Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-06
REPORT made
ON $40 DIVORCES
BY COMMITTEE
Names Of Attorneys and
Witnesses in Cases
Announced
TEETH IN DIVORCE BILL
Chas. Henry Smith Tells Committee
He Is Now Preparing Bill To Intro
duce in Legislature

The principal business disposed Of
Saturday afternoon at meeting OF
the special committee of seven of the
Alexandria Bar Association named TO
probe the alleged divorce evil in this
city was the submission of partial
report of the divorce cases gone over
by the special subcommittee COM
posed of j. Randall Cation, c. Keith
Carlin and Howard w. Smith. The
committee after hearing this report
and considering a number of other
matters adjourned till next Saturday
afternoon at $50 o'clock when it is eX-
pected the committee probably Will
sIb.nit complete report on the di-
vorces granted in the corporation
court since Judge Moncure assumed
office.
Messrs. Cation and Smith went over
a total of $40 cases, Mr.. Cation 22o
for period extending from June,
1921 to January l, 1922 and Mr..
Smith went over LA from period eX-
tending from May /, to November /,
1920. Out of the cases investigated
by Mr.. Cation the name of Mrs. Mary
L. Bagett he stated appeared SO times
as witness and the name of Mrs. Stella
Bensel appeared twelve times as wit
ness he said.
In cases investigated by Mr.. Smith
the name of Mrs. Mary J.. Baggett
he stated appeared % times as wit
ness and the name of Mrs. Stella
Bensel appeared 3 times witness
According to the partial report filed
AZ, ..4o,ro,,. bnn,jI;po. bo
I amined, and the number of each TO-
low:
Davis, and Budwesky, 95; Richard B.
Washington, Ga; Charles Henry Smith,
80; Charles E. Corgan, 20; Smith and
Woolls, IS; w. S. Snow, II. Fl. Noel
Garner. II; Leo P. Harlow, Z; Louis
N. Duffey, Z; r. w. Stump, 6; Nicoi
& Son, 6; G. L. Boothe. 5; F. G.
Duvall, 5: ]. L. Foster, Colonial Beach
5; T. M. Wampler, Washington, 3; +.
p. Russell, 4; j. r. Cation and Son, 2;
Carlin, Carln and Hall, 2; Robert j.
Thomas, |; Charles Bendheim, ];
Crandall Mackey. Washington, !; Os-
car Thomas, |; Neudecker and Ash
ford, Washington, l: Edmund Hill,
colored. 81: T. NJ. Watson, colored,
\.
When the meeting convened, which
was presided over by Howard w.
4 Smith chairman, Secretary Randall
| Cation read the minutes Of the last
injecting after which judge Norton
sintroduced draft of the Hall divorce
Hbill now pending in the legislature
with a number of amendments among
(which were several designed to
9strengthen the bill and make it more
u difficult to obtain divorces in the
N State. :,
Il Among other things it is provided
that the state be represented IN all
divorce cases and that no final decree
shall be entered within period OF
three months after the filing of the
suit.
After some debate Judge Norton
! was authorized to go to Richmond
| Thursday and confer with Delegate
Hall on this bill and see It the
amendments could not be adopted.
On Thursday there will be hearing
! on the Hall bill before special com
mittee.
Gardner L. Boothe was named a
committee of one to procure certain
newspapers anu IoNc liiciii
the committee in order that specltio
cases may be investigated by the
N committee. =,
N Attorney Charles Henry Smith,
II member of the state legislature. was
Y called on to give his views regarding
the Hall bill.
Delegate Smith told the committee
the bill was referred to the committee
on courts and justices and said ne
would be glad to arrange for hear
ing. The bill, however. he said. fails
in its purpose as he added it does not
provide for how it shall be done.
There is now in preparation a bill
! by him he said designed to change
the whole divorce law and it will go
a long way toward revolutionizino
somewhat after the divorc laws Of
N Colorado. as it creates the office Of
y divorce proctor whose duty it shall
be to investigate all divorce cases re-
Cardless of whether or not they are
4 contested.
4 Mr.. Smith said the Hall bill did
not have enough teeth in it. and Re
added he expected to submit his bill
i shortly. :,
The following members of tht
committee were present: Howard W
Smith. chairman: Judge J. X. NJ. No,
TON Jndre T.. C. Barley, Judge c. :.
Nicol, C. Keith Carl'n. Gardner l.
Boothe, j. Randall Cation.