The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-04-03
FAXED DIVORCES
DELAY WEDDINGS
Hysterical Women Clamor at
Offices of District Attorney
for Clear DEGREES.
SOME HAVE REMARKED
Activities of Herbert f. Miller
Being Traced Through Sew
eral Counties of N. Y.

Hysterical Divorces, some Of whom
have been contemplating reentering
the bonds Of matrimony and some OF
whom already have peep married
again, descended upon the Offices OF
the District Attorneys of virtually
every county in and about New York
yesterday to ascertain II the divorces
they obtained through the services OF
Herbert F. Miller, missing attorney
are valid.
In New York county, Joab H. Ban
ton, Chief Assistant District Attorney
listened to their tales and referred
their woes to Assistant District Attor-
ney John F. O'Neil, who he has in
structed to act in liaison with District
Attorney Lee Parsons Davis Of West
chester, who has procured warrant
for Miller's arrest, and has planned to
ask his indictment for trafficking in
fraudulent divorces.
At White Plains. whence the first
stories Of Miller's alleged fake divorce
mill emanated a couple Of days ago. the
throng Of visitors to the prosecutors
office included one young woman whose
name was withheld, but who said her
plans for a marriage within the next
few days had been shattered by the
discovery that the court records showed
no trace whatever of the divorce Miller
had said he obtained for her intended
husband. This young woman declared
she had seen what purported to be a
decree Of divorce, and on the strength
Of It had agreed to the marriage.
''Oh, IL I could get that man Miller
myself" shc sobbed. t
Another visitor. who described herself
as Mrs. Lillian Loughran. exhibited
what had been represented to her as
from Thomas Loughran Of this city. and
on examining this decree" clerks who
are familiar with the signature of the
Supreme Court Justices expressed the
opinion that It never had been before
Justice Tompxins. who was supposed
to have issued It. and that the findings
of fact In the case. which also pur-
ported to bear the Justices signature.
were bogus.
A man who retained Miller to get a
divorce told Assistant District Attorney
Ferris of White Plains that he had
been prepared to go to court, but that
Miller had said, You don't have to
go to court to get a divorce. have
plenty Of influence and I can get you
one without that trouble"
A new and interesting discovery In
the case was made In Queens county.
where It was found Miller had appeared
as attorney In four divorce actions re-
Gently. In each case the clerks found
one interlocutory and one final decree
on file. The DEGREES in three OF the ac-
tions purported to be signed by Supreme
Court Justice Leander b. Faber. but the
clerks said that the signatures showed
such variance that the papers would be
submitted to Justice Faber for exam
ination.
Officials said that It probably would
take some time to ascertain the extent
of the alleged fraudulent divorce opera
tions, as Miller appears to have prac-
tised in every county in this city. as well
as In westchester and Nassau. and II is
possible that he brought actions even
further away from the city. The staff
OF District Attorney Harry e. Lewis OF
Kings county was busy looking into the
twelve cases discovered Friday. In which
Miller's name appeared, and comforting
with visitors anxious to ascertain their
status.
II was stated that the fact that Miller
was never admitted to tho bar OF this
State will not tend to invalidate any d.
vorce which he may nave obtained
through tho proper court procedure.