Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-23

That tlc petition of Judge White for
changing tic terms of the Superior Cour;
of lazy in Hampshire and Frederick, is
reasonable-.and 9Th, That the petition of
Iohn e. Iackson, for building toll
bridge across the Monongahela. is rea-
souabc-AIi OF which resolutions were
coneurrcd in, except the Sd, which was
laid on the table
Mr.. Lcris. (irom the c. OF r. and |. y. J
reported in favor of raisinglsy shares, 49,
600 dolls. Cor improving the navigation of
Ni.,is's river, with the privilege Of taking
reasonable to''s-2diy, In favor OF incor-
poratnga company TO turnpike the road
from Harpcr's Ferry to Winchester, pass
ing through ChaTlestown-and 3dly, OF
establishing Il turnpike road from the Lit
tie River turnpike 10 Lcesburg-Allw which
resolutions were concured III.
MIR. Naery from the e. ofC. off. )pre-
scented the following Report:
The Committee for Courts of Justice
have, accordingto order, had under con
slderation the petition OF Anne =. p.
Cowper, to them referred, and have a.
greed to a report, and come TO the follow
ing resolution thereupon:
Ii appears to your Committee, that III
the year 1902, the petitioner was married
to q certain VIM. Cowper-that until the
death of her father, Colonel Josiah Par
ker, which happened in 1910, she remain
ed only six months under the entire con-
trout of her husband, having been COM
PEELED shortly after their marriage, to
seek support from her father in conse-
quence ofpecuniarv distress, and after
the cruclties of her husband-Tha from
the death of her father to the present
time, his life presents only history of
the most inhuman and savage conduct
towards the petitioner and her children
That while pregnant he treated her with
such brutality Us to cndanger her life
that he ordered her 10 destroy her unborn
infant, and threatened TO murder her for
ompiance-that in sixteen DAYS af-
ter premature birth, which his cruelties,
had occaslOned, he dragged her by her
feet all over her room-that he attempt
ed to starve her 10 death, in which he
would probably have succeeded, but for
the secret aid of her servants-That hei
detained from her, her infant child until,
twas reduced almost TO the grave by the
loss of its natural food-that he has cho-
ked her severely, whipped her with a
large carriage whip; destroyed her fur
niture and clothes-maniiested an inten-
ton TO murder her in her sleep-driven
her from the home left her by her father
In short, that Ire has practised almost
every enornity, that could possibly be
suggested by the most depraved and a
bandcned heart-and finally, that the es
tate left by the petitioners father to her
self and children is useless to them and
wasting daily, her friends being restrain
ed by the savage disposition of her hus-
band from aiding in its management, &
she being unable to act herself, in conse-
quence of her connection with him.
Rcsolred, therefore, as the opinion of
this Committee, that the petition of the
said Ann p. p. Cowper, praying to be di-
vorced mcnsd ct thcro from her said hus-
band, William Cowper, is reasonable.
MIR. Blackburn said, it would accord
with the best feelings of his heart to rem
der Mrs. Cooper any service in his pow
er-that she had not asked enough of the
Legislature he wished to extend the re-
solution--and therefore moved to amend
II by striking out the words Z" a mcnSa ct
Moro, and Substituting p" riRcuio mat
rimonii"
Mr.. Austin did not know, whether they
were authorised 10 grant more than the
petitioner asked for.
wi. nUft' dSheu, III sOlltdiloWdlCc WIS
not due for female delicacy? Ought we
not TO grant what delicacy had restrained
her from asking-a completerelease from
all her ties TO such husband?
Mr.. blackburn withdrew the amend
ment he had offered g. proposed to sub
join after the words is reasonable" the
following" but that justice requires us 10
grant what delicacy forbad the petitioner
TO ask, avincuIo matrimonif Which Re
solution was adopted by the House.
MIR. Bnkey presented petition from
Wood county, praying in the most ener-
getic tsrms, for a grammar school to be
established in each county of the State,
and especially for certain fines and for
FIXTURES, to be appropriated towards an d
cademv in Brooke county.
Mr.. Dodd,fdge suggested, that the whole
question of schools, academies, and col
legeS would soon be reported to the Legis-
lature-In the meantime, at his motion,
this petition was referred TO the Select
Committee on Schools and Colleges.
Adjourned.
IN hmposturc-- Ended.
The world have heard much of very Singh
lar imposture which has for some time been at