The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-29
TROUBLE AMONG ROES.
Mary ). Roe Asks Separation aud Suppcrl
from William Roe, Jr.
A WEALTHY AND CRUEL HUSBAND.
The Wronged Wife Details in Court the
Story OF Her Woe.
WEALTHY AND CRUEL HUSBAND.
INSANITY OR DEPRAVITY .
Interesting Disclosures Of Marital lnfelicitieS
Amid Luxurious Surroundings
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp.l

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp.l
NRwBrRo. N. Y. March 2s, 1877:
Abou, year ago some scandal was created among
the arsocracy OF Orange county by the separation Of
q lady and gentleman VINO had been supposed the hap
pest married couple N the world The gentleman.
Mr. William Roe, Jr. Is graduate OF West Point aud
his wife, Mary s. Roe. "a tho daughter OF wealthy
Chicago family They were married ten years
ago aud travelled together on the Continent
For several years nad all the uxures could pro.
cure. and were blessed wish two children Those
saw only tho stately appointments OF tho couple
their mansion residence and magnificent equipage,
envicd them the happiness supposed to be connected
with such surroundings More intimate friends, how
ever. knew thai there was skeleton In the "Lodge"
as the Roe mansion called and awaited the
inevitable end and the solution OF the trouble IN
court OF law. II was only question OF how long the
patience o. the lady would endure. year ago came
the beginning OF the end tor the wife LEFT her husband
and shortly thereafter began suit for divorce. which
came up for trial here to-day before Judge Dykman,
w,ihou. jury. ut special OF the Supreme
Cour.
As might be expected, the court room was crowded
with ladies' aud gentlemen whom the parties 10 The
known. and It may safely DO said that
more social distinction was never assembled
IN court 10 this county. Mrs. Roe,
black eyes. and about thirty years OF age
accompanied by mother. brother and party Of
lady friends Mr.. Roe who is about Ave years her
senior. about six feet Ia height and resembles Unser
Fruz. having iuxuriant bic ndo whskers aud mus
tache. He dresses quite stylishIy, and to-day pre-.
sented quite contrast TO his wife, who attred in
black cashmere dress, dark cloth sacque bonnet
oAsx FOR THE PLAIariFP.
General Burnett opened the Tor the plaintiff By
reading the complaint 1t contains upward Of twenty
allegations among othcr things IL cites the marriage
OF the plaintiff and defendant ut Buffalo, July l. ls67
that the plaintiff lived with the defendant until tho lss
OF October 1876 that the defendant proved to be OF an
disposition, with violent temper, conducted
himself IN cruel ana unreasonable manner toward
her: lhas IL the plaintiff opposed him In the most
trivial domestic matters he would fly into passion,
the most terrible oaths. and strike her; that hs
secluded her and deprived OF all social euoymeuts,
that he would grasp her hand and squeeze IL until bis
nails would sink into her flesh and the blood dowedj
that Al several times no had placed tho muzzle OF
loaded pistol TO her head and threatened blow her
bra out that the had struck the pIa,ntd
with his and had held her hand against lighted
cigar until severe burns were inflicted; that he had
seized her by the throat and spat IN face that he
nl-treatcd their children, that defendant worth
ABOUT $500 600 and his income about Sac 600 per
annum. The complainant prays for y separation from
defendant the custody OF tho children and sufficient
allowance Tor her own and their support
THE EVIDENCE.
the facts set forth In the complaint, and her direct
animation occupied the first sitting OF the Court.
Bangs. counsel for Mr. Roe. long trying exafni-
nation Jailed to shake any OF the material statements
mony but Elected many nsw ' iaess e ss:
said that when Mr. Roe was fcverish be
was abusive and violent to all who came to
his presence, and she had his mother come from
his room crying, after no had abused her One day
when she was sitting on the front porch OF The
LODGE. sowing what she intended be n neat little
sacque, she asked him II he did admire He said
''no," that It was "a gaudy thing Some people
passed at the tme and he ordered her 'sct 10 The
OF the house ana to dare show herself al The
front again under any circumstances.
GRowLs OVER TABLE.
She characterized his treatment OF her at tho table
when guests were present raging. He growicd be-
cause tho cakes werc not brown on both sides. he
growlcd when the cream not thick enough: and
IN tact everything bothered him, and nothing seemed
to suit. She did not think that her husband ordered
her 10 the back OF tho house to promote her
happiness, but rather promote his own at the
expense OF here small piece OF mincc pie wal
enough TO completely destroy The harmony OF the Roc
household Tor even small morsel would give the
lord OF the Lodge" dyspepsia
WAS NE CRAZY
She had heard at West Point when Mr. Roe was a
cadet there that no crazy Her cousin Charley
Hein'zeman, also cadet, had told her aunt that 10
thought Roe was crazy Roe told her Charley was an
enemy oil his and she dismissed tho subject from her
mind.
KEEPING HER SECLUDED
She explained that the reason she wanted 10 20 10
the opera houso at Newburg because she heard
other ladies' and gentlemen visited the IodpeD
talk about the concerts and school eutertan
ments, and she wished she could 70 TOO During the
ten years he never brought her show concert or
lecture and when she did 70 II was Ut the invita-.
ton Of nelshbora
AGREEABLE ONCE.
BY the kind assistance oil Mr. ROus counsel wituess
was recalled TO remember occasion on which her
husband was agrceabe some friends conpiimented
versaton Tor some time. He killed SPITE dog in 1867
because had bitten his daughter; that was the only
time he ever shot OF his pistol though he had threat.
encd her very often when her child was born
and she rot able to go to the table, Mr. Roo used
to eat his meals alone, and then come up 10 hcr room
and grow.
UNPLEASANT CHARACTERIZATION
lie had very eccentric ways oil showing his An.
thorty. One day no ordered her to walk out of an
upper window and as she refused no took up her hand
and burned II TO the bono with lighted cigar ana hs
her with walking stick. When in Europe AZ
Coblentz, he locked nor up In room for 81 DAYS
POLITICAL DirFEKESCE
He would not allow her to entertain any poiiticai
views. and once In tho Grand Hotel IN New York he
threatened TO choke her II she said General rant was
not all that was good and holy Occasionally when no
cause oil difference was handy Mr. Roe would refer TO
the Grant question Al Liverpool he asked her n she
thought General Grant took too much John Barley
Corn and when she said eyes he struck her win
went TO Europe TO protect her from her husband
scoLDKD SOME.
That Mrs Roe does not tnnk she Ia entirely frea
rom hu Is proved by her testimony, for she acknowI.
edges that she used woman's weapon and scoIded
some
AT hali-past nine Judge Dykman, noticing that Nrs
Roe was very much fatigucd, though she claimed the
contrary, adjourned the Court I'll tomorrow mora
ing, when her cross.exannaton will be continued