Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-04
az LEX s 1T.pR9As
,vrnNrspAY MORNING, APRIL 4, 1927

.r, ;s strictly tue, we do not hesitate TO give
;,currencv. We have seen an attested copy OF
,be records of the Court, and we have read the
law upon which they were based. There are
other facts, connected with the case, which
will probably come to light.
"CALUMNY-FOUL DISTRACTION"
There is an article under this head, in the
last Advertiser, which commences thus:
owe have understood that MIR. Hammond boasts of
bbeng in possession OF certain documents or copies
ofrecors more than thirty years old, which arc cacu
hated to wound the fair fame Of certain distinguished
Individual"
The same article concludes as follows:
.qrhe has possession of what ought TO change mems
,s character Of the man, his duty calls up
ON him to publish them. fnot, his moral duty calls
,non him at least TO contradict the foul aspersions
which he knows are founded upon these documents
which he says he has IN his possession
/ understand this charge of "cabumny and
foul dsiraei,on,'' TO have reference 10 Gen Jack
son. And in reply to it, state the subJolned
facts.
In the summer OF 1870, Gen. Jackson pre-
vailed upon the wife of Lewis Roberts Of Mer-
GER county, Kentucky, TO desert her husband,
and live with himself, in the character OF vile.
Kentucky WAS then part OF the State OF
Virginia. Roberts applied to the Legislature
ofYirginia for divorce Upon that applica-
ton law was passed, entitled san act concern
me The marriage of Leuis Roberts " This law
passed Dec. 90, 1870, and may be found in the
18th VOL Of Hening's Virginia statutes at large.
!, authorized certain judicial proceedings to be-
had. in the District of Kentucky, between Rob
ets and his wife, TO ascertain the facts oil deser-
ton and adullery--and provided that I'll the
Jury, in case Of issue Joined, shall lind Tor the
plaintiff, or, in case of inquiry into the truth OF
the allegations contained in the declaration shall
find that the defendant hath deserted the plain
,jf. and tha, she hath lived in adultery with
mother man since such desertion, the said ve"-
dict shall be recorded, and thereupon the mar
riage between the said Lewis Roberts and Ra-
chael shall be dissolved.
Legal proceedings were instituted under this
law. \ declaration was filed, charging that "the
said Rachel, in violation of her most solemn
promise, did, OH the lst day Of July, in the year
of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
ninety, elope from her said husband, Lewis, and
live in adultery with another man, and still con-
tinues with The aGullerer.' The attorney who
filed and subscribed This declaration, wrs James
Brown, our present Minister to France
A,the September term Of The Cour Q. S.
Mercer County, Kentucky, jury composed OF
Jas. Bradsberry, Thomas Smith, Gabrlei olaugh-
ter, John Lightroot, Samuel Work, Harrison
Davis, John Ray, Obadiah Wright, John Wiles,
John Meaux, Joseph Thomas, and Benjamin
Lewis, were empanneed and sworn swell and
truly TO INQUIRE into the allegations in the plain
lifts declaration specified" Hugh McGary
WAS sworn and examined as WITHSTAND the
Jury returned verdict in these words:-"We,
the Jury, do find that the defendant, Rachel Ro-
bcrts, hath deserted the plaintiff, Lewis Roberts,
and hath, and doth STILL live in adultery with
another man. John Ligh,foot, fern" This
verdict was recorded, and the marriage dis
solved.
The record Of this inquiry, verdict and judg
ment, may be found in the records oil ..
~
from September, 1872, TO September, 1906
The Rachael Roberts, who was the defendant,
Is Mrs. Gen. Jackson.
should no, have detailed these facts, al this
time, but for the call from the Advertiser. And
it mus, be remembered that the subject, so far
as am concerned, was first introduced into
newspapers by certain Jackson Editors of this
city, during the last autumn,-and for the pur-
pose of deiaming my character ltwould seem
that my forbearance then 10 publish what is
now published, has been MISUNDERSTANDING
an inference drawn that the facts did not exist,
or that was afraid TO publish them. Their
tendency to affect the "iair fame" Of some Of
the purssi characters of which the United States
can boast" is, for the present, left without COM
ment or remark. Cincinnati Gazette
From our Correspondence
BEACON OFFICE