The New York herald., 1877-02-18
LIFE All VINELAND.
Lands and His Wife Before
the Supreme Court.
DOMESTIC TROUBLES AND FIGHTS.
Mrs. Lands Tells a Story Of Wrongs
and Cruelty,
TRKxToS, Feb II. 1877.


the Supreme Court argument heard IN the case o!
Clara Meade Lands Charles X. Lands being an ap
p.cation for the custody OF the plaintiffs children,
who are now and have been In the custody OF the
father Charles K Lands, from whom the plaintiff s
separated
THIS 10 the second third attempt that has been
made by Mra Lands 10 accomplish the object
The parties were married at Staten Island on the
l4th of October 1905. Mrs Lands is sixteen years
younger than her husband and at the time oil her mar
rage she was nineteen years Of age. Mrs
Lands, in her petition to the Court says
Up TO 1872 our marriage was comparatively
happy In that year my husband betrayed at times
most unreasonable Jealousy In respect to me, and
treated me with unkindness and abuse He said TO
me- substantially, AT one time, "You are UNIT TO be
any mans wife, and have no respect for you You
and all your family mercenary set and unscru-
pulous; and you have been inuring my interests ana
running after men," The interview in which these
insults we're given to me was protracted,
and much more said by him IN
suIting and abusive 10 me-all founded evidently
ON the insinuations OF Others and not having the
least ground foundation IN acI 1t was the begin
ming Of the trouble which has occurred be-
tween me and tho respondent endeavored then,
and at all subsequent OCCASIONS TO appease bis unjust
and acrimonious feeling toward me, and with partial
sonably jealous temper; moody, morbid, seli-willed
and yrannical never thinking himself IN the wrong
or at least never willing acknowledge 1t and diff
cuties occurred from time time, until At last he
became entirely estranged from me.
VIOLENT LANGUAGE.
In February, 1873 the respondent on an occasion
trinng in the extreme, became exceedingly violent
aud abusive me, and that, in the presence OF a
visitor, calling damned mercanary D. aud
using othor violent and insulting language. was then
encesLe nevertheless he far forgot himself as TO
seize by the shoulders, push me to the door and
tell me to get out OF the house and my child in
the street what he cared 10 communicate with my
brother, and that he should procure his attorney
make arrangements for a separation between u.s. This
was within month OF my confinement with the
youngest child, whose custody now seek.
During this sickness took cold, and was very i'll
With pneumonia, which rendered 1t necessary TO pro-
cure wet nurse for my child
SISTER. .IN-LAw.
In the summer OF 1873, owing to my Ill health,
spent some In the same boarding house and with
the family OF my sister, Mrs. Sands, and thus renewed
an acquaintance which had from childhood with
lad. seventeen old, tho brother OF my sis
tcrs husband The respondent chose TO be jealous OF
this boy and without the least in my conduct
charged me, In the most abusive and even indecent
way, oil Improperly with him ana with design TO
The violence of the respondent was exhibited later
not only to me, but also 10 others IN the amiy and
TO our eldest tile boy, whom, on several occasions
he beat SO severely that the child was injured by It
for days.
toward me, the children and others and hs jealousy
the young lad, Sands, was expressed by him to
me, not only in words, but In writing during my alb
sence from home.
Lands SLAPPED IL THE FACE.
In the early part of 1874 AT Philadelphia difficulty
happened between the respondent and myself because
OF his beating the little boy Charles. Hearing the
chd cry rushed TO his aid and forgetting myself
my Indignation when found him severely whipping
the boy, slapped hun in the face; the respondent
thereupon seized me violently by the throat. choked
me, and In great anger and with abusive language
blow was then enceinte since the preceding Jar
uary. aud the effect Of this conduct produce
severe Illness Tor nearly two weeks.
such instances as these, which, though rot always
attended with violence, were numerous tended To con-
vines US that without adequate cause had lost NV
influence over my husband ana my position as the
OF his love, and that he had given the confidence
and regard due me to others. was, besides, during
the whole of my married life, either IN "a state OF prcg
nancy nursing children having had, including one
miscarriage, four births In years while am now
expecting TO be confined again.
had not been expensive In my habits. Both my
own clothing and that Of my children, owing 10 his
complaints OF the times, were o the most inexpensive
nature. In March, 1874 by directions OF the respon
dent, purchased dresses for myself and my
Children the bills for which not presented Til
alter his departure tor Europe, and these formed
large part OF the expenses which he aiterward took
violent umbrage.
EUROPE.
When he started for Europe was convaescing from
Illness occasoned by miscarriage, and acquesced IN
his going aonehe saying he could not Afford to lake
me-thnking would have rest and peace
When the respondent went abroad ne expected to be
gone but about three months, and the arran cement
was that l. with the children and his mother and sis
ter, should to Cape May Tor the summer. He sailed
ON the 7th Of APRIL 1874 and was TO return by the lst
OF August.
While acquesced in this arrangement 1t did not
meet my wishes or my judgment. had had trouble
with Mrs and Miss Lands, tue mother aud sister Of
We were not congenal to each other. Reflection, after
respondent away satisfied me that the place had
better be abandoned, and so | wrote the
ing that had changed my mind about gong
TO Cape May and should remain at vineiand.
She wrote her brother respecting this. But IN the
month OF May received letters each referring 10
this matter, the contents of which were exceedingly
unkind They were especially PAINFUL because the
letters written by HIM TO me before hat-one by the
pilot, another on the voyage, third from Queens
town, a fourth from Liverpool and a fifth from Lon
donwere full OF ondness aud Affection These have
preserved. The two in May, OF which have spoken,
destroyed immediately after their receipt could
not bear TO Keep them
THE CORRESPONDENCE.
On the Goth OF May he wrote me another letter in
which he acknowledged a short note from me OF May
IL and reproached me for my silence He says:--"Do
you not think II long time. from the I'D OF April
the l2th OF May, 10 write me or give me any in
formation about the cDildrenr What
Is the use OF calling darling, or telling
me how you miss me, when see that is irksome
you to writer Common cvility bears more rut than
letter from the respondent, through the Post
Once. darcssed 10 Ellen Norton. 1t reads thus:-
LONDON, MAJ TO- 1874.
Miss NORTON IL have been very glad hear that
30 the children have been well THIS shows much
better Vneand with them than the
OF your good care hope that while
] away You viii do the best for the children
and God will reward you aud ! will not Tor
get H. when return. Have patience with Char
lies idle prmtte aud childish Jealousy OF bickfe.
He II less than children. expect Dickie
t.ikns all kinds Of nonsen.s by tle time return Help
Mrs Lands all can and II At time should have
children hands do not lose Be
that children get their food regular times,
,hat IL is of the right quality that they 90
10 bed regular hours; that little Charlie does
DOT run In the without projection
his head that his undercothing is always kept clean
well mended and that the amount OF hane the chr
drsp wear changed ~ the children have
what Decessary speak to Mrs Lamds and II she does
NOT get articles Immediately. within day atcr you
report 70 Leavitt aud get them yourself There
be delay about slch matters. do not wish the
children TO 20 " ashngton under any
stances. IL will eIdsnser their lives This |
will write TO Mrs Lands. Help hrs Lands all
you can ia the children and when she
sousuer yourself their guardian angel You have
uother yourself aud may thus know what fathers love
may his chilaren u Is from this feeling write to