Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-03-29

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Negro Husband for Cruelty
The story OG her Married Life.
Among the cases on the Police docket
this morning was that Of James Akers, q
colored barber, for creating disturb
ance. The complaint was made by his
wife, white woman about 10 years of
age, who, while waiting for the trial to
take place, gave us the following history
of her married life:
Her parents came to live in this part
of the country about five years ago, and
settled in East Cleveland. At that time
she was about II years Of age, and had
brothers and sisters, some younger and
some older than herself When She was
16 years old she fell in with well
known colored barber livingin the city,
called Jas. Akers, stylish "saddle-co-
ored' negro. Becoming infatuated with
him she ran away from her parents in the
evening, and joined Akers in the city.
They were Immediately married accor-
ding to law, a negro and white 'nymph'
acting as witnesses. That night the hap
py couple stopped at low house under
the hill, the bride not being aware, as
she says, of the character of the place.
In the morning her husband deserted her
and went to live with another woman,
thus opening her eyes to the real charac-
ter of the people she had got among.
For one week the unfortunate bride
lived without fuel or money, her only
subsistence during the time being a raw
cabbage. AT the end of the week Akers
came to live with her again for a short
time, treating her with great cruelty, and
threatening to kill her whenever she
spoke of complaining of his behavior
After abusing her thus for some months,
and compelling her to live with the most
/ degraded people in different parts of the
city, he at length again deserted her for a
time, when she lay sick and helpless on
her bed without fire, light, medicine or
food.
When she fled from her fathers house
a strict search was instituted for her, but
\ without effect, and her fate was not as
certained until some time alterword -
Then she was cast off by her family and
forbidden ever to come near her former
home. When she was deserted and in
sickness, her mother learned the fact, and
assisted her to the best of her power
AS soon as Akers knew that she had
found friends he returned and commenced
his old tricks. One morning he dragged
her out OF bed when she was unable to
walk, placed her on the floor with her
back to bed post, and left her with or
l.,,., IL. Il
sition she was found by her mother. She
narrated a number of instances of cruelty
extending through the three years of her
married life. At one time he sold a stove
given her by her parents, and left her in
the w inter without means to make fire
AT another time he discharged loaded
pistol at her bead, but missed. Once the
neighbors threatened to tar and feather
him, because of his conduct.
On Thursday she made up her mind to
leave him and return to her parents, who
had offered to take her. For some time
past he had done little or nothing at his
business, but lived on the money earned
by her with a sewing machine given her
by her parents. Akers insisted on her
SIdy my Will ulHi, anu enuedNOTci 10 get
into the house, smashing the windows in
the attempt. She had him arrested, but
begged him off when he asked her to do
so. His return for the kindnes was to go
to the house and steal the bed clothes out
of the windows with pole. Yesterday
ho again created disturbance and insist
ed on getting possession of the sewing ma
chine. He was again arrested and lodged
in prison.
Mrs. Akers is young woman of some
attractions. She says she loves Akers
dearly, hut cannot endure to be treated in
the manner he does her. She says he
has repeatedly threatened to take her life,
and he has his razorS secreted in different
places, so as to be ready on any emergen-
cy. lie is n drunken, dissolute fellow
The troubles and trials of the ill-assorted
couple are the natural consequences OF
their disgusting connection.- CieUeland
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