National Republican., 1873-12-02
SOCIAL SCANDAL.
AN INTERESTING SUIT FOR DIVORCE.

-" 'Nh hoaSoitNu cutl FVh UtNbhOF.
picsssn ys. pichu,sn-shert story Of mn
Unhsppy Biarvisse-An Tx.Omcer Of
the Navy and a Cspsressman's Dsush-
ter the Psrsieo-Crurity, Then, Deser-
tier ssd Isassii,y Areus tho Cause.
Why wife Seeks Legal Relief
Some six or eight months ago certain social
circles In this District became som evbat dis.
iurecd with all manner Of rumors respecting the
unhappy relations existing between a young
married couple who occupied a hish position,
and who had apparently every reason for
eineothiy and peacefully passing through the
1oarney Of life together. This couple were Mr.
ana Mrs. Ernest Dichman, who resided In q inc
mouse a. Uniontown, surrounded with all the
'axures which wealth and refinement could fur.
n'se. Painting and sta,uary adorned the walls,
nne silver and china araced the table, servants
answered TO tho call and. to the casual observer,
tho posscssors Of the house must have been su-
premciy happy. Tue master OF the mansion
was, several years before, an onicer In The
United States navy, and while In q foreign port
met with Anna T. Davis, daughter OF q member
Of Congress from tho Syracuse district, New
York, and who, with his family, was spending a
season abroad. Tho young oflccr and the young
lady soon formed an Intimate acquaintance, the
result Of which was that In isso ahe became
Mrs. Dichman, and shortly after removed TO
Washington to live.
house was secured and elegantly furnished
for the couple, the bride and her mother each
contributing to its adornment with choice artl-
cles OF furniture aud vertr, their personal prop
cry. AS Is always the case, for year or two
matters went on extremely well. Tho husband
WAS kind AMI attentive, the wife dutiful and
aucctionatc, but then change came DER the
scene. Dichman had resigned his position, and
was practicing law IN the city. He had bought
house mostly with bis wifss money, and then
seemed to lire Of her. What OF III there was II,
MS nature showed itself, and from the kind hus-
band he was transformed into q passionate and
irascible tyrant, and sought pleasure In denuu-
c'ation OF MS wife aud mother-in-law. Then came
frequent stories Of his inndellties, next threat
encd assault because she refused to Ioin him in
an attempt to break the will OF her deceased
father, and nnally the crowning outrage as told
" herself. Sue hal borne her burdens until
iorocarance ceased to be . virtue, and turning
IN horror from the roof which should have been
her haven, she forsook the man who had proved
faithess to all his VOWS and sought rest and love
In tho protecting arms Of her mother.
Satisfied that he was beyond reformation, she,
after short rest, took the preliminary steps 10
iavoke the aid Of the law In her behalf, and yes
terday petition settling forth the causes Of her
demand was nled In the Equity Court by Richard
Harrington, ESQ.,, her attorney.
The petition sets forth that both plaintir mil
defendant are residents OF the District of Co
lIuibia; that they were married on the 9oth dav
OF March, is69, in the city OF New YORK, BY Rev.
Dr. Potter. "1hat after said marriage your
Complainant lived with the said defendant until
the sth day Of March, A. ID. 1873, during all of
which time she verify believes she fulfilled her
marital obligations aud deported herself towards
the said defendant In all respects as true and
living wife until the said s.h day Of March. lsTa
when, In consequence OF his crueltics, threats
and inndelities, she sought the protection OF her
mother and the care Of her family physician
that she might recover from disease which she
hnd contracted from the defendant.
"four complainant further AYERS that during
All OF her married hte, and especially since De-
oemoer, 1871, the defendant WIS In the frequent
nsoN VI distressing and alarming your petI.
tioner, by his passionate temper and continns,
threats and denunciations aRalnst yonr ra,,
toner and her mother. That after ths da.ih y,
petitioners father, In May, isJs, he became os ~
eiaiy abusive toward your petitioner because Of
her continued refusal to contest the validity of
her hthcrs will; and that, in November Of the
thuio year, ne threatened and offered In tI,,
your petitioner down stairs.
rnat uuring all this time your petitioner Sas
IN delicate health, and notwithstandinu th,s
TACT ne sought 10 control and intimldate your
peuuoner by the most abusive epithets tow a r.,
her and her deceased father, at one time seizIr.
and nrlng his pistol In order to agQrieye and in'
unidate your petitioner
me next three counts charge adultery n,
uderent times and places, which are set fortb,
"she further AYERS that the defendant has 70.
oeived from her the sum Of about ten thousand
uoilars, and that he now owns and Possesses
rsai estate and other property In the District OF
Columbia and elsewhere valued at forty tbou.
sind dollars, and that your petitioner is apnre.
hensivc that the said defendant will secrrte ana
dispose of his property. To the end, therefore
that your petitioner may be decreed to haye
maintenance and alimony out Of the estate and
property OF the defendant, may it please tho
court to issue an Injunction enjoinlng and re.
stfaining the defendant from In any manner
selling. incumoering or In any manner disposIpa
OF his real estate or other property until tbe
I,hei hereby sought Is adJudicated In this hon
Urablo court