The Portland daily press., 1882-05-12
The Autocrat of the Family.
The Stringent Rules a st. Louis Mar
Laid Down for His Wife.

The ST. Louis Globe-Democrat prints the
port for divorcefrom her husband, Benjamin
R. Davenport, of that city. The parties are
natives of Georgia, but were married in New
York city, September Oath, 1878. The wife as
seits that two weeks after their marriage her
husband, without cause, began to treat her
with suspicion and mistrust, and to assume
toward her cruel and tyrannical attitude, de-
claring that shashould subject herself in all
things, even to the most minute and trivial
affairs, entirely to his arbitrary dictation, d-
rection and command; that he forbade her ever
speaking to any gentleman, and that, she be-
ing i'll, he refused her permission to go to her
mother in Savannah, Ga, and finally only con-
sented to her meeting her mother in this city
after she had taken an oath faithfully to OBJ
serve certain rules which, gross indignity to
herself he had written out as follows:
Rules for the government of my wifes con-
duct while away from me, June l. 1879:
l. Not to speak TO any person or allow any
person to speak to her on that car, except the
conductor and porter in the discharge Of their
duty.
2. Go directly from depot in New York to
Mrs. Haight's house, and occupy room with
mother, and sleep only in her room.
g. Speak kindly and politely to Mrs. Haight,
but not in friendly or familiar manner; say
to her you do not wish to meet any one in the
house; ask for q table to yourself, with only
your own family, or go somewhere elss.
a. Never sing in the parlor, or sit in the
parlor, or sing in your room when any person
except your immediate family be present.
5. Never leave mother day or night for FIVE
minutes at time for any reason whatsoever.
Do not walk, ride, or go anywhere without
her, even with your own brother.
g. Do not call on any person Whatsoever
and allow no one to call on you to see you, un-
less they be your brothers or their wives Do
not speak TO any person you may meet whom
you may have known in the past.
7. Do not permit yourself to be introduced
to any person whatsoever, and if you are, re-
fuse to speak to them.
s. Write every night to me full, truthful
and exact account of everything you have
done, where you have been, with whom you
have been, to whom you have spoken, and
whom you have seen. This must be done ev-
cry night
Let nothing, sickness or death, prevent your
keeping these rules, for will excuse no breach
on any account. Do not leave New York, even
for an hoar, without my permission, except
Brooklyn or Harlem.
If my wife cannot keep these rules, in word
and in spirit desire never to see her again.
BENJAMIN R. DAVENPORT.
The Gfobe-D Democrat says: "Mr Davenport
came to this city in 1875 and at once gained
considerable prominence in the practice of his
profession. He has the management of several
large estates, and is in receipt of quite re-
spectacle income. He is genial, sociable
gentleman, and has always been regarded as
above reproach. Mr.. Davenport entered his
appearance, thus obviating the issuance of a
process, and instead of being returnable to the
June term it is returnable to the present
(ApriD term. 1t is understood that Mr.. Dav-
export will not contest the case, but will allow
Mrs Davenport to get decree by default"