Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-10
MARITAL MISERY.
A Wife's Story Of Cruelty, Neglect and
Hl.Treatne nt Generally at the
Hands Of
Her Brutal Husband, All Growing Out
OF an Aggravated Case Of Moth
er.in-Law.

CINCINEATI, January 9.-The Commercial
Gazetts publishes the following: This is a
history of domestic troubles, which bring
before the public prominently Mr.. E. Eugene
Davis, who for three years past has been
teaching at the Conservatory OF Music.
Whatever these troubles may have been,
they are in no manner connected with the
management of the Conservatory Of Music,
which for the past years has been growing in
efficiency, and which, under the direction Of
Miss Clara Baur, has been doing some solid
musical work in this city. The following
sketches will be fit introduction TO the SUBJ
iect:
MR.. DAVIS
is young man who would scarcely be con-
sidered above the age of twenty-five years;
he has prepossessing features, IL OF rather
dark complexion, and of medium hight.
He is fluent in conversation and rather
pleasing in his manners. He delights 10
speak on musical subjects, and seems to be
literally absorbed in. his profession. His par
| ents are highly respectable, and live at Pros
pect, o. His father was a well-to-do farmer,
and succeeded in owning lands that came
within close boundary line of the town, and
these have since been dovelailed into lots that
have proved a valuable investment. Young
Eugene did not develop much talent for mu-
sic, it is said, until he was twenty years OF
| age, then he applied himself seriously to its
/. study, and, considering the short time he was
engaged therein, he has been blessed with
marked success. He WIS engaged as the
! piano teacher of the Normal Musical School
{. at Ada, Hardin county, o several years sgo,
7 before his marriage, and there he succeeded
in iDgratiating himself in the favor of the
management OF that institution, as well as OF
| bis pupils. After Mis- marriage he remained
| a short time at that school and then
succeeded in securing a position at the Gin
| cinnaii Conservatory Of Music, where he also,
| for a short time, took Lessons from Mr.. 81. G.
Andres, who, at the time, was at the head of
| the piano department in the Cons ervatory.
| Miss Clara Baur, the directress, soo,2 discov-
cred his peculiar worth as a teacher, and,
I after while, he was employed in
| the piano department, as we'll as in
| the training OF the chorus as long as
| it was in organization. While lac never
has been known in the musical CO immunity
| as a proficient performer on the piano, he
has certainly, according to the tes' :imouy OF
his superiors, shown great deal of talent
as a teacher OF that instrument. He was
| laborious, conscientious and ince lsant in his
labors. He had singular success with all
his pupils, and many of them are teachers
Of ability in the profession to-day. He
might have been good director had ne pos
sessed more intimate knowl ledge of string
instruments in the orchestra. He possesses
| the hysical force and anirnation which are
requisite to the success of a leader. His
good qualities steadily developing, were of
decided advantage TO the Conservatory, and
that institution has not at all suffered by his
personal or family difficulties. He has
| figured in this city in several concerts, and
| lately directed thF3 performance OF the "Mes-
siah" at Delhi. He has also been member
of the May Festival Chorus, though his
connection With it was only spssmodic. At
the Walnut Hills Methodist Episcopal
church he has been the organist for some
time.
MRS. EUGENE T. DAVIS
is q Young woman, who looks TO be scarcely
more than twenty-five years. She is a bru-
| nette, petite in form, of dark, penetrating
| eyes, and pleasing but 6rm.set features. She
bsssme acquainted with her husband at the
Ada Normal School, where she was enrolled
as pupil about four years ago. She studied
| music under his tuition, and the result was
mutual attachment, which, ripeniug into
love, soon ended in marriage. When she
lived in Cincinnati she was anxious TO con-
time her musical studies, and received
some instruction at the Conservatory. Both
Miss Baur and those with whom she has
lived at different times, give the best testi-
monials as 10 her character, her gentle quail
| tiles and her forbearauce. Her maiden
name was Mary Kelly, and her parents live
at Rawson, Hancock county, o. They
| are supposed 10 be in very good circum-
stances. Mrs. Davis. who is stopping at
present at Mrs. Ellis's, 129 West Ninth
| street, made in substance the following
| statement Of her grievances:
| THE. wIFE's STATEMENT
became acquainted with Mr.. Davis at
the Normal School at Ada, o., and l was
married to him in Piitsburg, Pa, three ye ars
| ago last July. 1t was a love match, as l
then supposed, and 1 still have reason TO be-
| ieve, and for some considerable time we
were very happy. After our marriage my
husband continued in his teaching at the
school Tor about three months, and then we
removed TO Cincinnati, where he received
employment at the Conservatory of Music
receiving instructions at the same time. We
took rooms at J. Gardelle's house, 100 Syca-
more street. / gradually noticed an estrange-
| ment of my husbands affections, and he
| grew cold in time and cruel. AS to his cruel
ties do not like TO speak much, but if you
were TO speak TO two servant girls we had in
the house, they might give you an abundance
OF information They are Mamie Hedger,
of Dayton, KY, and Carrie Jones. He was
1
used threats of violence. 1 bore many things
in silence for long time. / coaxed him 10
come home early TO me at night, but it was
| In vain. Meanwhile we were beset with
| creditors. 1 learned for the first time that
my husband h ad left Ada in debt in every
direction.
While he waa teaching at the Conservato-
~, banker of Ada, by the name of Agnew
| Welsh, presented his claim, amounting to
j ,lN,,N r.
| Mr., Welsh threatened suit, whereupon my
husband paid it reluctantly. We afterwsrd
removed from Sycamore street TO two-story
brick house at 134 Belts street. Here pri-
vate pupil OF his from the country was
boarding with US. She was, believe, a
| pure, inn ocent girl, but she became capti-
waited by Mr.. Davis. They were out ire
quently together, sometimes late at night,
and Of course my suspicious were aroused.
had lao servant girl at the time, and l spent
gr eat part of the day in the kitchen. To
this. treatment he obliged me TO submit, al
| through he had promised TO give me a
rAusicsl education. He took pains with
other young ladies, but his wife be neglected
totally. Often, when l was employed in the
kitchen, he would slip into the parlor with
this pupil of his from the country, and re-
main there with her alone for almost half a
day. l cannot speak positively OF the ex-
tent of the intimacy. thought it beneath
my womanly dignity 10 investigate, but
was certainly hurt 10 the hottest of wife's
feelings. l demonstrated with him, but his
attachment TO the stranger continued all the
moee, and he was growing more cold and cruel
| to lne. The house was a two-story one, and
| one day was on the second floor, employed
in arranging our bedroom. The bedroom
of the stranger pupil was adjoining. Mr..
Davis and his pupil stepped in, and the
for mer demanded that 1 should withdraw
and leave them alone. / was indignant, and
said that / would not do it. Mr.. Davis In
sisted, and, using very insolent language
finally threatened 10 stab me. He said his
will was sufficient. and must obey. 1 an
swered: 81 dare you to kill me; you are a
coward, and you are afraid OF me-" Mr..
| Davis left and did not persist. My husbands
mother, from Prospect, o., came 10 see Us
about the time of the last May Festival. l
have always considered her at the bottom of
our domestic difficulties She was opposed
from the beginning to my marriage with Der
son, and she did all in her power to make
things unple asant for me. When she left,
my husband protege, the little pupil from the
country, also took her departure. / have
heard how sick she was for many weeks after
ward at her paternal residence, but l really
sympathized with her and put the whole
| blame son my husband Alter her
departure, Mr.. Davis increased his dislikes
of me and repeated his rough treatment
in a more marked manner. We finally
were obliged 10 separate. l took my depar-
ture shortly after the last May Festival to
Rawson, where resided for while with my
child, about three years old, at the house Of
my parents. Ny husband was evidently
very happy in getting rid OF me, for he never
troubled himself in the least about me, nor
did be send one cent of support for me and
his child. returned to the city about the
ed OF November lsst, and saw Mr.. Davis.
He treated me more roughly than ever; said
| he would have nothing whatever to do with