacy has an
nounced that his practice will be to
hear pro-confesso divorce cases on
Monday, motions on Saturday and
miscellaneous matters during the
week.