The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-30
A DIVORCE CASE In TEXAS.
TIE VERY PATHETIC APPEAL OF A
COMPLAINING HUSBAND
How he WINS Deludcd into Matrimony and
Why he Desires Keiief-A Brief History
Of Affairs in Tidweips Thicket.

How he WINS Deiudcd into Matrimony and
Why he Desires Keiief-A Brief History
Of Affairs in Tidweips Thicket.
SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas, July 15.-Below
Is a verbatim copy OF petition nlod In the Dis
trict Court OF Hunt county, In this state, last
month. II the statements set forth by the petit
tloner can be fully sustained by evidence, there
can be little doubt that william Etier otherwise
known as Dill Akey, Is entitled to tho relief he
asks.
The document IL a peculiar one for Legal
paper, but II Is evidently the outcome OF an
overburdened heart, smarting under the disap-
pointmcnt which had attended tho matrimonial
venture In which he and the widow Sarah Jane,
with their fourteen olive branches, set up house.
keeping In the midst OF Tidw ellis rhcket. In the
fond hope, on his part, OF TRANSFORMING that
unpromisine locality into a modern Garden OF
Eden. The story OF his sunerinRs, OF the scrim-
images between the youthful orshoots OF the
respective houses OF Akey and Maxwell, and Of
his anal expulsion from the prospective paradise
whom no had cleared and fenced a good nsld
and planted and raised good crop" Is told in
such moving Language that, unless his assertions
are contradicted by unimpescnable testimony,
1t is evident that the sympathies OF the commu-
nifty will be with the aggrieved petitioner.
TO TIE Non. W H. Anfre,os Juige of me EeUenM ia.
dicidi District Of ne state oI Rxds.
Your unfortunate petitioner, William Etier,
who Ia generally known as Bll Akey, and who
has been before your Honor In times past, and
to whom your Honor granted a mes trial when
petitioner believed he was gone "where the
woodbine twincth,' and who Il n resident citi-
zen oi the county OF Hunt and State aforesaid;
complaining OF Sarah Jane Etier, who Ia also
resident citizen Of sud county ana state, and
who was formerly and always should nave re-
that in tho year 1871 he lost his beloved wife.
leaving him disconsolate widower, with seven
children to mourn With him their loss. Petit
tioner states that the respective ages and names
Of his children are rs follows; william Henry
Harrison, my first born, 2 years old Nap, my
born, IL wears old Myra. my fourth born, 10
years old; Boston my. nth born, I; Nancy, 8
and Henry. Q. In the fall OF 1902 Sarah Jane
Maxwell crossed my way, and II your petitioner
had followed the advice OF Tony Weller to his
son Samuel, this suit would never have been
brought. Petitioner would further state that
the said Sarah Jane was a widow, and the mo.
ther OF seven children, begOtten by her former
husband. thank tho Lord.
Petitioner would further state that the said
Sarah Jane was woman of mighty winning
ways before We were married, aud one OF the
mildest hammered women he ever saw. Petit
TONER would furth her state that the said Sarah
Jane told nm tnat az OF her children were
dren were angels, for they looked Just like their
dad. Sarah Jane told petitioner that she was
raising up her children In tine fear and admoni-
tion OF the Lord. and that she required her chill
dren TO repeat the Lords PRAYER every night;
all OF which Petit believed. for the said
Sarah Jane repeated To petitioner tho said
prayer, which begins " Now lay me down to
sleep &C. Now, right here, let petitioner state
that the said sarah Jane Ia the last woman that
Will ever wheedle him into matrimony on the
piety side of the docket
Petitioner would further state tn at on Sunday
morning In December, 1879, the SAID Sarah Jane
came Co the house OF petitioner, ana by her fas-
cinating walk and pious conversation Induced
petitioner To 20 TO the house of that cody man,
Thomas READY, and there we were united IN the
holy bonds OF matrmony and your petitioner
believing that he had a DOrcas for a wife,
thought 1t his duty to follow the injunction OF the
Scriptures, and leave home, father aud mother,
and cleaye unto his wife. 50 left my home,
taking with me my seven children and went
t. the home OF Sarah Jane In rdwel l'hicket.
And here petitioner would like for the vol OF
oblivion to fall upon the scene. and what fol-
lowed to be lost to history anu to man hut as
the veil OF oblivion will not fall, petitioner il
uoupa TO tell what happened.
Petitioner soon discovered that when he went
10 tue home Of tue said Sarah Jane his Dorcis
dllene with her seven devlls-fOr soon the Max
wells wanted to know II the Akeys would mix;
and II Is well known that when the Akey blood
Is up they Will not be imposed upon-and so
mix II was. Your petitioner jumped upon the
President, cried out, Let us have peace!" hut
about that time Sarah Jane motioned stick at
petitioner-and mere petitioner makes his mead
EXHIBIT a, To show the result OF that night.
Petitioner would further state that, In order to
have clear and comprehensive view Of TINS
Gaze, we must understand the geographical po-
stiOn Of the home OF the raid Sarah 1ne. Sarlh
Jane Is the middle man OF 1dwell Ticket.
Plump In the centre OF said thicket ~ where she
lives, and To THIS place was petitioner conduct
ed; aud the place was gloomy enough, indeed,
for the sun oDiy sbone Two hours gay, and
then was let down by lead trOugns; but tnis
darkness would nave been sunerable To "A newly
married man. n II mad not continued so long.
For three long weeks petitioner worked night
ana day before he saw the sun. Petitioner be-
licves. aud thinks the sequel viii SHOW. that the
sad Sarah Jane wheedled him into matrlmony
Tor no other purpose than To get MIN to clear up
the thicket, because from the nrst she was
abusive; put at first her abuse was bearaOle,
out just In pro ortton A. petitioner cleared up
the thtcket she became more abusive. and when
petitioner had cleared and fenced good neld
aud planted aud raised good crop, the said
sarah Jane-putting On "a fun mead Of steam
told peti iuuer 10 take his Akey braIs aud Kit up
aud cit, aud II Is needless to tell any one wno
knows sarah Jane that petitioner had It to do.
Petitioner would state that lie always made
the SAID sarah Jane good and obodient nus
happy but for every Kind word an insult would
return; aud when Sarah Jane was not aOusin!
petitioner the children were In row. Petit
toner states That since June, ls73, the time
when petitioner was driven away ny the sad
sarah Jane, they have hvei separate ana ap RI,
having no cpmnunications or associations AS
man ana wife. IL u true, petitioner mentioned
the suujee. to tho Id Sarah Jane, but she re-
pliec, Bill Akey, you're foOll | naVe my
land cleared up now; | would not live with YOU
to save your lfei' Petitioner would furIner
state that no mad lived with his form n wives Ia
perfect peace anu harmony, Tor lie was ALWAYS
repeating those beautiful lines FROM IHVOD,dr 10
Pdfthcntd, " twos)uls with but single thought,
STATE 90 that since he married Sarah Jane he has
not repeated those limos much. Petitioner 81
ways btIeNtu thht MAktneH were ulaut IN
heaven until he married sarah Jane; but ho
now doubts that thooiogical dogma.
Petitioner states that tue sild sarah Jane kept
up continual clattet about her dear, dead hus-
banu, and what lie did anu could 40; and how
much better her dead husband was than petit
toner, and that her cuillren were 80 mucn bet
ter than petitioners children; aud petitioIcr
81 atos what ne vol knows that for a scientific
aggrayaton Sirdn Jane has no equal Ia the-e
parts. Petitioner Is now fully convinced that
marriage u nothing but aciyi contract, and that
"heh contract Is urukeh ON the one part u Is
broken upo the other and as Sir IA Jane drove
petitioner away from uer hOre, and refused to
liNu Win MN or to have dnytbin- to 90 with
him, he ~ certainly entitled 10 have the contract
aDrugtted.
Wherefore petitioner sues and prlys, SC.
(Slgned) lPtnEGRONE x CusHMAN,
PeuuOner's Attorneys.
Filod June ., 1874.