Evening star., 1953-03-29
D. {. Bar Leaders Hit
House Bill 10 Abolish
Love Theft Suits

Proposed legislation that would
abolish alienation Of affections,
or love theft" as grounds for
lawsuit here yesterday drew an
angry rumble from District bar
and civic leaders.
The measure was introduced
in the House Friday by Repre-
sentative Hale, Republican. of
Maine. Mr.. Hale took the same
step last session, but the bill
died in committee without
reaching the hearing stage.
MI. Hale's chief reason for
such legislation appears to be
two-fold: Many States" have
taken such action, and aliena-
tion, as lawsuit. lends itself
to abuses and blackmail."
To these views, the reaction
of Attorney Jean Boardman,
member of the domestic rela-
tlons laws committe of the Dis
trict Bar Association whose law
practice for many years has con-
sisted chiefly of domestic rela-
tions cases, was typical.
BOardman Is Critical.
alternating the affections of
q man or woman from his
spouse is as serious an offenSe as
a person can be guilty Of" Mr.
Boardman declared. With
drawing the protection that this
court action affords would leave
nothing for the victim but to
resort to violence"
In his view, Mr.. Boardman
added, Mr.. Hale'S measure must
have the backing of the Asso-
ciated Wolves of America"
Alienation, as grounds for a
civil damage suit, carries over
from the old common law of
England. Tracing it's origins,
Mr. Boardman said this action
in law was devised to give
spouse peaceful recourse to right
q wrong.
Called 'MeritOriOuS' Action.
up to that time if an out
slider carried on with a mans
wife, the husband could only
take the law into his own hands
or do nothing about it at ALL"
the lawyer said. Provision of a
right to go to court to collect
damages, rather than indulge in
personal violence. makes aliena-
ton lawsuits "one of the most
meritorious of all legal actions"
he said.
Another prominent attorney,
who has handled marital affairs |
cases here for nearly 80 years, |
declared he has never heard of |
any such abuses as Representa-
tive Hale fears. In this, he had |
agreement of at least one of the |
city's leading Federal juriSts. i
This judge said alienation law
suits are certainly no acute
problem here" He added that.
he fails to see how blackmAil,
Stemming from any source, can
be cured by piecemeal legisia-E
ton. "The best way to combat
blackmail is criminal indict-
ment " bo declared
Would End Safeguard.
The Citizens Advisory Council
to the District Commissioners
already has lined up unanim-
ouSly against the proposed leg
.lSlation. The councils view is
that the measure would remove
one of the greatest barriers pro-
tecting family life. the only safe
guard that poor man has against
invasion of his family"
WoolSey w. Hall, colored civic
leader and council member out
spoken in his views against the
Hale bill, declared yesterday he
"iust doesn't see what good the
bill would achieve"
Only the Washington Bar AS
sociation, Negro attorney organ
ization, has supported the pro-
posed measure. It's stated reason
is that the legislation would |
bring the District in line with |
other States"
The District Bar Association |
still has not reported on the
bill. But Arthur j. Hilland,
chairman of the legislative COM
mittee, said he thinks the bill is
call WRONG ="