Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-01-21
THE INTELLIGENCER.
Brutality In RaEiish nigh
Life.


The case of Morris VS.. Capron, recently tried
at the Middlcsex Sessions, in England, illustra.
ties common phase of life in what are called
g the better circles of English society,"" We
present full statement of the affair." obtained
from the lengthy reports which appear in some
of the London journals Mr.. Mowbray Morris
is barrister at law and editor in chiefOf the
London Times, and Mr. Capron is also n barris-
ter at law. They were fellow students in the
Temple, and the acquaintance then formed was
renewed in 1852. Both were married and it
appears that upon the renewal of his acquain-
tanre, Mr.. Morris found that his friend was not
the best of husbands 0fcourse he sympaths.
ed with Mrs. Capron, and for some timo paid
her marked attentions, visiting her frequently
accompanying her on yachting excursions, to
theaters and other public places.
During this time, Mrs. Capron took il into
her head to sue for divorce from her husband,
on the ground of cruelty, and Mr.. Norris seems
to have interested himself to some extent in the
matter. Subsequently, Mr.. Morris dropped his
acquaintance with Mrs. c., and her divorce suit
was not prosecuted. This was in 1853. In
1854, Capron met Morris in Paris and assaulted
him, for which he was fined $500. Again, in
1856 they met, and Capron assaulted Morris,
but this time there was no prosecution. Cap
ron also published two pamphlets against Norris
copies of which were sent to Mrs. NJ, who was
then living, but Mr. NJ, took no notice of them
Sometime afterwards Mrs. Morris died, and Mr.
NJ. remained a widowcr until November last
when he contracted a marriage alliance with n
young lady. The marriage was to he consnn-
mated on the 9th of November, and Mr. Capron
hearing of the matter, sought out Mr.. Morris
the previous evening, and assaulted him with
cane as he was leavinga cab. Capron remark
ed at the time that he had thrashed Mr. NJ. be-
fore, and intended to give him black eye to go
to church with in the morning. Capron was
arrested by policeman, and next day, after Mr..
Norris had attended to his marriage, he appear
ed and made complaint Such, in brief, are
the facts as they were brought out on the trial.
Slr. Capron set up in defence, the provocaton
of Mr. Morris attention to his (C.'s) wife; bat
intimacy, and said that he had dropped his per-
sonal acquaintance with both parties in 1863
Capron was convicted for the assault, aud SEN
tenced to pay fine Of $3.50, and be imprisoned
81 days. II came out accidentally on the tiia,
that Mrs. Capron is now in lunatic asylum,
and the following letter, written by her at the
time she applied for divorce, was read;
From the day was married, my husband
has always spoken to me harShly and unkindly;
he made me fear him, and by that means de-
stroyed the affection had for him. At first, he
entirely separated me from my family, nor did
he allow inc to visit my mother, till had been
married several months; he continually called
her -, IN Speaking er hhr to me- and told
Rse he had been improperly acquainted with her
before marriage. This was told one night
Wlen nc nuu DeeU CEuSlly III using UlS.l WIS
walking about the room, in great distress, and
refused to return to bed He dragged me into
bed by force, swearing >, and
that If 1 resisted, he would ring for the footman
TO hold me- | did resist, and he beat me, and
to prevent my screaming, held the pillow over
my face, until was nearly stifed. On another
occasion, he kicked me out of bed, and, in fall
! ling hurt my foot so much that was obliged
to see the doctor Mr. Taper, He was con-
stanty in the habit of beating mo in the most
cruel manner, in the carriage as we returned
from parties. My maid can prove that con-
stantly returned, crying bitterly, with,my hair
and dress in great disorder. The servants have
constantly been alarmed by my screams, but a
feeling Of shame has kept mo silent so long as
possible and, when covered with bruises, have
never permitted my maid to remark uponit-
He has told he would send for regiment of sol.
diers, and they should do as they pleased with
me, If i resisted him, At one time he beat me
almost nightly in the most brutal manner; that
was three or four months before our little boy
was born; his whole conduct to me then was
most brutal A fortnight before he was born,
went with him to take my little girl to the sta
ton, to join hergrandmana; he struck me with
the whip he was driving with, and hurt me very
much.
On one occasion, he beat me so severely about
the head, that was obliged to have leeches
applied, and my maid put them on, could
| not see any one for month, my face was in
4
pened since my return. He was, up to the time
| / left him-tlat is twice, since weakly con
| sented to return to him-in the habit of throw
ing things at me with all his force. On one
occasion he threw glass of porter in my face;
another time his slippers, and has often hurt me
| by doing So He constantly calls me and my
relations thieves and -, and tells me he will
some day strip me and turn me into the street;
that Lam utterly unworthy to be his wife; and
that am the most worthless of my sex. and
that he is sure that he shall some day cut my
throat. On several occasions he has threatened
to murder me. solemnly declare fear his
doing So He is constantly in the habit of
splitting at me at dinner time, and his manners
are most coarse. He swears at me, and calls
inc d. before the man servant; con-
stantly sends me out of the room, saying l sneer
at him, il do not speak in answer TO his yio-
lcnce. He is in the habit Of sleeping after din
ner, and, after i'll treating me the most cruel
manner, he will be asleep in five minutes. He
then accuses me of sneaking off to bed without
waking him. own am only too glad to do
so. Al other times, he will call me to sit on his
knee, and kiss, and tell me it is his great love
" hich causes his violence, because he sees do
not love him as ought to do, and that do not
appear happy alone with him; in fact, that there
js n constraint in. nv manner TO him-that am