The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-01
Alexandria Scandal Calls for
Grand Jury Action, Attor-
ney Stuart Asserts.
BY HARVEY L,ICOB8.
tCopyriEiit, 1898. BY Tho wasnintk
Times Coutpanyg

fCopyrfgi}t, 1879. by Tho WaShinfHS
Times CeutpAny.
Demands. for sJgrand. jyf2 in7
|vestigation OF the ,AiexanSfia d.
yorce ring will be made, it was
announced today by Attorney
Frank Stuart, leading the forces
to break up the wholesale divorce
practice of Alexandra, the Little
Reno of the East.
Characterizing as a farce" the
'shand-picked" committee named
i by the Alexandria Bar Associa-
! ton to investigate the charges
against Judge 'ioncure and law
yers who praStice before him,
Stuart today reiterated his dec
laration that the inquiry would
merely be "white-washing
farce"
Stuart Criticize Committee.
THE two or three minority mem
bers on the committee who would
possibly be unprejudiced could do
nothing against the majority Of the
committee when the final vote
came" Stuart declares.
mo better evidence of the CON-
plexion Of this committee can be
cited than the fact that they have
chosen as their chairman Howard
w. Smith. political appothtee OF
the judge, obligated to him by favor
and his personal counsel.
From such committee little
could be expected In the wav OF 'un-
covering the charges Of laxities OF
Judge Moncure, which have been
preferred against him by myself
and others. "
"The only fair and impartial way
to investigate this whole disgfaceful
affair, which has brought dishonor
to the legal profession In Alexandra,
Is by an imperial grand jury inquiry.
''If the bar association il sincere
in desiring to clean house, IL will
gladly welcome any agency to assist
In the inquiry.
Demand for a grand jury investi-
CATION" Stuart declares, must como
from the best people of Alexandria.
Certainly we cannot expect favorable
action on this by the bar association,
which, l say without fear of success
fui contradiction, Is dominated by the
divorce ring.
"As the records will show, Alex
andria lawyers are growing rich with
their divorce business, and there are
enough Of them in the business here
Ito outvote the lawyers who are either
not interested in the divorce game
or are Influenced through their
friendship for lawyers on the inside
Of the ring"
People Are Aroused.
Despite the reluctance of many Of
Alexandria's leading citizens to take
active part in the controversy which
has almost divided the little historic
city into factions, there are many in
dications that the people are aroused
to the situation and determined TO
put a stop for once and all to .he
wholesale divorce business profited in
by the handful of divorce lawyers.
One of the astonishing things az
revealed by the numerical list Of
cases in Judge Moncure's court Ia
the fact that practically the, sole
business of the court is the granting
Of divorces.
One hundred cases taken at ran
dom. including the series of cases
filed from Nos. 1141 to 1241, show
/, that out Of the hundred cases filed
In Moncure's court. only ono case,
No. 12a7, was not q divorce case.
The illustration cited was taken
at random by the writer and IN not
an exception to the general run OF
cases. OF the hundred cnses cited
the name Of Mary l.. Baguett. a.
the resident witness. appear tweivs
timea
In the succeeding 100 cases. from
iff2 10 1342, Mr. Bageeft's name
appears eighteen tinsss. wherein shs
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