File:Leah Eveline Hamlin (1895-1951) in the Asbury Park Press of Asbury Park, New Jersey on 7 November 1930, part 1.jpg

Belt Divorced by Wife. Wed To Former Aide. Mrs. Leah H. Bell Granted Decree Against Former Klan Leader by Michigan Court. Suit Is Not Contested. Ex-Dragon Marries Florence Kierstead, Secretary Of Organization Along Shore. (Copyright applied for by The Asbury Park Press. All rights reserved.) Athur H. Bell, ex-dragon and former kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan now "superintending ambassador" of the White Band, has been divorced by his wife, Mrs. Leah H. Bell. The former Klan leader, who had maintained organization headquarters at Elkwood Park, Long Branch, and later Belmar, was divorced last August, The Press learned today. The decree was granted Mrs. Bell in Michigan and is on file at Lansing, the state capital. Shortly after the granting of the decree, Bell married Florence Kierstead, of Woodland avenue, Avon. Secrecy Marks Action The utmost secrecy was maintained by the former kleagle and Mrs. Bell in the divorce action. The suit was filed by Mrs. Bell in Michigan, where she had lived with her parents previously to coming east. The suit was not contested by Bell. Bell is now living at Bloomfield and his former wife, who was casually as active as the ex-kleagle in Klan work in this section, organizing the women and the juniors, is a resident of the same municipality. Bell recently has been operating a lunchroom in Bloomfield. "Private Affair," Says Mrs. Bell Mrs. Leah H. Bell this morning admitted that she had divorced the former Klan leader. She declined comment, saying that she considered the matter a "private affair." However, she did declare she will not appear at a meeting of the White Band being staged by her former husband at Wemmrock. near Freehold, tonight. Mrs. Bell said her former husband last week had invited her to attend the meeting. The invitation was given by telephone, followed by a letter and Anally by a personal call of the former grand dragon, Mrs. Bell said. She said that she was 111 with a cold and could not consider attending. Miss Kierstead His Aide. Florence Kierstead server1 as secretary to the ex-Klan leader when he maintained headquarters at Elkwood Park. After the disintegration of the Klan and its passage from its palatial headquarters near Shark River Hills to a mere wooden building in Belmar, Miss Kierstead continued to be associated with the organization. Bells rise in the Ku Klux Klan was coincident with the growth of the organization. He came to the North Jersey shore as an organizer some eight years ago. He quickly secured a following which spread from one end of the shore to the other. His domain spread from Monmouth county into Ocean and then into Burlington County. Thousands flocked to the one-time hooded order and Bell was named kleagle. The Klan continued to spread. Bell's power increased. He became grand dragon of the realm of New Jersey. Headquarters were established at Elkwood Park. With the establishment of the "palace" at Long Branch a great was envisioned. But soon there appeared trouble in the form of mortgage payments. The Elkwood Park property passed out of the Klan's hands. Under the leadership of Bell, the passage of the Klan from one headquarters to another was speedy. The former Marconi Wireless property on the banks of the Shark river and nestling in the hills west of Belmar, became the headquarters of the Klan in New Jersey. The property, said to be valued at more than $1,000,000, was held by the Monmouth Pleasure club association. From his headquarters in the hills, Bell ruled his realm with a stern and vigorous leadership. Discord In K.K.K. It was not long, however, before there were notes of discord. Breaks within the klaverns and open rebellion against the rule of Bell permeated the shore section. Then came an open break dispute over title to the Shark river property. Litigation followed and finally the Klan was ousted from its headquarters, title resting in the hands of the Pleasure Club association. The Klan then moved its headquarters to a building owned by Forsham Levinsohn, in Belmar. The power of the Klan and the leadership of Bell began to wane. Soon the Klan became a thing of the past. The vim of Bell as a worker for the cause of the Klan was equaled with me same vigor by Mrs. Bell who, meeting for meeting, matched her husband with enrolled women for the men he enrolled.

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