The Washington times., 1922-01-24
M0NClJRE
AIDE WINS
QUIZ JOB
Smith, Personal, Attorney OF
Judge, Defeats Nicol for
Craftsmanship OF Board.

Alexandria's divorce ring began
its fight yesterday to save Robin
son Moncure, wholesale divorce
Judge of Little Reno"
The original committee Of seven
named by the president of the bar
association. ]. R. Cation. ST.. to probe
he divorce evil. resigned en- masse,
but was reelected. the entire asso-
ciation casting vote.
Moncure,s Lawyer Ii. Chairman.
Howard w. Smith, Moncure's per-
sonal counsel and Moncure's appoin-
tee to the office Of commonwealth at
| torney, was named chairman over
Judge G. e. Nicol by a vote Of eighteen
to SIX. "a.. y
4 A bill, giving the committee un-
limited powers to investigate the di-
vorce evil in all its ramifications, was
agreed on by the ASSOCIATION. 1t VIII
be transmitted to the Virginia assem-.
bly,, now in session at Richmond, with
the request that 1t be speedily enacted
into law.
Some of the older members Of the
bar are attempting to dismiss the in
yestigation as a joke, but Judge G.
&. Nicol warned the association this
question is either going to be q seri-
Gus business or It is going to be
joke. With me. 1t is going to be no
joke"
Resolution Passed. ...
At the insistence Of, Judge J. X. M.
Norton, who led the fight on the cleo
ton OF Smith as chairman OF the
probe committee, the association
passed a resolution authorizing the
on a much broader scale
than originally proposed. The origi-
nal proposition was merely to sum
mon Attorney Frank Stuart and have
him submit proof of charges that
Moncure had failed to enforce the d.
vorce Laws OF the State Of Virginia.
The resolution passed yesterday
"Resolyed, That this committee is
appointed to investigate the divorce
evil in the city of Alexandria In all
it's phases. whether 1t pertains to the
court, lawyers practicing at the par
Of the city Of Alexandra, or those
lawyers nonresident who may prac.
tice at the Alexandria bar, and all
persons in any way connected with
| the divorce evil"
The committee 10 further author
lied to report its findings to the bar
association, and President Cation de-
clared Yesterday that IL there is evi.
dence Of guilt, every person involved
should be indicted NY the grand jury.
Selection Of Howard w. Smith as
chairman of the probe committee d.
yided the bar association into two
| ranks and brought caustic criticism
from Judge Norton.
| Smith Seen Protecting Angel.
| II was Smith, Judge Norton de-
clared. who had railroaded through
the bar association an Endorsement of
| Moncure for reelection by the assem-
bly. even after charges Of non-enforce.
ment Of the divorce laws had been
preferred.
l asserted. who hurried from the bar
association meeting to Richmond and
caused speedy action to be taken on
Moncure's reelection "only a few
hours after we had named q com.
mittee to investigate the divorce evil.''
Chairman Smith served notice on
The Washington Times. few min
utes after his selection, that he would
use every effort to balk The Times In
It's further expose Of Little Reno's''
divorce evil.
understand me right now, Smith
told The Times representative at the
bar association meeting, THE Times
shall have nothing from me now or AT
any time during the investigation.
Please remember that"
No member OF the bar association
addressed the body on behalf of Smith.
but the eighteen members who voted
for him appeared to be in perfect ac-