New-York tribune., 1919-10-01
Stamford Preacher Visits
Former New Jersey Vice.
Chancellor in Newark and
Heated Interview Results
Puzzle Is Still Unsolved
Lawyer Gives Out What He
Says Is Stenographic Re-
port of What Was Said


the name of Joseph Merritt Lane,
former vice chancellor of New
Jersey, became involved in
matrimonial puzzle, to-day called
on the former Vice Chancellor III the
latter's office here. Mr.. Lane and DR..
Frank became engaged in heated dis
cussion, after which Mr.. Lane issued
what purporved to be a stenographic re-
port of the dialogue.
1t developed a few days ago that the
prosecuting attorney for the City Court
of Stamford was investigating the
marriage. The name of "Joseph Lanes
father and mother, as given in the
marriage license records in Stamford,
are the same as the names of the
parents of Joseph Merritt Lane, who
resigned vice chancellor last June
after Newark Newspaper had pub
lished news of the secret marriage in
January of Vice! Chancellor Lane and
Mrs. Geraldine Garrison Kerr, di
vorcee, and daughter of Justice Garri-
son, of the Supreme Court of New Jersey
DR.. Frank said he called on Lane yes
terday to satisfy himself he was the
man who married Grace Hercht.
Lanes Account of Meeting.
Mr.. Lanes account of his interview
with DR.. Frank yesterday, in part, fol
lows
"Mr. Lane?" asked the minister
"Yes," replied Mr. Lane
II want to shake hands with YOU"
Il won't shake hands with you.
am obliged to see you because the
newspapers, if / didn't see you. would
spread the report that | was afraid to
see you. | didn't invite you to come
-hn
as you have done, and deliberately cir
culates scandal without being certain
Of. Identification cannot consider him.
self a Christian.'
Il am replied the minister.
you can't be, assuming. for in
stance, that you are absolutely sim
cere in everything that you do What
have you accomplished? You have
brought injury to hundreds of people,
at least ten and twenty, who are abso-
lutely innocent, and you haven't ac
complished any good for living SOUL
Did | start any of this ?" asked the
minister.
"Whom did you start it for?" coun-
tered Mr.. Lane.
"Who married you in 1922" asked
The minister.
"An Internal Liar.
Who came to you?" said Mr. Lane.
II did, came to you?'
Yes, sir
You are an internal liar" said Mr.
Lane. Il came TO you and asked you
20 do somethng?"
What does q man come for when
he comes and asks me to marry him 2"
asked the minister.
You are an equivocater. Who came
20 you and asked you to start this
story? ?" asked Mr. Lane
That Is my business" was the re-
ply.
Assuming that you have been alb
solute ly sincere in everything that YOU
have done. there is not single thing
that you have done that has brought
good to a single person | don't believe
YOU are sincere" said Mr Lane.
II wouldn't take your word in q mat
Ter Of morality at all retorted the
minister.
After more dialogue the minister
said:
II came in to-day to talk about this
story and for information. What do
YOU think OF the marriage laws of
Connecticut
"You are in my Office. That ques-
ton would, under the circums tances,
warrant me throwing you out OF that
door, If were physically able to do
it," retorted Mr. Lane
you as | would talk to any man that
needed
"lf you had any suspicion at all
interrupted Mr.. Lane, "or any idea that
was or was not the individual whom
you married, you ought to have come
here to see me first before you started
10 spread stories over the country"
~ assume that you have not sinncd
yourself" said the minister
II don't intend TO have you use the
term sin to me-" rctorted Mr. Lane
The dialogue then pertains TO the
reliability Of certain statements in
newspapers pertaining to the Lane
case The minister hinted that he had
been misquoted but Mr.. Lane said:
Did the newspapers make any mis-
take az TO one statement coming from
ytu, namely, that you came into this
room or IN the court room where
vas hearing case and that You left
The room uncertain as TO whether
~as the individual or not. and that
however, as you got up 10 leave the
room looked at YOU as you had never
been looked at ~ any other individ-
ual2"
! Par, OF that statement ia correct,
was the reply.
Did you make the latter part OF
that statement, that looked at you as
you mad never been looked q. before b,
any one p asked Mr.. Lane
Words and Meaning.
lot eaactly in those words; the
meaning
Then you meant 20 impress upor
me public that although you dldn't
recognize me recognized you ."
"T ma may be the Interpretation pu'
upon u by you said the minister 81
am not responsible for the interprcta
lion pu, upon t.. sta,ed only the
actual fact
you knew Whom You left This court
room tna' eid not recognize You. You
snep Why 1 looIod At you and iny sec
retary knows why sa!e Nr Lane.
"No, DO not Why DID you looA al
me ." asked the minister.
"BecauNe IN the trial Of case twc
men came no thir court room IN ,
peculiar manner. Both came as II
hey Nerc gong 20 npcnk 20 me and
loo<cd up Then they didn't SPEAK
N rne, waik~d out and came back. Il
vas an unusual occurrence. assume
loVkrd - you. and The o'hor pcople
iooled a. yop, N the court room, be.
cause - the peculiar wny you came
~. J didp't rrcognIze you"
II would have had il personal con
yeYsa''on win you, but you are not IA
man 'he minister said hnally.
"You sre7'