The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-13

our city and his bride is Daughter OF the wel,ny Mr.
Grgg for many years partner with Mr. Elliott ia the
The petition Mrs Fry to the Legislature u.s. to say the
least very curious and singular document, whea Viewed
in comparison with o letter which she had written TO
gentleman at West Point, whose ACQUAINTANCE mad
while bridal visit there last August As the af,r
posse considerable local interest in Philadelphia
present copies Of the petition aud the docu
ments from which the reader form presi correct
conclusion OF the cause OF the sad state of affairs
Mr.. Fry, Friday last, died answer to pe,too
of his wife, in which he ay contradicts every OF her
statements II Is long document dgnihed IN tone, aud
for itself Without further remarks submit the docu
mentary evidence as rich mental repas for the readers
To TIE SENATE AND House, OF REPRESENTATIVES or rHs
COMMONWEALTH or PENNSYLVANIA, IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The petition of Emily L. Fry, late Emily T.. Crisg, Of
the city OF Philadelphia, humbly shSweh That the
second day OF August eighteen hundred and fifty eight
your petitioner was united in matrimony to certain
Horace Fry, Of said city, then and still citizen OF
Pennsylvania Iha, your petitioner lived with him until
about the eleventh day OF september 1885, when she left
him Tor the following causes which your petitioner begs
leave TO state in Der own informal language
On the day Of the wedding, when at the Walnut street
wharf, about take passage for New York on bridal
trip, the said Horace b. Fry got into violent passion,
trouble Of taking charge Of the baggage had taken
more baggage than lac had allowed me to take. II
the baggage OF the two ladies who attended brides
maids that put him into passion against II not
the increased expense Of the trip because father had
| furnished ample means 10 defray all expenses
On or about the 4th day of August 1858, as
about to leave New York for West Point he commenced
writing a letter. lsuggesed 10 him mildly that he had
the letter. that we would be too late for
| the He Immediately got into passion again, and
told me TO ''go TO the DEVIL He continued to write his
letter. the that we were too late for the
He again displayed his ungovernabe temper and cursed
| and swore at me, declaring that it my fault.
We took the boat for West Point AMI arrived there
the 9Th OF August, 1858 Here succession Of acts Of VIC
lence and aouse occurred which is difficult to detail In
the presence OF company he generally aed his
goyerpable temper but displayed II when al0ne
| together IN our bedchamber.
On occasion, when was sitting on chair, he
seized mo and hung me with violence on the floor, On
had given him whatever for his i'll treatment OF
me, and when asked why he thus abused he stated
that he bad received business letter from home which
mad put him cut OF temper and he must have some one to
| vent his passion upon.
While at West Point he introduced to a gentleman
connected with that institution, and requested that gentle
man to take charge OF me- because
necessary attention himself Distressed by his
abuse and in deep trouble discovering thus early that
| my happiness was destroyed, sought sympathy AMI
counsel from the gentleman to whom have referred
whereupon Mr. Fry became jealous without cause and
| became more violent than before
| When entered our bedroom he would lock the door
and commence swearing at me for staying down stairs
and talking to different people His violence caused
hemorrhage of the lungs. When told him sick
there was no such good news When on account OF my
Illness declined going down the river to visit his bro
the he threatened to lock me up when then consented
to go with him, he said 81 should not stir step with
| him."
On the evening of the Gath August 1858 after we had
returned from dance he locked the and said
be would get his pistols out of his trunk and shoot
He opened his trunk, apparently in execution of his threat
but closed it, saying his pistols not loaded. This
violence alleged be because had been walking
around among the people. When attempted to explain
ing was ia Cd id lieH and that was ia Cd id
liar" He conL ued this violence for about two hours
When told him would write to my father to come for
he said ne would open my etters, IL he found
word in them against him. he would destroy the etters
and write pretty story to my father, which he would
At last he proposed divorce to which readily as
sented He promised to see his lawyer about it
about getting The divorce He first SAID reply that
be had cha eed mis- mind Afterwards he said 1t never
promised deceive me- so get me to go home with
| him. When told him would leave him, he said was
certificate from doctor that insane, and would
put me in the Insane Asylum and then would be Of
his way tina. had no intellect that it was lot in the
family that had been used to decent society that
tie had taken out OF the mud and mire and placed
| where was; that owed him rythng; that was
me- and had such splendid classical education that
| could not appreciate him. that if said word more
hestatou that lis temper was SO ungovernabie that he
was not responsible for what he did He then locked the
room door, went TO his trunk and took out pistol and
pointed II at ne, say ing he would shoot me.
He said that he married me for my money that he did
any thing about me- that he hoped would die in
months that he had another lady whom he liked very
much, and intended to marry. He expected, when he
married me, that would give him the control Of my
Before marriage he had told me that there was no
insanity in bis family but afterwards, whether true
mily,bat his father and his brother William had both
been that he had not told this before mar
rage because he knew that if discovered would not
In pursuance Of bis declared intention to SANDER me he
sent to my father the Police Gese containing SANDER
Gus attack upon my character wife. The envelope
covering this slanderous publication directed my
father, in the proper handwriting of Mr. Fry. His writing
| is known and can be proved by witnesses.
Task legislative relief because by law the courts OF this
commonwealth have no power TO decree divorce under
the peculiar circumstances Of my above stated
NIL unia ~ ro.4,
as they are cruel and barbarous to endanger
my life, because never believed that he had courage to
and perceived that bis object was to terrify more
than to nlici personal violence. Nor can 1 say
ss1ss the S odd TO my person have rem
so burhensome that thereby forced to Withdraw
from his house and family, because when left him
were residing in a house owned aud furnished by my
father, and Mr.. Fry had offered to permit occupy
separate apartments If would abandon the idea of a
divorce from The bonds of matrimony, aud consent
to live in state Of separation under the roof
with him.
did rot think it my duty to live with him under the
outward show OF matrimonial cob ibitation, after had
been deceived and disappointed with respect all its
realities HIS motive for wishing to hold me his wife
against my WILL after be had sandercd my character
wife, and avowes that be attached to another aud
had married me for my money, expecting TO die
in six months, can be readily understood by the Lcgis
lature.
Such continuance under the bonds of matrimony
not in my opinion, according to the object of that holy
unhappiness of both parties.
Your petitioner therefore, bumby prays that act Of
Assembly may be passed annulling the bonds Of ma
Iimopy between your petitioner and the said Horace
b. Fry.
And your petitioner will ever pray &c.
EMILY H. FRY.
sworn and subscribed before this 10Th day Of Janu
airy, A. d. 1852 JoHS THOMPSON, Alderman
The Following is copy Of the letter sent 10 the West
Point gentleman. The original was Intercepted by the
husband
PHILADELPHIA, Sept D.
NY DEAREsT-l scarcely know how to tell you what I
nave !? communicate but you may under stand every
tnhg VIII commence day two back Friday after
noon asked Mr. Fry he would consent 10 having either
separation or divorce, but to my surprise he firmly
giving as an excuse the improperly of the thing
aeu ana PLEADED Tor a. least hour, when told him
ne would 90 away or let 10 away for one year and
ieei perfectly free, might love him. but that II stayed
nere should always hate aud despise him. lie seemed
slrucE oy what said, and said he woald think OF H.
nc would give anything to have my love In the rst part
OF the conversation he said be considered me lunatc