New-York tribune., 1921-04-01
Indictment To
Be Sought i'm
Bogus Divorces
Westchester Co. District
Attorney Declares Law
yer Turned Out Six
in as Many Months
Says Accused Is Missing
Alleges Name of Justice
Arthur S. Tompkins Was
Forged ON Some Papers

Lee Parsons Davis, District Attorney
of Westchcster County, announced YES.
terday his intention of presenting to
the grand jury, on Thursday, evidence
tending to show that an attorney. who
formerly had law office in this CITY.
turned out ready-to-wcar divorces for
his clients without going through the
formality Of consulting any court.
Evidence in Mr.. Davs's possession
convinces him that at least six such
"dlvorces" and "annulments" were sold
IN the last six months. the attorneys
clients being ignorant of the fraudu-
lent nature of their "decrees." He
made the matter public In the hone
that any other couples who got divorcs;,
without going to court, will inform him
concerning them. The attorney in oues-
ton has not been found by Mr.. Davis
and has not been at his Office for two
months WV
Forgery Also Alleged
According to The District Attorney
ne forged the names of former part
ner and of Supreme Court Justice
Arthur S. Tompkins, of the Second
Judicial Department. He is said to
have maintained staff of professional
witnesses, most of whom were women
The missing attorney, who was de-
scrlDed as Of pleasing personality and
man about thirty seven years of age
disappeared about February I, after
auctioning off his Office furniture.
The evidence in possession of th,
y Nrit
close that he never was admitted
practice in this state, though he ma;n
tanned an Office in West 121st Stree
tor three or four years prior to moyin
ms place OF business to the addrcs
"here he was for a year prior to h
disappearance. The superintenden+
the building at this last address sai
the attorney had gone off owing sever
months rent.
According to Mr.. Davis the attorne
frst came to his attention throuo
supreme Court Justice A. II. F. Seecf
before whom the case of Samuel Tot
agt. Mrs. Ethel Totten came. After Ju,
tlce Seeger had granted the interloc
tory decree it was said the attornt
had represented both plaintiff ar
defendant in the litigation and h
forged his partners name as the n
tary who had subscribed to the
fidavit of service. No final decree W.
ever granted in this case. Followir
this Mr.. Davis said his office invest
gated and found that the lawyer ha
never been admitted to practice in tn
state.
This resulted in further investjg.
ton which disclosed, it is said. th
in the case of Arthur T. Dempsey ag
Mrs. Edith M. Dempsey, of New Yo,
City, the summons and complaint bo
bore the signature ola fictitious Law
yer with an office address on Pa
Row. The District Attorney said Il
complaint in this case was verfc
in April, 1920, several months befo.
the suit started.
Penalty Is Ten Years
after this little piece of artistir
work. said Mr.. Davis, "this lawycl
went further and forged the affidavi
Of service, SO that everything in con
nection with the summons and com
plant was forged" At the trial testi-
mony by Dempsey, q Caroline Davis
and a Julia Cummings was purportea
to have been given. Mr.. Davis said
Dempsey never gave such testimony
and that the faxed minutes were fol-
lowed by the "prantng" of an inter
locutory decree of divorce on Septem-
ber 30, 1920, to which Supreme Court
Justice Iompklns's full initials were
forged. This date was a day ahead of
the facts and findings in the case. The
complete record was filed with the
Westchester County Clerk on Novem-
Der 80, 1920, and said by the District At
torney to have been fake from be-
ginning to end.
The attorneys former associate said
that when he learned that his partner
was "crooked," he left him and took
an office on Sixth Avenue. He aided
Supreme Court Justice Seeger in bring
ing the evidence of his partners ac-
tivites before the District Attorneys
Office Mr.. Davis said.
The maximum penalty for forgery
in the second degree is ten years i'm
prsonment.