The Washington times., 1922-01-17
DEFENDANT
in ASSAULT
TESTIFI les
TO PLOT
Alexandria Business Man Says
He Was Promised Decree If
He Married Girl.
By HARVEY L. COBB.

Copyright, 1879, By Tho Washington
Times Company
"The Judge agreed that If /
aoould marry the girl and give
the child q name he aOould
grant me q divorce"
This was the plea of a prom
inent Alexandria business man;
whom we shall cali Smith,
charged with criminal assault,
when he was later brought
into court on charges Of nom
support Of a child, born a few
days after his marriage.
The statement was made in
answer to the suit, which
Smith declares was filed, de-
spite the agreement which he
made with Judge Moncure.
Judge Agreed.
To meet the assault charge, of
which Smith declares he was not
guilty. according to his testimony at
the trial, he entered into an agree
mnt with Judge Moncure agreeing,
to marry the girl, with the pre-mar-
ital understanding that he was to be
divorced Immediately.
This, according to testimony of
witnesses, was agreed to by Judge
Moncure. Members Of the bar in
Alexandria and Washington declare
this ''is contrary TO legal ethics and
law" Z.
| Violated Ethics. y :.
1t is pointed out that a prenuptial
agreement to sever the bonds Of mat.
rimony would not only be contrary to-
law, but In CONFIRMATION OF all legal
ethics. - 49,
The testimony of Smith at his non.
support hearing, when the indictment
was made against Judge Moncure.
now under fire for his wholesale d.
| vorce granting, came to light when
he cited The original agreement be-
tween himself and the. Judge that
there would be no comeback" 1.s.
THE proposition, as IL was put up
to me by Judge Moncure, was that
IL I married the girl. the assault
charges would not be pressed, and
that ] would be granted divorce
Immediately" Smith testified. under
oath. .-... -
! $40 al Asks For Divorce. .t.
| Following the forced wedding,
Smith, represented by Budwesky q
Davis, sometimes called Che divorce
kings Of the little Reno OF the East"
made application for his divorce on
grounds of desertion. ~
Before the divorce decree could be
entered, however. friends OF his wife,
who resided in Alexandria, but work.
ed for Washington department
store, interviewed and declared that
Smith should be forced to contribute
to the support Of the child.
1t was In answer to this suit.
brought by another Alexandria attor.
ney in behalf of the child, that Smith
testified as to his agreement with
Judge Moncure.
The forced wedding between sa,itll
and his twenty.cne yesrspib sriae-sss
performed on May 2, 1897, the day
following the agreement which. SYrilh
alleges, was to absolve hisr fpofa any
further Obligations. 0ns month later
Judge Moncure entered Che final deg
cree In the case. - ~
| Denies Charges.
DESPITE theS fact that smith de.
MED being the father of the child, born
three weeks after the wedding, he test.
fled that he had agreed to the wedding
rather than have to face the charges
although have no fear OF them"
According TO the testimony mt the
hearing which the wife brought for
the support Of the child, the agree
nrent was entered into In n back room
Of William 8. Snow, police Justice OF
Alexandria, In the presence Of judge
Moncure. and number Of other W.T.,
nesses. 4
Snow Denies. however. that he had
anything to do with the agreement
lacing the blame on Judge honcufc,
IN his testimony taken In the case.