The Broad Ax

REV. W. A. JONES RECOMMENDED A DIVORCE AS FAMOUS CASE ENDS

(Preston News Service)

Pittsburgh, Pa., March 12.—The concluding chapter is about to be written in one of the most sensational divorce cases ever heard of in this city when Rev. W. Augustus Jones, pastor of Central Baptist Church, is handed down his divorce by the Allegheny County Court from Edna Jones. It will be recalled that about a year ago the newspapers of the country carried accounts of this case when Rev. Jones charged his wife with indignity of the person and adultery, naming a prominent Baptist minister as corespondent.

The prominence of the principals and the prominence of the ministers named in the bill of particulars and the published evidence Rev. Jones obtained through detectives, created widespread interest in the case at that time. In the bill of particulars one Pittsburgh minister was alleged to be known as "Irene."

Master Recommends Divorce Be Granted

In his report submitted last Friday, Attorney A. T. Morgan, master in the case, recommended that Rev. Jones be given a divorce from his wife, Edna Jones, on the grounds of "indignity to the person." Rev. Jones was represented by Atty. Sidney J. Watts and Mrs. Jones was represented by Atty. William M. Stanton.

Adultery Charge Withdrawn

It is said that upon advice of counsel as well as pleadings on the part of the ministerial fraternity Rev. Jones was prevailed upon to withdraw the adultery charge. It is said that should Rev. Jones press the adultery charge it would bring undue and highly damaging notoriety upon several ministers throughout the country. It is claimed that Rev. Jones was advised that he had sufficient grounds for divorce on the "indignity to the person" charge to obtain his divorce.