Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-25
Supplemental Report of Certain Mem
bers of The Alexandria Bar AS
Committee
Committees Authority

Committees Authority
The undersigned members OF the
committee of seven elected at q meet
ing Of the Alexandria Bar Association
held in the Corporation Court Room
on January %, 1922, herewith sub
nit their report as supplementary to
the unanimous report of the Commit
tee. The following resolutions were
adopted by the Bar Associations:
Carlin Resolution as Amended
BE it Resolved-That commit
tee of seven be appointed to investi-
gate the conditions alleged with re-
spect to divorce in the article publish
ed in the Washington Times under
date Of January, Is, 1922
2-That Frank Stuart be invited to
appear forthwith before said commit
tee and present such proof as he may
have to substantiate any charges that
he has made, or may desire to make
concerning divorce conditions in this
jurisdiction.
Cation Resolution
Resolved-That the committee ap-
pointed to investigate the divorce evil
in the City of Alexandria, in all its
phases, whether it pertains to the
court, lawyers practicing at the bar
in the City Of Alexandria, and lawyers
from outside who practice at the bar
in the City of Alexandria, and all
persons in any way connected with
the divorce evil.
The Investigation
The first stage of the committees
work consisted of an exhaustive in
vestigation of the court records by a
subcommittee of three, composed of
Messrs. Cation, Smith and Carlin, and
the drafting of bill by another sub
committee, composed of Messrs. Nor
ton, Nicol, and Barley, which was in
PRODUCED in the Legislature with a
view to making more stringent the
divorce laws of the State.
The report of the first named sub
committee was unanimously adopted
by the committee, and it appended
to the committees report, and made a
part of this report. The report of the
last named subcommittee was like
wise unanimously adopted by the COM
mittee, and the bill drafted is also
appended hereto, marked Exhibit A
and made part of this report. Judge
Norton was sent to Richmond by the
committee to urge the passage of this
bill at hearing held February %
1922, before the committee on Courts
of Justice of the House Of Delegates
and Judge Moncure was requested tc
put the same into effect as g rule OF
court in so far as he legally could
do so. A copy of the Judges rule, Is
sued in pursuance with this request
is hereto appended, marked Exhibit
B." and made a part of this report
The bill failed of passage upon tho
adjournment of the Legislature or
March II, 1922.
The last, stage of the Committee's
work consisted of the hearing of ties.
timony. All persons interested in the
local divorce situation who desired te
be heard were publicly invited to ap.
pear before the committee. The com
mittee was handicapped by its lack OF
authority to summon witnesses and
to put them on oath. Persons thought
to have particular information on the
subject were requested in person OF
by letter to appear. Several declined tc
appear who possibly could have giver
information on existing conditions
notably Harvey L. Cobb. J. Cloyd Gill
Mary L. Baggett. Stella Bensel. and
Robert Luckett. The first two named
residents of the District of Columbia
have stated to the committee that
they will appear before grand jury
and the last three named, being resi-
dents of Alexandria, are available for
a grand jury investigation.