The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-01
new DIVORCE Law
HITS reno HARD.
Gay Set Takes Final Fling
Before Curtain Drops
on Colony"
BIG RUSH ON LAST DAY
Three Hundred Now Safe Behind
Closed Doors. Unaffected by
Residence Law.
BIG RUSH ON LAST DAY

out OF the Old year ana IN OF tne new,
also occurred the ringing down Of the
curtain upon the stage OF the most
unique and remarkable performance OF
this or any age, unparalleled on earth
tory-the notable Reno Divorce Colony"
for. with the expiration of the six
months residence law. came also the
expiration Of the so-called colony
The death of the old year meant the
death Of the old law, and the death Of
the colony" as far as the legal Access
sion Of any new members to the fold was
possible. II was the short-time residence
requirement combined with the many
causes of action recognized by this State
connected with other conditions of cli-
mate, geographical location. and such.
not offered by other States. even with
their equal period of residence require
ment, which made possible this unique
aggregation here, and it unquestionably
will be one and only such colony known
% history, similar in character and expe-
rience.
80, d1Ier IOur years Oh COnunuOuS aC-
tivity. from 1910 to 1914, during which
period it has occupied a spotlight posi-
ton in the attention of the world. al
though for years previously many seekers
for marital relief had come to Nevada
IN small and varying numbers, this COL
Ony, numbering during this four-year Pc
Rod $50 men and women, is witnessing
It's last days
No wonder that ninety-one rushed in
just as the curtain was about to fall
turing December, the last day, breaking
all daily records for the four years in
history Of the colony" Approximately
300 are today safe within the closed door.
having begun their residence prior to
last July first and filed their complaints
prior to New Years Day.
A Festive Season.
The holiday season just closed, being
the last ever to be experienced in Reno
by the colony, has marked the event
in special gayety. Some of those who
are the most prominent members will
have secured their DEGREES and departed
within the present month of January,
while others will not see the termination
Of their suits until February, or even
later. In the mean time, the remaining
eco colonists will continue as heretofore.
until the colony shall have passed en-
tirely into history.
New Years Eve witnessed scenes of
hilarity and merrymaking. the cafes hav-
ing been expanding 5000 a month in mu-
steal and cabaret entertainment alone.
Every table was reserved in advance
each holder having deposited the required
amount to secure it, Among the crowds
could be observed some of the most
prominent and wealthy divorces here
from New York and elsewhere. In the
which continued all day and all night,
the first such deIuge ever known to Reno
at this season of the year. the festivities
continued from early evening till nearly
daybreak. The fact that il was the final
scene in divorce colony social swirl on
New Years Eve celebration in Reno. |
was significantly a subject of frequent |
comment among the throngs. 1t was a |
memorable event, long to be remembered |
by the colonists as well as the permanent |
residents of this city and State.
Test Is Likely.
Notwithstanding the periodical talk and |
report that a test will be made Of the |
constitutionality of the new law. requir- |
ing one year residence for jurisdiction |
after this, for bona fide resident, under |
one condition. and still only requiring a |
six months residence for the same bona |
jurisdiction in any divorce action, as is |
now the law since January ], 1914, there |
is no probability that any such test case
will be made. There are strong argu-
ments in support of both sides to the |
question. The difficulty is to get some |
divorce seeker to permit his or her name |
and case to be used for such purposes. |
Many attorneys would willingly con-
tribute their services gratis to the pro-
ceedings, which proceedings would be in |
expensive and brief. To carry II further |
than the State Supreme Court, il found |
necessary, would involve such prolonged |
time as to make the efforts impracticable |
for any present or near future value to |
the pro-divorce people of Nevada, of |
whom there are a multitude.
While there will unquestionably con-
tinue to be newcomers here for similar |
purposes, who for varied reasons will |
be prepared to remain here q year, the |
fact that Reno's notable divorce colony |
will now soon pass into history. leav- |
ing a record unique in its nationwide |
as well as local interest, having no |
parallel in human history, is conceded. |
So it is not surprising that the past |
six months has witnessed the presence |
Of throngs of these strangers in Neva- |
da. men and women from distant COM
nunities. either compelled by the |
stringent laws of their own States, the |
desire for as little publicity as posi- |
bic, or from other Interior motives, in |
many instances, as reprehensible and |
false as they are varied in their nature, \
eager to secure a decree under the old. |
short-time residence requirement law. |
With the throng conservatively esti-
mated at 500 to 700 people six months |
ago. to about 800 today, there will con-
tinue to be something doing" in Reno, |
marking these final days of this re-
markable colony. until all shall have
secured their DEGREES and departed.
which will be about next March.
-Four Years' Record.
The total number of actions filed for
divorce, during the colonys period Of |
greatest activity, extending through the
past four years to January /, 1914. are |
as follows: 1910. 1872 cases; 1911, 54S cases;
1912. SIS cases: 1913, $50 cases. Grand total, |
:. s16 cases. Eighty per cent of the total |
number filed were granted DEGREES States
furnishing the greatest number of colon
lists stand in the following order: New
York, California, Canada, New Jersey,
Illinois and Pennsylvania |
those being the foremost ones, as to
extent.
Europe has furnished about sixty-fivel
members, coming directly from abroad |
There were 3.2SS actions, civil and GRIM
inal combined, which represents the total |
cases Of all character filed in this dis
trict from January /, 1910, the beginning
Of the divorce colony activity, and end
ing December 81 last, comprising four
years. OF this total, 2,21s are divorce
cases, or S. per cent of the entire court /
register of actions during this period. \
These ahoye figures appIy only IN this