Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-06-07
sOsEDALUd MAGNATUs,
HOUSEHOLD REVELATIONS.
An Extensive Divorce Suit.

An Extensive Divorce Suit.
| From the st. Louis Democrat
Mrs. johanna Z. Hill, wife of Britton
| A. Hill, sues for divorce of adultery
and i'll treatment Both parties are well
known in this city Mr.. Hill is an emf
nent lawyer Of great ability and a fine
practice Mrs. Hill was a resident Of
St. Charles No She is lady of strik-
ing personal appearance, and of many
accomplishments. The unhappy. story
of their married lives is fully told in
papers in the case In March last Mrs.
Hill fled her petition for divorce as fol-
lows a
Johanna f. Hill, by her next friend,
Bertha Behrens, states that on the 14th
day of January, 1867, she was married
to Britton A. Hill the defendant, at st.
Charles, in this State, and that from that
day to this she has uniformly conducted
herself faithful and true wife but that
defendant has, ever since their marriage,
ard especially within the last three
months. offered such indignities to her
person as to render her condition intole-
able, and has also been guilty of such
cruel and barbarOUs treatment as to en-
danger her life.
That defendant has repeatedly, within
the last three months, assaulted the plain
tiff with violence and anger, acoompa-
MED with gross and abusive language,
falsely and malieiously ihputing to plain
tiff the most disgracful crimes, to wit
unchastity and adultery, without the
slightest pretext for such imputations /;
that his language and demeanor toward
her, during the period aforesaid, have
been brutal, indecent, and of most often
sive character that these words and
acts have occurred at plaintiffs room in
the Planters House in this city, and at
Willard's Hotel in Washington, some
time during December lasf.. On one
occasion, she alleges that he threatened
to tear out her heart and Faast it on a
gridiron at another time he threatened
to choke her, and in an angry attitude
approached her with that intent, but
was prevented by plaintiff seizing the
handle of the bell rope, which communi-
Gated with the servants hall. That on
another occasion he falsely declared that
she was insane, and that he Yogld lock
her up in an asylum.
That he has, on various occasions,
seized her by the throat and threatened
to strangle her that he has attempted
to defame her good name by falsely say
ing that he had traced her to certain
houses &c plossitgti5n and III fame that
he has torn from her her son, child
only nine years old, and placed him at
school in the city of 81, Louis, to wit
at the Academy Of the Christian Broth
ers, and has prohibited the Superintend-
ent of the said school from allowing her
to see him. She further alleges that tho
u1ruly temper and savage disposition of
the defendant disqualify him for the
charge and custody of the child born to
plaintiff and defendant.
She also swears she is wholly without
means of support and for the prosecution
Of this suit, aHq that she is informed
that defendants property is worth $780,
600, and that his income is $4,000 per
annum over and above all taxes where
fore she prays for divorce, alimony,
and custody Of her child.
The answer Of Mr.. Hill is quite
lengthy, and we only give the following
abstract Of it:
I He says he is unable to estimate his
income, much of it being unproductive
real estate. His total income over and
above taxes paid ard expense Of business
foF the year ending January /, 1868, was
S4320, Of which $500 was from fees as
attorney and counsellor, He does not
know what, if any, fees he may receive
as a lawyer for any new business during
the pepdeley Of tie case, for the reason
that it is prosecuted With libeleus publ
cation in the city newspapers, designed
to destroy his reputation aud necessa-
rily to injure his practice as a lawyer,
and greatly diminish his professional
receipts.
He further says that he is the owner
Of 500 acres of land in Kansas, on which
there are about $1,000 due for taxes, and
he has not the money to pay the same
this year, owing TO the bad conduct and
reckless eKtraYagalee Of bis Eife. He
fully believes that his income for the
current year ending 1st January, 1859,
will not be more than his current taxes
and his current expenses and the over
due taxes in Kansas.
He Believes and is informed that the
plaintiff, in addition 10 most expensive
and large wardrobe, has most expensive
and costly jewelry and several gold
watches set with diamonds, camel hair
shawls and laces for sale in the city of
st. Louis, and considerable amount in
coin on deposit In the Boatmsn's Saving
Association-all of which were OBJ
tanned through the generosity of Mr.
Hill,
He further charges her with having
sworn falsely in her affidavit of April
Both, where she states that for three
years past she has received no money
from Hill, except about 5000 for travel
ing expenses whereas he declares that
she received in august, September and
October, 1867, $3.50 francs in coin, that
cost him about s2757 in United States
money, as be can prove by letters Of
hers, identified as genuine. He further
states that in December, 1867, and jan
uary, February, March and April, 1868,
he has paid out in cash 10 and for the
said plaintiffs s use, about sl4l2 in cash,
estimated liabilities and obligations
which defendant Is bound to pay, making
in all the sum Of S4l70in United States
money-during the time as aforesaid. He
also says that he has paid the rent for
an apartment in St. Charles for the month
Of March last, and has promised, prior to
March, 1868, to pay the board, washing
and attendance upon the plaintiff, to her
mother, in st. Charles, where the plain
tiff had agreed to remove and live on
her return to the United States from
Europe.
he further states that during shout