The New York herald., 1921-04-01
8 LITTLE MAIDS
0NLEGAL TAP FOR
FAXED DIVORCES
Many DEGREES Are Forged,
District. Attorney Of
Westchester Charges.
WITNESSES ON STAFF
Lee p. Davis Will Ask In
dictment of Mysterious
Owner OF Divorce Mill.
MANY VICTIMS RE-WED
Charges Involve wife Of For
eign Representative in
This Country.
MANY VICTIMS RE-WED

Wholesale forgery of papers h1 di-
vorce cases and the forging of sig
natures of Supreme Court Justices to
divorce DEGREES was charged yesterday
by Lee p. Davis, District Attorney Of
Westchester county against a man
who is said to have posed as a lawyer.
The man accused formerly occupied
Offices in West Thirty fourth street.
From information which has come
into the possession Of Mr.. Davis. it is
believed that the man, who really prac-
tised law in Vermont and Indiana but
who never was admitted to the bar in
this State, operated extensively not
only in Westchester county but in
New York. Nassau, Kings, Queens and
Richmond counties as well. He is de-
clared TO have employed in his offices
a staff OF eight women, who appeared
as witnesses in divorce cases, assum-
ing various names at various times
and being shifted about adroitly to
avoid appearing before the same JUS
tice more than once.
Mr.. Davis said yesterday that next
Thursday he would go before the
Westchester county Grand Jury at
White Plains and ask that indict-
ments be returned against the owner
Of the fake divorce mill. BY that time
he hopes to have obtained information
concerning the number Of DEGREES scat
tered broadcast by the man. In sew
eral cases handled by him some OF the
victims have married again, under the
belief that their divorces were genuine
and IN some there have been children
as result OF these bigamous second
marriages.
Foreign Lady I'm Background.
IT is likely also that the Grand Jury
will be asked to take action against
woman whose name is known to the
Westchester county authorities and who
figures prominently in the evidence
which already has been obtained. She
Is said to be the wife OF the representa-
tive Of foreign country in the United
States. and some of those said to have
been victimized by the man were origi-
nally sent to him by her.
Mr.. Davis said that his Investigations
have brought to light at least five forged
divorce DEGREES in the Westchester
county clerks office in White Plains.
There Is also one alleged forgery OF a
marriage annulment. The mans opera
tons were brought 10 Mr.. Daviss at
tention on February 10 by Justice A. II.
NJ ha xr-f,n
said that after he had granted an inter-
locutory decree Of divorce to Samuel
Totten against Ethel J. Totten Mrs. Tot
ten was brought to him by man who is
said to have been q former law partner
Of the man now under suspicion.
Mrs. Totten said that although the ac-
cused man had appeared as her hus-
bands counsel. he also had accepted a
retainer from her. The former partner
accused him OF forging his name to the
certificate Of regularity in the case. IL
was In connection with the Totten case
that Mr.. Davis found that the accused
man had not been admitted TO the bar
here.
Finds Documents Forged.
In October. 1890, Mr. Davis says Ar
thur Il. Dempsey engaged the accused
man TO prosecute a divorce suit against
Edith NJ. Dempsey. a forged summons
and complaint. ho says. was flied in
White Plains and the verificatlon was
made as Of April Z. seven months before
the proceedings could have been begun.
"A fictitious name, that OF George s.
Webber of q Park row, was used as
counsel. Mr.. Davis charges. Dempsey
told Mr.. Davis yesterday that his name
had been forged to the complaint. as
he had never seen tho document.
Justice Tompklns told Mr.. Davis yes
terday that the case never was on his
calendar and that no minutes had ever
been taken In 1t by the court stenog-
rapher. Nevertheless what purports to
be a stenographic report OF testimony
by Dempsey. Caroline Ellis of A2 1r-
wing avenue. Brooklyn, and Julia Cum
mings OF &c Federal street, Troy. y. Y,
was filed. Mr.. Davis said that the
minutes were faxed from start to fin
ish in Miler's office" and that forged
findings of fact and conclusions OF law,
with Justice Tompkins's forged initials,
were filed. together with forged inter-
locutory decree. Believing the papers
genuine. County Clerk Louis Ellrodt
furnished Dempsey with certified
copy of the decree.