Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-06-02
LOCAL NEWS.

DsoRkE on DIvoRcK-A Compulscry Mar
Tssss-l .e: thursday, Judge wylUe. IN ihe " ui;y
Souft, maoe decree dlvorciEg Annie :. yOnn-
son from the bonds OF matrimony with James
Henry JOHNSON, annuiling The marriage and
allowing tne complainant 20 resume her
maiden name OF Annie = krowu Ire peti-
ton In this case, nled February lsth. I-66,
states that the petitioner intermarried with
James Henry johnson, in Georgeiown, d e,
in March, 1862 that she was born and raised
in Georgetown. and first became acQuain:ed
with the respondent about two months hs'o7e
she married him, she being then about fifteen
years Of age, and he about thirty nye; tha' ne
look advantage OF her tender years. aud thar
by acts and wills, the marriage was kept
from the knowledge Of her mother, widow
lady, until within few moments Of i;s coa-
summation; and that for the purpose ofpreveE;-
ing her from receiving the counsel OF heT
mother and relatives. the respondent dad not
inform her OF ths time, and caused The we'd
ding 10 be celebrated away from home, a. ne
house Of a neighbor; and that JUST before me
marriage was consummatec, she began % re-
alize the solemnIues and conseQ Quences Of what
was about 70 be done, and protested against Its
accomplishment, when respondent Grew a
pistol and threatened 20 shoot her and un-
der the threat and fear she married hIm.
She further represents that, believing she was
Jound to reconcile herself TO her new situa-
ton, she consented 10 live with her husband,
and did so for about one month; thai about
that time be left and went 10 New York, under
preiense OF obtaining employment, and she
NIsIIed hIm there two or three times IN some
tour or i've months. She further represents
tnal abOOt TWO wears since she received a lpf-er
from her husband from the State OF Ohio, n
which he stated that she would not hear from
him Tor long time, and perhaps never, and
Thar since then she has not seen or heard Of
him, and thai after making diligent search sbe
Is unable 10 ascertain his whereabouts Also,
that ne stated that he had parents and relations
living in Connersville, Indiana, aad that she
by letter made inquiries here without Sr-,ass-
that AT sundry times he stated ne had a wife
and daughter living. the latter being a. large
as The omplalnant: and she believes tha- ne
assumed the name of johnson 20 prevent her
ascerialning anything about hlm. She charges
that De frequently struck and abuses her: that
ne iorba6e her 10 speak 10 hun, and COM
manded that all comm cations she wro-e
should be laid on a table: that he has never
contributed 20 her suppOri: and further. .ba-
ne attempted 10 force her inlO 4 life o. p-0.-I-
tuush, Out taileo, and she as ever Renamed 4
yirtUors woman.
The evidence in the case was taken before
}. j johnson, Esq. Examiner an Chancery,
when Mrs. Brown, the mother of The petitioner,
testified that the defendant came 10 her hCuse
as boarder. in December, I~G2. and ma. -
vas about 3 or 80 years OF age; that she was
not aware OF the defendant paving his aC-
dresses TO the petitioner. until about r,.-o
weeks previous 10 the marriage. and the r-st
lntmailon OF the marriage was from the Ge-
Iencanf, about an hour before n took pla,s
he said be had procured the license. and vas
gong 10 bring the preacher then. and witness
sad be shouldn't be married in tne house and
De replied that he would 20 the preacher The
petitioner and defendant, with witness Sisrs-
went TO the preachers. Afterwards hey ca-rle
oack 10 the house, and witness said thar as ne
had married her, he should MAINTAIN her hut
he didn't do il. They remained a. wltness,
house for three days, and went TO auornar
boarding honse, where they remained a month.
and then ne left her and went TO New York
without making any arrangement for pav.ng
her board. Witness then took the petitioner
home. Subsequently the petitioner receiysla A
letter nom him 10 visit him in New Iork aUd
shf visited hlm twice. The last time she wen
witness had 10 send her money 10 bring her
back.
Annie =. johnson, the petitioner. testified tba-
she was about Is years of age AT the tame Of
the marriage; that she never liked the de,end-
ant, and never had any ide OF marrying hIm
until the day II took place. In a casual con-
yersaiion on that day he asked AZ she would
marry blm, and out OF jest. and without re-
necuon, witness replied yes. Without any-
thlng further being arranged the DE- Fen q, NJ
procured the license. He then came back and
said he had left the license al the preachsr's
house, and witness, whe was in her room SAID
she would not marry him, that she did nor
love him. he then pulled out pistol and suId
u she old not go with him 20 the preac hers ne
would shoot her, and she becoming frightened.
went with him After il was over she con-
eluded that she would try and get along ~ N
him. After remaining a few days A. bar
mothers with the defendant. sne wen. 20
boarding, and in about month he lef, witness
paying her board, and went 70 New York A.
ter be h2d been absent a month witness re-
ctlNed letter from him and went 10 see him
While IN New York he was very abusive and
sometimes struck her. He sand thar he had a
wife and daughter living, bnt she did no. ne
heFe MIN then. About two years ago witness
received a letter from him in Ohio. stating rhar
she would not hear from him again in a loor
time, and perhaps never.
Mr.. II. Z. Gooding appeared for the neil
iioner.