Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1859-06-04
HORRIBLE BRUTALITY OF A HUSBAND
WEALTHY FARMER ATTEMPTS TO
STaGvE HIS WIFE TO DEATH.

John Fullerton, a wealthy farmer Of Murrv
Michigan, has long been known as house.
hold tyrant but even those most preiudiced
| against him on this account, were not pre-.
pared for tho revelations Of the true fendlsh-
ness Of his character which have recently
| been made.
One night, near the last..of March, gronns
we're heard proceeding from the house, as Of
some one in great distress. and the neigLbors
| recalling the fact that Mrs. Fullerton bad
not been seen for long time, were led to en-.
| !ertain suspicious ola new a,rOcity on his
part. Mr.. Birch. neighbor, called ut the
! house the next day, and was reluctantly per-
mitted by Mr. Fullerton to see his wife -
He found her in u chamber destitute of fur.
niture, save n miserable bed upon which she
lay buried in straw, with a dirty feather bed
q covering, and apparently without particle
OF clothing upon her person. Still more
shocking was her emanciated condition
She wcs reduced to a mere skeleton-her hair
matted and ciotted with blood, and her face
badly bruised. The scene was so sickening
that Mr.. Birch speedily sought the open air.
The ladies near were soon enlisted, and re.
paired the following morning 10 the house,
where they were met with repeated threats
Of violence from Mr. Fullerton, bat they
finally proceeded TO put the skeleton form in
more tidy and comfortable condition.
Their representations Of her situation arc
too revolving for repetition. In several
places the bones had worn through the flesh,
and her body wus covered with stripes aud
{ nd terrible bruises. w hen nourshnlent wse
gwen to her she ate like ore iamished, and
her mind seemed to be IN condition border.
ing upon idiocy. There are every indication
Of her having been kept for long time with
out food, tlre or clothing, and subjected TO
frequent beatugs by this inhuman legal pro.
pre,or of her person.
Through the interference OF The poor au.
thorites, Mrs. Fullerton was at length re.
moved to more safe and comfortable quar-
ters Her attending physician. DR.. Nichoi-
son, attributes her present reduced condition
entirely to brutality and starvation.
Fullerton is of Irish birth, about sixty
years OF age and somewhat educated. lie is
not strictly temperate, but cannot be called
an inebrate, nor has be generally committed
his brutalItles under the Influence Of stroGg
drink.
Mrs. Fullerton is an American woman, AZ
years Of age, and is said to have possessed
fair ubilitleG before they were demented by
inhuman treatment. She formerly resided
in Pen6eld-now Webster-M Monroe county,
Michigan, where they were married 20 years
ago. Que Is Tue HolueT VI elSnt INIHS cuiIu.
ren, most OF the older ones being residents OF
another State. One born some twenty years
since, and few months after the mother had
received terrible whipping from which she
fled through the snow IN midwinter to the
house OF relative for protection, was lye-
long idiot.
The ouly children at home are two boys,
but so fearful are they of their fathers wrath,
hat it is difficult TO learn much from them
Sometime during the past winter, another
brother veatured TO carry his mother food in
lis fathers absence, for which he was severe.
| ly whipped. He then ran away and has not
| since been home.