Evening star., 1922-02-05
THREE NAMES IN ITO
DIVORCE AFFIDAVITS
CONTINUED From First Page(

NSOutlHutu ToIfl ldSc-t
the files of the court for the period
from May 1, 1920. to the present time.
which Is the time Judge Robinson
Moncure has presided over the cor
poration court and to which period
the committee is confining its probe.
because, as the committee explained
when it organized, it was during these
eighteen months that the divorce
business of the court has experienced
tremendous increase.
Plans for Closer Probe.
The subcommittee explained. in
submitting it's tabulations, that in
obtaining the same each Of the cases
was carefully examined. However. it
did not propose making any recon-
nlendations as to further investiga-
ton of any one case until 1t has
made complete survey of all Of
the more than 1900 cases filed dur
ing Judge Moncure's tenure on the
bench. In this connection it was in
timated during the meeting today
that notations will be made Of those
cases which on their face suggest
some irregularity or fraud and at the
proper time such cases will be in
quired into In the most thorough
manner. Those whose names appear
in such cases, either as the interested
parties to the suit or as attorneys or
as witnesses. will be asked to testify
as to the truth Of the statements
sworn to in the papers in the case.
Also, persons who have made
charges as to the evils alleged to
exist will be called to testify.
In the meantime. Mr.. Booth, one of
the committee, has been designated
by the latter to collect all specific
charges made by those who have been
making public allegations as to this
so-called divorce scandal, and to COM
pare these charges with the evidence
ords of the court and to report his
findings at the regular meetings of
the committee.
Mr.. Cation, chairman Of the sub
committee examining the files. stated
that while the figures as produced
today show three names standing out
very prominently in connection with
affidavits as to the domicile require
ments under the divorce law. the
subcommittee did not care to report
any opinions at this time nor did il
care to make an attempt now at
| reaching conclusions.
Actual Residence Facts Sought.
In tabulating the activities of these
three witnesses who appear SO fire.
quently in the divorce cases, Mr..
Cation called attention to the fact
that the figures indicate that Mrs.
Baggett had on an average of forty
persons rooming in her seven-room
home each day for six months, the
latter period being that which was
covered by Mr.. Cations individual ex-
animation of the files. Mrs. Bensel
was reported to have had an average
! of twelve roomers in her home dur
| ing a corresponding period.
| Although no action was taken dur
| ing today's meeting, it was indicated
! by the general discussion of the full
! committee that an effort Will be made
! to determine whether or not the
! persons represented in the records as
! having lived at the home. of these
I; witnesses were actually living there
! during the period represented, and il
they were truthfully legal residents
of the state as sworn to in the affida-
Wits.
1t was plainly evident from the ex-
pressions made by members of the
mr. meeting
! the present divorce law OF the state
| is sorely in need of strengthening
! that its provisions should be more
specific and that it should be more
stringent in its requirements. Inc
! committee approved the draft of a
| bill prepared by a subcommittee COM
! posed of Judges J. X. NJ Norton, I.
! l.. Nicol and j.. c. Barley which is
| intended to serve IS an amendment TO
! the Hall divorce bill introduced in the
! Virginia legislature week ago. Whiie
! approving this the committee appoint
! ed Judge Norton as committee OF
| one to represent the committee at
| the hearing on tie Hall bill to be
| held at the state capitol in Richmond
| next Thursday.
Praises Hall Divorce Bill.
Charles Henry Smith. a local at
! torney and a member of the leelsia-
| ture, in an address to the committee:
| declared that he CONSIDERED lne Hdli
! bill entirely inadequate to meet the
/ situation, and stated that he has just
| prepared a bill which he considered
/ far superior, and which, he said, he
| will introduce at an early date. He
explained that his bill is of a nature
| that will fairly revolutionize the
| divorce practice in the Old Dominion
| and he has every reason to believe
! that the Hall bill will die in the com
| mittee room, while his bill viii Oe
| enacted into law.
| However, Mr.. Smiths remarks did
! not alter the course of the committee
/ and Judge Norton will be in Rich
mond at the hearing on the Hall bill
| to urge the Incorporation OF the
| amendments adopted by the local
| committee. In addition to requiring
| an attorney to represent the interests
| of the commonwealth in every di-
i yorce case, the local committee s
draft proposes that all attorneys fill
| ing divorce suits shall swear as to
I the truthfulness of the statements OF
! witnesses and that no decree of di-
| vorce can be granted until three
months from the date of the filing of
| the suit.
| The meeting was presided over by
Commonwealth Attorney Smith.
/ chairman of the committee. and at
its conclusion it was decided to con-
| tinue the subcommittee at its exami-
| nation of the divorce records in the
files of the court and to make an
I othor ranorf Of q q ahl1a fiOOS when