DIVORCE IN FORTY SECONDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 16, 19 January 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

DIVORCE IN FORTY SECONDS.

A VERBATIM REPORT OF KANSAS

PROCEEDINGS.

A divorce in forty seconds! ■ That was the record in Judge Henry's court yesterday (says the Kansas "City Journal"). At 11.9 a.m. Mrs Jessie Lyon entered the courtroom the wife ,of Smith Lyon. At 11.10 she walked out a single woman. It was the quickest divorce out of a dozen tried by the court that morning. The entire evidence, including all the words spoken by the plaintiff, her lawyer, and two witnesses, was taken down by a stenographer employed in a law firm. Hundreds of timid women who may be waiting and dreading for their divorce suit trials may take heart when they read the few short and simple words necessary to sever the bonds that gall.

In this case the procedure was as follows:—The judge called off from his docket: "Lyon against Lyon." A lawyer, accompanied by two women and a man, came forward to the judge's bench.

"Hold up your right hands and be sworn," said Clerk J. B. Stacy.

The two women and the man raised their right hands and took the oath. "Take the witness stand," said the lawyer to the plaintiff. Then the lawyer askecl the following questions and received the following answers:— "Your name is Jessie Lyon?" "Yes, sir." "You are the wife of Smith Lyon? "Yes, sir." "When were you married to him 7 "About eight years ago." "He deserted you in 1897?" "Yes, sir." "Has been gone ever since?" "Yes, sir." "Has he contributed anything to your support?"

"No, sir." "How long have you lived in Jackson County?"

"Over a year." Mrs Lyon was excused from the stand and one of her witnesses called. Testimony of Mrs Bell 'Ross, a witness. "Are you acquainted with Mrs Lyon?" "Yes, sir." "She is a woman of good character and reputation?"

"Yes, sir." "Do you know anything about the difficulties between her and her husband at all?"

"No, sir." "You know he deserted her? Frank H. Rogers, called as a witness, testified: "You are acquainted with Mrs Lyon, the plaintiff of this suit?"

"Yes, sir." , "She is a lady of good character and reputation?"

Judge: "Decree of divorce to plaintiff. A lawyer held his watch in his hand from the moment Mrs Lyon took the stand until the last witness had testified, and it was all done so quickly that only forty seconds elapsed.