The New York herald., 1879-12-17
MARITAL MISERY.


UNHAPPY DOMESTIC LIFE or AN OYSTER DEALER
AND HIS wIFE--A SUIT FOR LIMITED d.
syoRcE-A wIFE's PATHETIC STORY AND A
HUSBANDS EXCUSES
There was commenced yesterday. before Judge
Barrett. in Supreme Court Special Term tho trial of
suit for limited divorce brought by Mrs. Margaret
Ruckman against her husband Elisha Ruckman. the
details of which, thus far dSeloped on tho open
ing day of the trial. present sad picture of the
red life of the litigants. Mr.. Ruckman began life
as poor boy. and having embarked in the oyster
business. succeeded. in the course of time. in
ing a fortune estimated ut over $500. .OOO rpon the
income Of which he has been living for the past
few years. owning an elegant country seat in the
vicinity of Tappan. with all the accompaninents Of
servants. carriages and fastgoipg horses The pres
ens Mrs. Ruckman is mis- second wife. She had for
years been the nurse of the first Mrs. Rackman.
who invalid. and shortly after the demise Of
Mrs. Ruckman No. she consented to become Mrs.
Ruckman No. 2. As usual in divorce trials proms-
ing Interesting developments the court room was
crowded yesterday. and in the throng goodly
number of adies-the friends Of the respective ti-
gants. The plaintiff. who is fine looking lady. of
middle age. and who elegantly dressed. seaskin
sacque, diamond earrings and gold watch. with q
heavy chan comprising the more noticeable feature
of her toilet. sat her counsel. Messrs. Jacob
Miller and jacob Weant. OF Jersey City. Mr.. Ruck.
man, the husband also occupied seat by his coun-
sci, Mr.. G. p. Hoffman. He is stout. thickset
man. slightly bald. and with heavy. Aord coun-
tcnance. After brief opening of the by Mr.
Mil behalf Of the plaintiff. stating the facts Of
the recited above and his intention to prove
all the allegations set forth in the complaint. he
called Mrs. Ruckman to the witness stand She took
her seat with quiet COmpOSure, and excepting
occasion did not lose 1t during the entire day.
which wholly taken up in her direct and cross
examin ation the latter being unusually stringent
and scathing one
In answer to questions by herlcounsel Mrs. nuck-
man gave succinct but not er-ploasing picture
OF her marital experience, which began with her
They lived far from harmoniously. but the defend
ants alleged cruel treatment of her began in June.
1878. and eliminated on the 10th Of March last.
when, she said she felt II too hazardous to
live longer with him and left him. His
cruelty. she said. began by accusing her OF
improper intimacy with Colonel J. Smith Haring,
who was her husbands bookkeeper and surveyor,
but who died in November. 1878. MIR. RuckInan.
she says ade public his charges of inhdeity with
Colonel Haring. and went far to tell her father
and mother that she had been unfatthfu to him. aud
added to this accusation that she had attempted to
denied these charges. and feeling that his
tions not only unjust but his treatment of her
cruel to an unbearable degree she brought the pres
ent suit.
A SERIES OF NEGATIVES
Her direct examination was simply corrobora-
tion of the allegations contained in her complaint
On her crossexaminaton she adhered pretty strictly
her original story. although efforts
made by opposing counsel to show conflict in the
ststemens she then made and her testimony in q
recent foreclosure suit brought by her against the
Palisade Land Company i'll New Jersey During this
cross-examination she became quite expert in
negative responses.
"Did you not in Mr.. Ruckmans absence. prepare
asked her, 'for you and Mr.. HaringY'
..No; sir" very quietly
him and yourseli?"
"No, sir" (energetically).
'Did you not have quail supper with himY'
"No sir" with increased einphasis).
Haring were in the dining room togetherY'.
estate H some OCCASION" said counsel. "when Mr..
Ruckman particularly cruel to YOU"
',He came home one day from village where he
tomary abuse by calling opprobrious names. and
wound up BY throwing himself on the Aoor."
"Tve lived long enough he said. and am going
TO die
II told him he had been in the hot sun too much
and sentfor servant. who applied ice to his head
"How did Mr.. Ruckman first accuse you Of inh
| delity?" she was further asked.
III can't tell his language. He blurted it right out
It was the shot OF pistol to me-"
PRODUCTION LETTERS.
Quite q number of letters written by Mrs Ruck-
to her husband after she had left him and gone
to the homo OF her parents. were read in court to
him. Most Of these letters began with my
dear husband and wound up with "Your
ssye nothing to se for in this wora but
you. and In another. Il hope you will never think
have ceased to love you" Enclosed in one of the
spstss vas slip from paper entitled "A Glorious
minded minded woman thinks it great destiny to be the
wS s0eU eUnsd quite rsndy
relation between the parties. This friendly feeling.
however. was not manifested in letter he writes to
has dvso{n hARf IN mad fla r1avH NJ
Proverbs beginning as the tenth verse, aud her re-
joinder. advising him to read the twenty-third
psalm. These portions of the Old Testament were
offered in evidence but were excluded.
"DIvIDE MY LAST CRUST.
After describing Mr.. Ruckmans alleged threats to
shoot her and Mr.. Haring. denying that she had
called him liar or mad used profane language,
Mrs. Ruckman detailed the circumstances of their
.Did Mt. Ruckman beg of you to remain with
him. 2 asked counsel.
.Did not others beg for him?"
'Did he not offer to divide with you the valuable
homestead at Tappan II you would remainY
'Did he not give you 500 when you lefti'
Eyes. and he did more; he rode with me in the
to the city; he went with TO my boarding house.
and he still begged of me to go back with him."
Then why did you not 60 backr
''I had borne all could-al any woman could.
had firmly resolved never to live with him again."
what were his last words to your
"'n ever should get poor. he said. would you
give me homer"
III told him would divide my last crust with him.
At this point OF her testimony Mrs. Ruckman be-
came deeply affected and wept and 1t was some time
before she recovered. Her further examination will
be resumed this morning.
Mr.. RCcKMAN's ANSWER
Mr.. Ruckman In his answer TO the complaint de-
nes that he cruelty treated his wife, aud says
that he merely charged her with infdelity on in or
nation and belief He confesses to using profane
lang uage occasionally but says 1t brought out
by her violent temper and harsh and cutting words
He he has given her x3O.OUO since they were
married. and IL he is guilty of tho accusations
charged she has condoned the offence.
WILLIAM KELLY'S TRIAL.