Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-05-10
The Autocrat of the Family.

The st. Louis sGlobe-Democrat prints the
long complaint in the suit of Mrs. Alice DAY.
enport for Il divorce from her husband
Benjamin K. Davenport, of that city. The
parties are natives of Georgia, but were mar
rled In New York city September 24, 1873.
lhe wife asserts that two weeks after their
marriage her husband, without cause. began
to treat her with suspicion and mistrlst and
to assume toward her Il cruel and tyranicaI
attitude, declaring that she should subject
herself in all things, even to the most min
ute and trivial affairs, entirely to his arbitra-
~ dictatlon, direction and command: that
ne forbade her to ever to speak to any gen
tleman, and that, she being ill. he refused
her permission to go to her mother, in Sal
vannah, Ga. and finally only consented to
her II Getting her mother in New York after
she had taken an oath faithfully to observe
certain rules which, Il gross indignity to her
sell, he had written out rs follows:
Rules tor the government of my wifc's
conduct while away from e, June 1879:
|. Not to speak to any per on or allow
any person to speak to her OF the car, cx-
cept the conductor and porter in the dis
charge Of Of their duty
=. Go directly from the depot in New
York to Mrs. lIaight's house, and occ py
room with mother, and sleep only in her
room.
3. Speak kindly and politely to Mrs.
Haight, but not III Il friendly or familiar
manner say to her you do not wish to meet
amy one in the house ask for table to
yourself, with only your family, or go some
where else
t; Never sing i'll the parlor or sit in the
parloE, or sing i'll Your room when any per-
oneXcept your Immediate family be prcscrt.
D. Never leave mot e day or night for
live minutes ut Il time for any reason what
soevcr. Do not walk, ride or 90 anywhere
without her, even with your own brother.
6: DO not Gallon any person whatsoever,
and allow no one who may call on YOU to
see you, unless they bcyour brothers or their
wives. Do not speak 70 any person Won
may meet whom you may have known in
the past.
1. DO not permit yourself to be introdu
ccd to any person whatsoever, and if YOU
are. refuse TO speak to them.
S. Write every night TO me 4 full truth
full 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 every night.
Let nothing, sickness or death. prevent
your keeping these rules for I will excuse
no breach on any account. DO not leave
New York. even for II hour, without nv
permission, except Brooklyn or Harlem.
lfmy wife cannot keep these rules, in
word and i'll spirit, desire never to sec her
again. BENJAMIN r. DAVENPORT.
The Globe-Democrat says: "Mr.. Daven-
port came to this city in 1878, and ut once
gained considerable prominence in the prac-
ticc of his profession. He has the manage
mcnt of several large estates, and is in re-
ccipt of quite II respectable income He is
a genial, sociable gentleman, and has always
been regarded as above reproach. Mr..
Davenport entered his appearance. thus
obviating the issuance of process, and in
stead Of being returnable to the June term
it is returnable to the present (April term
1t is understood that Mr.. Davenport will not
contest the case, but will allow Mrs. Daven-
port to get decree by default"