The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-04-02
DIVORCE FRAUDS
GROW IN VOLUME
ON INVESTIGATION
Forty Cases Examined Show
Evidence of Bogus Work
by Lawyer.
MILLER STILL MISSING
Scandal Spreads to New
York and Kings Counties
From WestcheSter.
ELEVEN GIRL WITNESSES
All .Decrees' in Which Accused
Mans Name Appears Will
Be Reviewed.
ELEVEN GIRL WITNESSES

The fake divorce scandal unearthed
in Westchester county expanded yes
terday into a matter Of vital interest
to the prosecutors of several counties,
including those Of New York and
Kings, and gave promise of startling
revelations of wholesale frauds in con-
nection with the procurement Of bogus
DEGREES and of numerous resultant
bigamous marriages. 1t was said that
forty divorces under investigation are
believed to have been fraudulent, with
the prospect of many more coming to
light.
1t was learned last night that Her
bert F. Miller, the man who is alleged
to have been the oriEinator of the
scheme, and who made a show of prac-
tising law here although he never was
admitted to the bar of this State, is
being sought by detectives who have
a warrant for his arrest and that Dis
trict Attorney Lee Parsons Davis Of
Westchester hopes to have him in his
custody in q few days.
In the meantime, Mr.. Davis stated, he
is investigating the papers Of twenty
eight divorce actions on file with the
County Clerk OF Westchester county In
which Miller's name appears with a
view to ascertaining whether the same
frauds were perpetrated in these cases
which 1t Is alleged Miller practised in
others. District Attorney Lewis of
Kings county has begun similar in
quiry into twelve divorce actions filed
by Miller in his precincts and District
Attorney Swami Is expected to start an
inquiry into the mans activities In New
York county.
Mr.. Davis obtained yesterday what
he considers 10 be evidence of the
greatest Importance against the missing
Miller. This was In the form OF state
ment by young man formerly em-
ployed by him as clerk. who stated that
he had observed Miller taking" up rec
ords OF testimony and other papers.
This. Mr.. Davis stated, was the first
direct evidence obtained against the
man, although he previously had held
very strong circumstancial evidence in
dicating that he trafficked extensively
IN bogus divorces. He also ascerta.ned
that instead of having eight girls TO give
testimony in divorce proceedings Miller
had at least eleven on his staff.
At Miller's home. Is Post ovenue. In
wood, his wife denied to a representa-
tive of THE NEW YoaK HERALD last night
that he had been away since January.
He's been here all the time" she
stated. but she refused 10 reveal, his
whereabouts. She stated that she Is in
communication with him.
Mrs. Miller first declared that she
knew nothing about the case in which
her husband had become suddenly in,
volved. but afterward admitted having
read the newspaper accounts of the
matter and asserted that 1t was the re-
suit of spite work on the part OF a man
with whom her husband had been as
ISOLATED.
One report received last night was to
the effect that Miller was seen in Phil
adelphia on March 10 and another had it
that detectives were shadowing the
house OF young woman at one of the
Sound resorts In hopes of arrestlng him.
District Attorney Davis and his as
sistant, Walter Ferris, expect to pre-
sent the case against Miller TO the
Westchester County Grand Jury on
Thursday, when they contemplate ask
ing his indictment on three charges
forgery. procurement of perjury and
Illegal practice OF law.