The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-04-04
From the Cleveland Herald
"NEGROPHOBIA" BREAKING
OUT IN OHIO.
The Results of AMaIsamatiOn--A
white Wife PrOseCuteS her Negro
Husband for Cruelty--The story
of her Married Life.

white Wife PrOsecutes her Negro
Husband for Cruelty--The story
of sicr Married life.
Among the cases on the police docket this
morning was that of James Akers, a colored
barber, for creating disturbance. The com
plant was made by his wife, white woman
about nineteen years Of age, who whilst waiting
for the trial to t&ke 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 Eas t
Cleveland. At that time she was about four
teen years of age, and had brothers and sisters,
some younger and some older than herself
When she was sixteen years old, she fell in
with we'll known colored barber living in the
city, called James Akers, a stylish'' saddle COL
ored" negro. Becoming infatuated with him,
she ran away from her parents in the evening
and Joined Akers in the city. They were i'm
mediately married according to law, q negro and
white "nympth' acting as witnesses. That
night the happy couple stopped at a 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 character Of the people she got
amongst. For one week the unfortunate bride
lived without fuel or money, her only subsis-
tence during that time being raw cabbage.
At the end of the week, Akers came to live
with her again for short time, treating her
with great cruelty, and threa.ning to kill her
whenever she spoke of complaining of his be-
havior. After abusing her thus for some mon
tbs, and compelling her to live with the most
degraded people in the different parts of the
city, he at length again deserted her for time,
II. L. - Il Ill L. ~
without fire, light, medicine or food.
When she fed from her fathers house a strict
search was instituted for her, but without effect
and her fate was not ascertained until some
time afterwards Then she was cast off by heI
family and forbidden ever to comenear her for
mer home. When she was deser ed and in
sickness, her mother learned the fact, and assis.
ed her to the rest OF her power. AS soon as
Akers knew that she had found friends he re.
turned 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 orders
to IRON shirt for him. In that position she
was found by her mother. She narrated mum.
ber of instances Of cruelty extending through
the three years of her married life. Al one
time he sold stove given her by her parents
and left her in the winter without means to
make fire. At another time he discharged q
loaded pistol at her head, but missed. Once
the neighbors threatened to tar and feather him
because ofhis 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 or
the money earned by her parents. Akers in
sisted on her staying with him,and endeayored
to get into the house, smashing the windows
in the attempt. She had him arrested but beg.
gsd him off when he asked her to do so. His
return for the kindness was to 60 to the house
and steal the bedclothes out of the window with
pole. Yesterday he again created distur-
bance and insisted on getting possessions of the
sewing machine--He was again arrested and
lodged in prison. Mrs. Akers is young wo-
man Of some attraction. She says she loves
Akers dearly, but cannot endure to be treated
in the manner be does her. She says he has
repeatedly threatened to take her life, and he
has bis razors secreted in their different places
SO as to be ready on any emergency. He is a
drunken dissolute fellow. TIE troubles and
trials Of the ill-assorted couple are the natural
consequences of their disgusting connection.