River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-07-07
ANOTHER MORMON HORROR.
Painful circumstances Developed nj
Divorce Case Now Pending I'm

From the Salt Like Tribune.


A few days since the substance Of
the complaint in the case of Raleigh
VS.. Raleigh, was published. and yester-
day a Tribune reporter had the priyi-
lege of a short talk with the petitioner
in the suit, Mrs. Elizabeth Raleigh The
latter is ar intelligent, fne-looking lady,
whoes hair is but Just tinged with gray,
the combined result of years of life
and Mormon welded bliss.
Mrs. Raleigh's story is like that of 81
great many of the women who have
married into the church. She first
went into Mr.. Raleigh's family as n
nurse to his former wife, who was on a
bed of sickness from which she never
rose. She declined to accept the pro-
posals of marriage when first made,
but in obedience to the mandate Of
Herbert c. Kimball, then one of Pres
ident Young's counselors, and to whom
disobedience was worse than contempt
of court, she at length acceded. Her
honeymoon was not a particularly
bright one, but she took upon herself
the care of her husbands children by
his first wife, and was moth
er to them during many years
that followed. She was allowed
to work all she pleased, and sometimes
more, from the beginning, and as was
| stated in the complaint aided in every
way to build up the fortune of her lord
and master As an instance of what
was expected of her, one instance may
be related. Shortly after they were
married one of the COWS died, down in
pasture lot in the edge of the town, it
was supposed to in some way become
| poisoned. She was sent with a Danish
| boy to skin the body, which they did,
and Mrs. Raleigh carried the hide to
the house over her shoulders, her hus-
band, meantime, standing by with a
| linen buster on and walking-cane in
his hand, experimenting the work.
In the course Of time new wives were
added to the household, the number
eventually reaching eight, and at one
period six of them occupying one
! house, and eating together in small
room, which served as kitchen, dining
room, sitting-room and parlor. Each
had separate sleeping room. They
were all expected to earn a living, and
if they wanted anything special in the
way of clothing, etc, they bought it
themselves from money made at wash
ing or otherwise. The head Of the
household bought his supplies by the
quantity, and kept them under lock
and key, dealing them out with a spar
ing hand. He was always suspicious
that his wives were trying to rob him,
and on one occasion. when he thought
he missed dress-pattern off bolt of
sapr hoo hn Cd ha
apartments of his wives, examining the
bedticks, looking in small drawers that
would not contain the bulk of the dress
and, when urged by the plaintiff, even
peering into pair of stockings hung
up in the room. The plaintiff says the
best dress he ever gave her after their
marriage was one of common material
which would probably cost about bit
yard now.
One of his wives finally brought
suit for divorce against him, which was
settled by compromise, and the result
of the present suit will be watched with
interest by some of the others, who will
follow suit if Mrs. Raleigh succeeds.
AS an evidence Of the love felt for
him by his children, it is said that
NICtl liz lloid bCCI4 StDStiib III Ing ldIlu
on mission and was returning, they
saw him, and one of the boys exclainl-
ed, There comes that old scoundrel,"
whereupon they all FASTENED to con
ceal themselves. He was called by
some less tender and respectful names
at other times. and all in all his life as
q husband and father seems not to
have been happy one, judging by the
respect inspired in his family.
Subsequent to the separation from
her husband, Mrs. Raleigh was ques-
toned as to the illicit distillery which
he is said to have run in the cellar of
his house in this city at one time, but
of this matter she protested to be in
ignorance. The story goes that one of
the men in charge being drinking with
some companions and not liking the
quality of the tanglefoot offered him,
told the crowd that if they would come
to the cellar he would give them some
that was genuine, as he had helped to
make it himself These are but the
merest scraps from the history of the
eminent Councilman, who is so bright
and shining a light in the circle of Lat
ter-day Saints, and the trial promises
some exceedingly interesting develop
ments