Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-06-06

the great Divorce case now before the
Connecticut Legislature, which has
made SO much noise, and created so
much excitement in the "Land oi
Steady habits We publish below the
letter Of Mrs. Jarvis, with other pro-
ceedings relating to this extraordinary
case.
10 The Hon. General assembly Of The
State Of Connecticut, 10 be hoiden al
Hmyord, on he Grst Wednesday u
Nay, 1899.
The Petition of Sarah VI. Jarvis, Of
Middetown, in said State, respectfully
she weth. That on the third day of
July, 1910, she was lawfully married to
Samuel +. Jarvis, now Of said Middle
town. Few have reason to anticipate
from that sacred relation, so much hap
piness as, in this instance, it seemed to
promise; aud in few cases have circum-
stances so auspicious attended any other
family. The condition of her husband
has ever been favorable to en- oyment
and usefulness. Possessed of an ample
fortune, and belonging to profession
distinguished for usefulness, honor and
domestic peace; he seemed to be bless
ID with every means TO render his own
family happy and respectable. But
from an early period after they were
united, until this day, her life has been
one continued scene of wrctchcdncss.
She soon found, to her very great sur
prise, and disappointment, that DIR.
Jarvis had disposition wholly incom-
paiib!e with domestic happiness, His
spirit was tyrannical, and his temper to-
wards your petitioner, violent, reckless,
and ungovernable. Without any Just
provocaiion he has often inflicted upon
her cruel blows, and by his debasing,
and severe cNactions, has humbled her
IN the dust. During this long period,
she has endeavorcd, from n wish to pre-
serve the reputation of the family, and a
secret hope Of better days, fondIy, though
family cherished, TO confine her suffer-
ings, as far as possible, 10 her own bo-
som. But her life has become at last
so hopeles>ly miserable, that she has
been compelled to ask counsel of her
friends, and finally 10 seek relief from
This Hon. General Assembly. She will
not undertake 10 give a detail OF the
numerous instances of personal violence
which she has suffered but will relate
Il few as specimens of their character.
One Sabbath morning in the early
part of their marriage life, while she was
in situation which required all his
sympathy and tenderness, he struck her
several times upon her temple with his
fist, with great violence, by which she
was thrown into such an agony Of pain
and fear, as to require the attendance
Of an eminent physician.
Her head continued swollen for more
than week, during which time she was
confined To her room, and was never
spoken TO by her husband.
On another occasion, by the irlliction
of similar blows, her eye became in
ilalned and blood shot, and So remained
for many days. In such cases your
petitioner has given no ust cause OF OF.
fence.
She has often been amazed, at the
outrages he would perpetrate upon her
for single word spoken without the
thought OF giving him offence.
Thus at n particular time, one little
daughter, having accidentally let fall n
drop Of ink upon her book, DR.. j. i'm
mediatcly seized the book, and struck
the child in the face, which sent her
crying from the room. Your petitioner,
under the influence Of a mothers feel
ngs, remarked that the punishment
seemed too severe for the offence.
L Upon which her husband came in q
great passion at her, and seized her by
Ihe nose, and held and wrung that with .
one hand, while with the other he beat
her violently on the side Of the head,
For some time German female was
employed in the family as governess OF
the children. An attention was shown
10 her by DIR. J. which indicated ii very
improper partiality.
lie was in the habit Of waiting upon
her, to and from the table, giving her
his arm, Of riding and walking with her
in public, and in short, showing her that
preference, and bcstowing upon her
those civillties which belong only to Il
wife, and deprivation Of which,-es-
pecially when they are devoted to a
mother, is calculated to render wife
broken hearted. One evening as the
petitioner was binding up the foot Of her
which had been burned, her
son, then about l6 years of age, whis-
pered to her, that the governcss had re-
ceived a lover into the petitioners pri-i
vate apartment. She reproved the go
verness for it, Dr. j. and the governess
were sitting together reading German.
He took the part Of the goycrness, and
with great violence of manner, indicat-
ing paroxysm Of anger, ordered your
petitioner, to leave the room. Being
engaged in finishing the application Of
the bandnge to her daughters foot, she
did not Immediately retire, whercupon
her husband went into the kitchen, en-
gagged stout, athletic man, by prom
iso to obey his orders whatever they
might be, then brought him into the
parlor, and pointing to the petitioner,
told him TO "take her out" As the
cook seized the petitioner, her son sprang