Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-06-29
singular Case.

The Bridgeport Standard publishes the
following, which strikes us as a remarka-
BILE transaction, worthy of public notice
If the case is correctly reported, it is quite
evident that more legislation is wanted in
defence of "Women's rights"
Mrs Sarah s. Sherwood, the woman
who has been imprisoned in the jail in
this city, for declining to deliver her per
sonal property to her husband, has been
released, the Supreme Court having re-
versed the order made 10y Judge James
Phelps, under which the husband has
held her imprisoned for the last six
months. The following is copy of the
order:
"The respondent be and she is hereby
commanded to deliver to the petitioner,
her husband) on or before the 10th day OF
November, 1868, all notes and other evil
dences of her personal estate, and all per-
sonal property owned by her in her own
right, except the sum of seventy-five dol
lars, which she is authorized to reserve to
defray the expenses of defending against
the petitioner husband in this case;
and in case of failure of said Sarah s.
the above order, it is hereby ordered and
OCIA CChs blldI sue Dc u
common jail in Bridgeport until she shall
comply with the above order.
Then follows direction to the Sheriff
to commit her to jail in case she fails to
comply at the time ordered. This sweep
ing order was executed by Sheriff g. W.
Lewis, who lin company with her hus-
band) seized Mrs. Sherwood in her own
house, on the 23d day of November last,
and conveyed her to the jail. where she
was thrust into the criminal department
with persons committed thereto as thieves
and prostitutes. 1t is said that q case
where a husband has procured the i'm
prisonment of his wife for such purpose,
has never occurred before, and it is infer
red, from the astonishment manifested
wherever this case has become known,
that the people of this State have no idea
that the condition of the law is such that
case like this should occur. This sub
ject should receive the attention of the
Legislature, that such notifications of
the laws, in this respect, may be made,
as will make them in better accord with
the character of civilized people. Is it
not serious question for consideration of
those women who have personal estate,
and those who may become such, wheth-
er, in view of the above order, Connect
icut is safe place of residences
1t was a significant remark, otherwise
than intended, made by the husbands
counsel to the Court, ''that Mrs. Sher-
wood, if she got out of Jail. might go over
into the State of New York" Mrs. Sher-
wood is about sixty years of sge-has been
married six years; had at the time of
marriage, farm in the town of Fairfield,
on which she lived, worth $4,000, and
personal estate amounting to about $1,000
all of which was left to her parents and
3 brother about ten years previous. Her
husband (Jessup Sherwood,) was q wild
over, and was at the time bankrupt, or
within few days after the marriage was
known to have become bankrupt. He
had two grown up unmarried daughters,
whom he Immediately on the imprison-
ment of the wife moved into her house
thus vscted, and they, with others, have,
to the present time, occupied, used, and
lived upon her estate, even using person
al clothing.