Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-03-23
A Youthfui and Unfortunate Pair.

In the Court ofQuarter Sessions, on Satur-
day, case Of considerable interest came up for
consideration before Judge Campbell. 1t was
the application ola wife, who complained of be-
ing deserted by her husband, and praying the |
Court to make an order, according to the act OF
Assembly in such case made and provided, com" |
pclliny him to afford her maintenance Both !
the parties are what the law considers infants,
or persons under the years OF discretion, and IN
this instance, at least, the suppost'on OF the |
law was amply borne out by the facts. 1t ap-
peared 10y the testimony that the husband was
employed in the family Of the wie's mother at
the ace Of sixteen as servant, and that the boy
md girl were permitted 70 play and be familiar
with csch other without any danger being ap.
pretended. The result, however, to the aston.
ishrnent and dismay Of the old people, was the
ushering into existence, in about year after
the boy came to the house, Of third party,
charming little lkeless of the two The old
saying tha, "lambs will play" had been forgot
ten by the parents OF the girl, and when this
denouement, as serious as unexpected, took
place, they set about repairing the damage as
far as lay in their power. But 1t was not until
the child was year old that the youngsters
were persuaded into q marriage and from
that time the husband contributed portion of
his very small earnings to the support Of his
wife and child about month, when he became
ured of The task. In addition to this, he was
thrown out of employment, or relinquished
e. 81. ,,e and,
no more attention TO his family.
1t appears that the wife was disposed to rest
satisfied with this arrangement, until she heard
that ber boy was getting into bad habits, freQent
ing balls and theatres and paying attention to
other females, at which her jealousy was arou-
scd. She forthwith demanded portion of his
company and when he demurred, insisted up
on his persisting in the neglect of his impor-
tant family duties, had him arrested and bound
over to court on charge Of descrion. This
was only about five months after the marriage
After the evidence had been concluded
Judge Campbell asked him what he had 10 say
in his defence, and his reply was that he had
no trade, had no work he was capable of do
ing. and was going to school to qualify himself
for some respectable employment; also that
he would not have married the girl had he
not been forced to do so, and that he told her
parents at the time that he could not support
her.
The Court, however, did not recognize the
validity of this excuse, and made an order that
he should pay one dollar per week towards the
maintenance of his wife and child, and give
security for faithful compliance with the
same. Those Of the young mans friends who
were in Court stated that it was impossible fo
him to comply with the order that he him
self was indebted TO friends for support ant
that if repaired TO pay, or give security to pa!
one cent regularly towards the support of hi
family, he must inevitably 60 to Jail.
At this announcement the young wife seem
ed almost overwhelmed. Child as she was
she has during her examination and that of ,h
ether Witnesses manifested considerable iorti
tude in the midst of her confusion and sham
from the painful position in which she was pa
ced, but when the fact was announced that he
boy-husband must go to Jail, she could scarcel
restrain her sobs and was led faltcring fror
the courtroom by an elderly lady whom W
took to be her mother. In the mean time tt
judge appeared deeply affected, and no dou'
considered this the most puzzling case he Wa
ever called upon TO decide. The boy was con
mitted in default Of security, but the counst
for the prosecutrix was heard to declare tbs
he would not be in custody over Sunday. TT
council is an acute man, and he probably ha
his reasons for the assertion, even if the spect
tors did not see them in the gait and dcmean
of his client as she left the court room.-Led
AFFAIRS IN TARRyTowN.--Our usually qul
village has been the theatre OF quite dram
the past week--nothing more nor less havlT
occurred than an elopement. The SUGGEST
wooer was limb of the law named MERIT VI
Wart. The fair lady IS Miss Benedict, a daug
ter of Gen. Benedict, sweet, charming a
romantic maiden, DER whose head some eig
teen summers have shed their rays" and, wi
adds to their numerous other charms, is
fact that she holds in her own right the key
treasure of some S35, 900, hard cash.
Van Wart had been for some time endeav
ing TO spirit her away, but his attempts ha
heretofore been unsuccessful. This we
told the story. Aided by pair Of fast hols
he succeeded in carrying the lady out OF