The Washington times., 1922-02-08
OopyrtGht 1921. by star Company.

and reasonable apprehension of
bodily harm"
On these grounds Mrs. Mackey
has asked that she be divorced from
her husband and that the custody
of their four children. Lincoln. Wal
ton, Alice and Virginia be given to
her.
Others Who Filed.
Howard w. Smith, chairman of
the Alexandria probe committee,
and personal counsel for Robinson
Moncure, with w. p. Woods, his
partner. filed suit and secured a
large number of the divorces
granted in Arlington county.
Other members of the ring who
have filed a large numa>r OF cases
in Arlington county are e. I'LL,
IT.. a negro lawyer, with a total of
fifty-five cases; r. B. Washington.
twenty-five cases, and F. L. Scott.
commonwealth attorney Of the
county. sixty-s(Gen cases.
But a small majority OF the people
Of these communities - Arlington
county court house, and Alexandra
were aware OF the fact that their
courts were being made the dump
ing grounds for Washington and
other nearby State divorce seekers.
When questioned yesterday Arl-
ington county court house attorneys
and business men, who had any
opinion at all in the matter, esti-
mated that the divorce business
there was not large but easy to
get"
I'VE have some divorce business
here. but not much" one of the
leading lawyers of that community
stated, requesting that he be not
quoted.
Probably the majority of the
business that we have here in the
divorce line is brought here by
Alexandria lawyers" he said.
Expresses Doubt.
This lawyer, who is more or less
familiar with divorce practice and
legal cases filed gave as his guess
of the number of suits filed between
rs and 100.
When told that the records showed
that more than 400 cases were filed
within the last year, he expressed
his doubt, declaring that the figure
was preposperous. The records how
in that county, both members Of
the Alexandria divorce ring, secured
more than $50 divorces, in addition
to nearly $50 cases in Alexandria.
Few lawyers in Arlington county,
the records show, are active in the
divorce business, practically all OF
It being dumped into that county by
two Washington lawyers, f. Hill,
ir., negro lawyer, and Crandal Mac
key, with a total Of 1877 cases be-
tween them, and members OF the
Alexandria divorce ring.
The first step in divorcing Virginia
divorce lawyers from their divorce
business will be taken tomorrow
when members of the State assembly
in Richmond begin consideration of
the Hall anti-divorce measure.
Should the measure be passed 1t
will be the death knell of a business
which has brought wealth, IL not So
cial prominence, to the Virginia di-
vorce ring, who secured more than
1000 divorces in the State last year.
Smith Heads Opposition.
Opposition>to the measure will be
led by Charles Henry Smith, State
assemblyman from Alexandria, the
mecca in the East for mis-mated
spouses.
Smith, in announcing his opposi.
ton to the measure, declared II has
no teeth. Records available at the
Moncure divorce court in Alexandra
show. however, that should the bill
be passed-or any bill be passed
with teeth" in 1t that would effec-
lively prevent the wholesale issu.
ance of divorces that hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars would be lost
annually to the Virginia divorce
ring OF which Smith is not only
leader but is known as the crown
prince at Moncures divorce court.
Members of the Alexandria Bar
Association have announced their in
tention to testify at the hearing
which will be begun tomorrow, as
well as prominent educators and
ministers throughout the State who
have declared themselves opposed to
a continuation of divorce conditions
in their State.
Alexandria, Record Worst.
While divorces in almost any court
in Virginia are matter Of dollars
and dispositions, conditions in Alex
andria and Arlington county un-
quesiionably arc worse than in any
other communities in the state.
puhlir .niniOn and sAntlmenl