The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-11
Virginia Legislature.
EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNALS.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES,
WedHeyddy, I

WsdneIday, Dec. 90.
An engrossed bill, Regulating the inspection of
halt in certain counties therein mentioned" was
read third time and psssed,----Ayes 1os, Noe.
IS.
Engrossed bills, " suthorising Lawrence Angus
tine Washington TO erect a dam in the Kanavha ri.
ver,"--ff concerning John II. Pdrdie, were read
third time and passed.
Ordered, that leave be given to bring in bill, to
incorporate company to open and improve the
navigation of Kanawha river from the great falls to
the mouth Of said river"
A report of the com mttee for Courts Of Justice
vas taken up and read as follows:
The committee for Courts of Justice has, accord.
ing to order, had under consideration the petition Of
Elizabeth Robertson, to II referred, and has a.
greed to the following report and resolution there
upon:
II sppesrs tn your committee, that in the year
1896 the petitioner intermarred with certain John
n Robertson, who shortly after their union gave
proofs Of most mslevolent and cruel disposition BIZ
breaking into personal violence that will render
the petitioner cripple the balance OF her fe--In
the of few years thereafter his enormities
became insupportable~-By Communicating to her
disease contracted in his ntersourse with the dis.
soute and abandoned, he reduced her to the last
degree Of disease and wretchedness; in which stu.
alton he not only denied her the aid offs physicsn,
but destroyed prescription and medicine which
had been procured for her, and declaring hhe should
have relief prevented the servants from render
Ing her their assistance From these distresses the
petitioner vas relieved by her father.
II further appears TO Jour COMMITTEES, that while
the petitioner was in this emaciated condition in
state Of high salvation her said husband caused her
to be dragged from her bed into a cold room, where
abe remained eBtrey exposed, until she had lost oil
appearance Of life, and this for the aYowed Purpose
OF giving her cold which might terminate her ex-
istenee from which situation the petitioner was re
lev.d by the Interpolation Of neigbbouring lady
Shortly after this occurrence, the petitioner was
driven from her home by her husband, who declar-
ed that II she ever returned he would put her TO
death in short way. Under these circum stances
the petitioner sought refuge with her father, who
has sustain ed her since II further appears to
your committee, that after OBTAINING from the peti
toner for several months, all her children for the
gple purpose Of increasing her mSeries, the said
Sohn a. Robertson turned them out Of doors, telling
the eldest boy who about eleven or twelve
years cid, that If their grand father would not re-
eeVe and support them, they might go to the woods
and I've as they Sould That the petitioners four
children depend on her exclusively for support and
education and ar independent fortune will be a.
ven her rs she have exclusive right
thereIn--and il appears 10 be the common opinion
&c the neighbourhood, not denied by the said John A.
Rohertson, ss fer appears to your committee
that he 10 now living in open adultery with q wo
man upon whom il lie believed no depends for sub.
sstcnce--ResoYed, therefore, az the opinion Of this
committee, that much Of the petition oC the said
Elizabeth Robertson, ga prays that Law may psss
diyorcing her from the aforesaid John A. Robert
son her husband, 10 reasonable.
The said resolutions, being twice read, was,
m the question put therevpon, agreed to by the
House.