The Washington times., 1922-02-22
DIVORCE KINGS
VENT SPLEEN ON
TIMES NEWS|ES
Little Merchants Selling News
Of Scandal Objects Of
Strong-Arm Methods.
BY HARVEY l.. COBB.
Copyright, 1879. by The Washington


Times Company
Unable to stem the rising tide of
public opinion which promises to
engulf them. members of the Little
Reno divorce ring are reporting to
strong arm" methods 10 suppress
the publication of their scandal.
Efforts to prevent the sale Of the
Washington Times, first and only
paper in Washington to start the
full expose, We're begun in Little
Reno at the outset of the campaign,
by threatening newsboys with ar.
rest.
Many of them have been arrested
but later released without charges
being preferred against them. Fail
ing through threats of arrest to
stop broadcasting Of the news a
ukase was issued yesterday from
ring headquarters" for the arrest
of Times newsboys.
Newsdealer Fined.
Following this. the Alexa ndria
Times newsdealer was fined $25 for
"disorderly conduct" the charge be.
ing that "newsies' had cried their
wares on the streets OF Alexandria,
disturbing quietude and tranquility.
The case was heard before Civil
md Police Justice Duvall, who fined
the Observation-Disclosures SIS fer his
fragrant" violation of the law-the
violation being the heinous crime OF
small boys crying" their wares Oh
he street corners.
Justice Duvall denies that his con.
nection with members Of the divorC..
ring had any influence In the prosecu'
ton OF the case against the newsies.
The facts show. however. tho JUS
tice Duvall. Little Reno's civil and
police magistrate. did divorce bust
ness of his own and that Queen
Baggett" made dispositions for his
clients on which Moncure, Little
Reno's divorce judge, granted the
divorce.
Moncure's Ally.
Justice Duvall also appeared before
the Richmond legislative hearing of
the divorce scandal in Virginia in
defense of Moncure and voiced his
iisapproval of the trend of affairs.
by an official order OF Judge Mon.
'ure. the rights of certain AleXan-
dria attorneys interested in cleaning
UP the ring have been denied them.
According to charges made yester-
day by Attorney Frank Stuart ne
was denied papers in case in which
ne was interested.
Members of the Alexandria Bar
Association will begin Thursday their
formal hearing of testimony in the
Little Reno divorce scandal.
The complete tabulated report OF
the subcommittee, which has ex-
amined 900 divorce cases gTran
by Judge Moncure, will be laid before
the committee.
Among the witnesses which have
been called are Mary l.. Baggett. Lit.
tie Reno's divorce queen: Judge Mon
cure and various members of the
divorce ring.
Committee Handicapped.
Attorney Frank Stuart. reseonsi.
BILE for the sweeping investigation
and probe now being made and lead.
ing the forces TO clean up Little
Reno has announced that he will not
he a party to the white washing"
procedure.
The committee is perfectly aware
that they are not clothed with any
judicial authority and even though
they should desire 10 do something
,angible they are without power TO
do it," Mr.. Stuart said.
1T is to lie hoped. however.
that the committee will do what ii
can by making recommendations
and by demanding grand jury
investigation, which would be the
proper body TO make a thorough
investigation"
Other witnesses. including n
Times reporter, have also refused
to appear before the committee,
charging that if there was a real
intent of cleaning up the divorce
scandals of Alexandria that a grand
jury investigation should have
been Initiated by members OF the
Alexandria bar association, which
has not been done.