| |
In any issue of certain city newspapers, you will
see such advertisements as the following:
"Absolute divorces legally obtained, in New York,
and States where desertion, drunkenness, etc., etc.,
are sufficient cause. No publicity; no charge until
divorce obtained; advice free. M----B----, attorney,
56----street."
The persons so advertising are called divorce
lawyers. They make a specialty of putting asunder
"those whom God hath joined together."
The laws of New York specify but one ground for a
complete divorce, adultery; but in spite of this
these lawyers encourage persons to apply for a
sundering of their matrimonial bonds.
A man or woman, wishing to get rid of his or her
partner, applies to one of these lawyers, and a
bargain is drawn up, signed and sealed, pledging the
payment of a good round fee in case a divorce is
obtained. The first step on the part of the lawyer
is to obtain a thorough knowledge of the habits and
movements of the person against whom the proceedings
are directed. Private detectives, who also make a
specialty of this kind of business, are set to watch
the wife or husband. Every movement is observed, and
every act tortured into meaning something unlawful.
Sometimes a trap is laid in which the person is led
and caught. Or, if evidence of a truthful nature
cannot be procured; it is manufactured for a given
price.
When everything is ready, a suit is brought in the
proper Court. Charges are made against the fidelity
of the party from whom the separation is desired.
These charges may be true or false. If true, they
are the result of the system of espionage carried on
by the private detectives. If false, they are
sustained by the testimony of suborned witnesses. It
is the custom of the Courts not to try these
applications openly, but to refer them to some
lawyer of ability, who hears the evidence in
chambers, and reports the result to the Court, with
a recommendation either in favor of or against the
divorce.
Lawyers of ability are not always men of
integrity. It is owing to this fact, doubtless, that
the referee generally reports in favor of the
divorce, which the Court grants upon the strength of
this report. However this may be, there is no doubt
of the fact that divorces may be easily obtained by
those who are willing to pay for them. There are
many secret methods of procedure known only to the
initiated, but there can be no doubt of the fact
that justice has become so corrupt, in both this
city and State, that its acts have lost that moral
force which is so necessary to the national
prosperity. Men of wealth can accomplish anything,
and are sure of success from the moment their causes
are presented in the Courts, while those who have
not the means to pay for their freedom must remain
yoked to their partners until death parts them.
|
|
