Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-29
DIVORCED WOMAN
IS NOT A WIDOW
So Rules Judges Martin and
Osborne in Deciding on
Pensions.

Twenty-seven applicants for widows
pensions under the new law appeared
before Judges Martin and Osborne in
the Court of Common Pleas today
in the first hearing in this county.
Many of the petitions were laid over
until the next hearing day, Septem-
Der 10.
The first applicant to be heard was
Mrs. Joseph Kowatsld, of Is Joseph
street who testified that she had four
children under the age of 16. whom
she had to support by scrubbing and
washing. She was confused as to the
birthdays of the children and the
date of her husbands death. Judge
Martin declared that more corrobor-
alive evidence would have to be pro-
duced to substantiate the facts set
forth by the applicant.
Mrs. C. b. Alexander, of the State
Board of Children's Guardians, which
has charge of the investigating of the
petitions and the distribution of the
pensions allowed, addressed the court
and said the board had no extra APP
preparation to carry the expenses
that would be entailed in procuring
birth and marriage certificates IN TINS
and other countries. She requested
the courts lnSlTuCllOhS DIS " Inv
method of getting this money.
Suggests Temporary Relief.
Judge Martin suggested that the
matter be taken to the Board of Free
holders for temporary relief untlR
the next session of the Legislature
when funds could be asked for.
Harold A. Miller, assistant county
counsel. construed the law as re-
curing the defendant to produce the
.corroborative evidence. Judge Mar
tin decided that the matter of FUNDS
should be put over. -,
The fourth petitioner, Mrs. Mary
Swain, of Newark, had hardly taken
the stand when she was asked IL sne
was married. She replied that she
had been divorced. Her application
was denied. A ruling was made that
a divorced woman was not widow
Following her was Mrs. Joseph
Natalie, who said her husband was
dead. Under questioning she testified
that she married a second time, three
months after the death of her first
husband.
marked the court.
"Oh, yes" Mrs. Natalie answered.
at didn't like my second husband, so
I left him and became widow again.
This was the SecOIlC applicdHI thde
had her petition dismissed.
Those mt the Hearing.
Among those present in the court
room during the hearing were Mrs.
r. c. Jacobson, Miss Frances p. Day
and Mrs. Alexander. of the State
Board of Children's Guardians; e. Il.
Stonaker, secretary of the State
Charities and Prison Association;
Arthur w. MacDougall, superintend-
ent of the Bureau of Associated
Charities of Newark: w. w. Whit
son, general secretary of the Asso-
ciated Charities of Orange; Overseer
of the Poor Baldwin, of this city, ana
John ]. Gascoyne, chief probation
officer.
The latter returned today from
Buffalo, where he had attended the
convention of probation officers from
all over the country. Mr.. Gascoyne
was elected a member of the execu-
tive committee.
The probation system in Essex and
the work of the officials here was
commended at the convention and
held as a model to other cities. Mr..
Gascoyne made inquiries from the
officers of Chicago as to the working
of the widows pension law in that
city. Nearly four-flfths of the appli-
cations received were rejected by the
court upon investigation by the court,
Mr. GaScoyne found