Evening star., 1922-01-29
DIVORCE SCANDAL
TO Be FULLY AIRED
Alexandria Bar Association
Will Thoroughly Sift
Charqes-laW Blamed.
By q stan Correspondent.

|
ALEXANDRIA. Va, January 2S.-
The alleged divorce evil In Alexandria
is to be Investigated In a most complete
and thorough manner, according to the
expressed intentions Of the special
committee of the Alexandria Bar AS
sociation when it met here late today
and adopted plan of procedure.
The seven members Of this special
committee are unanimous in their ex-
pressed determination to sift the mat
ter to the bottom and to get at the
actual facts of conditions. They are
desirous Of extending punishment to
any one who Is discovered; to have In
dulged I'm illegal or irregular transac-
tions in connection with divorces and
to recommend remedies to improve the
situation.
Believes Law at Fault.
Practically every one of the members
of this committee Is of the opinion
that the Virginia divorce law Is at
fault at least to some extent because
of its indefiniteness regarding the
domicile requirements of an applicant
for divorce. It. was intimated by all
that, no matter what else may be ac-
complished by the committees investi-
cation. it will recommend that the
nate its present weak features.
The committee is composed of the
following members of the local bar:
!. Howard w. Smith, commonwealth at
torney, chairman: Judge J. X. M.
L. Boothe. Judge L. c. Barley. c.
Keith Carlin and j. Randall Cation.
Will Investigate Cases.
After a general expression of views
as to the proper procedure. a reso-
luton was adopted appointing sub
| committee Of three to make an alb
stract of every divorce case that has
come to the corporation court from
make a report at the next meeting
Of the committee next Saturday aft
l,ernoon. The period selected for the
collection of data concerning the d.
covers the period Judge Robinson
Moncure has presided over the court
and during which it is alleged by
those complaining Of the conditions
that the greatest abuses Of the di-
vorce law have been perpetrated.
Those who were named to serve
on this subcommittee are Messrs.
Cation (chairman). Carlin and Smith.
They were instructed to make a spe-
cial note of those cases which ap-
pear to them as suspicious or in any
way out of the ordinary or irregular.
Would Call All Lawyers.
1t Is the intention of the committee
to call upon every member OF the
local bar to furnish a list of all
ing the period in question and to
supply any other information which
may be helpful. The committee also
will call on all citizens and others
to furnish like information. When
the committee has considered thor
oughly the history Of every divorce
case during the period mentioned 1t
will call witnesses to testify con-
cerning the facts brought out and
considered irregular.
The committee anticipates some
difficulty in this respect. however.
as it has not the power to compel
witnesses to testify nor to place
members of the committee believe
that it will be successful in obtain
ing helpful information by this means.
VIII Push Legislation.
In anticipation of this, a bill pre-
cared last week by Judge Nicol of the
committee has been introduced In
the state legislature which would
grant these powers to the committee
Efforts will be made to expedite the
It is the intention of the committee
| according to views expressed, to ask
! Judge Moncure to require each at
| torney presenting a divorce case dur.
| ing the investigation to swear thai
! he has personally investigated the at
| fidavits as to the residence or the
| applicant and has found them to be
| correct. He will be asked also to ap.
| point an attorney to represent the
| state in every divorce case, who will
| examine the evidence and cross-ques.
ton witnesses. J. r. \.