Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-11-16
The Boyd Divorce Case.
Samuel Boyd,
VS..
MtrU ID. Bo,,1

In the st. Clairsville Gazette Of Octo.
ber 2, 1865, is an editorial article of two
columns on this ease which was tried in tn,
Bclmout Common Pleas at the last Octo
ber term. The article is very reprehensible
1t Is an attack upon woman, who shoult
have, but has not, protector and defen
der in the person of her husband, the
plaintiff in the suit.
Whether the writer was induced to write
by hostility to the Judge who tried tn,
cause, or chivalrous desire for ncwspa
per war upon female, who has not male
relative to espouse her cause in America,
or partiality for Mr.. Boyd, or by all those
motives, leave for others to judge.
II seems to be a habit Of this writor to
fall out with judicial decisions, and the YER
diets of juries, every since the bred Scott
decision was 'overruled by the American
people. Before that he regarded it as little
less than moral treason to speak against the
decision of court.
The article begins by charging the
CHRoNIcLEwith stating what "wo," ""knon
to be untrue" His next attack is upop
tho Court, 1--WE" he says, shave heard no
man speak upon the subject, whose opinion
is worth farthing, that has not condemned
in emphatic language this decision, and
who does not think that great injustice has
been done to Mr.. Boyd" '"~
Then comes tho eulogy upon Mr.. Boyd,
who Is represented rs remarkable, above
his brethren in the ministry"
Next wo have a column and half upon
the merits Of the case and abusive of Mrs
Boyd. She is charged with rude and i'm.
polite conduct" with having bad tenn.
per and choleric humor," with being an
unreasonabiy "exactlng step'mother," and
an "obdurate wife," Rather strong colIec.
tion OF epithets for an editor to bestow upon
woman, and mother, who has no male
relatives in America to protect her, and
that, to, in the service Of her husband who
should protect her from such gross attacks,
Mrs: Boyd, it should be remembered, did
not bring this case into Court. She was
sued by Mr.. Boyd.
To close this article we have a paragraph
laudatory Of the efforts Of the counsel for
Mr. Boyd. "
1t must bo mortifying to clergymen of
suoh uahsoohueuti profundlty, purity,
piety and learning, aided by tho zeal
ennrgy, ability, mastery efforts, and lucid
and convincing arguments of his counsol.
and the testimony OF two daughters, a sten.
son, and sister in-law, all inmates of his
family, to be beaten in a suit brought bv
himself against his WIFE But w6y Tho
editor of the Gazette should fall into n ms.
sion about it, and abuse the CHRoNIoLr
the Court, and pile epithet after epitbet
upon Mrs. Boyd. cannot divine.
As to tho standing and general character
OF Mr. Boyd, il was not the subject of in.
quiry on the trial. The Gazette, to create
y prejudice in his favor has given il a verv
prsWinent place. We have nothing, how.
ever, but assertion in bis favor. [ wouId
not now allude to this subject did not tbint
that justice to Mrs. Boyd requires il. /
have no pleasure in bringing such things
before the public, but when il is rendered.
necessary TO yindicate the innocent, those
who rendered il necessary, aud tbose in
whose behalf this was done, should not com
plain. .... 'o"'
The Gazette introduces Mr.. Boyd to ils
readers as follows. "a ~
who ls Samuel Boyd2 He is minister
OF me gospel. remarkable--aboys his
9ietnren IN the ministry--for his clear and
discriminating mind, Tor the profanditv and
purity OF his, thoughts for lsarn;ns snJ s
plely, and We say fsarlsssly, that "a man
ever conducted himself more like an honest