The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-11-11
MATTE Frs ABOUT TOWN.
Supreme Judicial Court.

MoNDAY-No. 554. Cynthia j. Shattuck,
Libet,ant, V. Jacob P. Shattuck.
Libel for divorce. Libellant elected to have
the case go to a jury. The parties reside in
Westbrook and were married May 2, 1856.
In her petition the libellant alleges that her
husband compelled her TO cook and wash for
sundry laborers in his employ, and Imposed
upon her other severe, excessive and mental
labors, entirely neglectng and refusing to pro-
cure for her any sufficient assistance, though
abundantly able so to do"
I'd. That respondent was constantly in the
habit of using towards her violent, profaue and
abusive language, aud that in the fall of 1858
he left the house in which they were then
dwelling, declaring in passionate and brutal
manner that he would not have her work for,
or live with, him any longer; and abandoned
her thererom.
Sd. That said Jacob p, since their inter-
marriage, has committed the crime of adultery,
with divers women in Canada, Massachusetts,
Portland and other places in Cumberland
County. This point she expects to prove by
admissions made by respondent to various
persons.
4th. That in consequence of such treatment
and abandonment, libellant was obliged to
take refuge in the house of her father, where
she remained for the space of four weeks, when
the said Jacob p, by promises to treat her
kindly, and to have a servant girl, induced her
to return; but that he partially kept his prom
Use for a few days only, and again pursued his
former conduct towards her.
9th. That said Jacob P. has threatened to
throw her from the window to turn her out of
doors forever, to kick her; and used other
passionate, malicious and threatening language
towards her.
9th. That said Jacob P. seized her by the
shoulder threatening to turn her out of DOORS
and that she should not return, and violently
shook and maltreated her; that he broke up
housekeeping against her wish, and carried
away the furniture in said house, leaving her
destitute and without means of support-pro-
fessiug it as bis deliberate intention to compel
her to go to Groton, Mass saying he would
strain her like Jehu."
She also represents that between herself and
the said Jacob P. there neither is nor has for
a long time been any affection, and that by
reason of his aforesaid conduct she is con-
stantlv wretched and lives in continual fear,
and that she neither can, nor dares, nor will
live longer with him. Wherefore she prays
for divorce, and that reasonable alnony and
such other provision may be made for her as
the Court may consider just The libel is
dated Nov. l. 1851.
The respondent denies the allegations of
libellant and affirms that after her marriage to
him she neglected to exercise the attention,
care, oversight and management Of his house
hold affairs, and became satternly in her hab-
its and indifferent to their mutual interests.
He denies using profane and abusive Ian
guage towards her or that he left his dwelling
as alleged, or that at any time he ever COM
mitted the crime of adultery. He denies that
the libellant was ever obliged TO take refuge in
her fathers house, or that he ever induced her
to return to his dwelling, or made any such
promises and broke them, as alleged. He
also denies that he has ever threatened to
throw the lbellant out of the window, turn
her out of the house, kick her, &c, as she has
alleged.
The respondent then AYERS that since his
marriage he strictly in all things consulted her
wishes; purchased piano forte for her, at her
request, and employed a teacher to give her
lessons in music, and also at her request EN-
ployed competent teacher in drawing. But
while he was thus endeavoring TO consult her
wishes and promote her accomplishments, she
was in the habit of conducting herself indie
Gently in the company of men and women; of
speaking of him in disrespectful and unkind
terms; of manifesting general disregard of
her word; of clandestine correspondence with
persons of both sexes, with whom, as she well
knew, respondent did not think she could be
intimate with prudence or in proper selfre-
spect. That with her consent he arranged to
dispose of his business in this State and re-
move to Groton, Mass, and that after securing
a residence there he proceeded to remove his
household furniture thither; and after this was
done libellant refused to accompany him.
That after some time, finding that she would
not leave Westbrook, he returned to that place
and made one more attempt to live with Ii
bellant in Westbrook and made all the ad-
vances COMFORTING with a proper self-respect,
to induce the libellant to return to his house,
which has always been open to her, but which
she refuses to enter.
The respondent further AYERS that the libel
liant never had any affection for him, but mar
ried him solely for his money, as she has fire.
quently avowed; wherefore he prays the libel
may be dismissed.
The case was opened to the jury by Mr.
Fox for libelant, and some progress was made
in examination of witnesses. Frederick Fox
and F. o. J. Smith for libellant: Shepley &
Dana for respondent.