The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-10-17
A CONNECTICUT BRUTE.
Horrible Treatment OF Feeble Old Lady H.
Her Husband-A Shocking Story.

Her Husband-A Shocking Story.
A telegram from New Haven. Conn to the
New York World, saws: A divorce was
granted yesterday in the Superior Court of
New London County, in which one of the
parties to the suit is an octogenarian, and
the other is nearly of the same age. In the
summer of 1855, Mrs. Emily Tiff was married
to George Latham, widower with two mar
ried daughters Both live in Groten oppo-
site New London. Mrs. Latham also had one
child. grown no son. Mr.. Latham was at
that time tifty-four, and his wife fifty years
old.
They lived happily for some wears, but
Elijah Bailey who married one of Latham
daughters caused trouble, and it is alleged
that during the past five wears the white
haired husband Inns treated his aged wife
with inhuman cruelty. During this time, it
is said, he has made her fodder several yokes
OF cattle and a number OF cows at all Seasons
OF the year-even during the most severe
storms OF winter.
There is no fodder barn on the Latham
farm, and Mrs. Latham was obliged to use a
ladder to mount haystacks in an open field
in order to throw down the hay for the stock
In winter the stacks were frequently covered
with foot of snow and ice. which she was
obliged to clear away before she could get at
the salt hay. In telling her story to the World
correspondent she said: IF the feeding OF
the cattle was all 1 should not have
minded it, although | am over % years
old; but my husband would kick me
out of bed in the middle of winter. We had
wood fires, which went out at night anu the
house was freezing cold | had often to sit
in chair all night. AT last hid blanket
away, so that | could have something to
wrap around me when he was mad and
would not let me sleep. After that [ kept
more comfortable. He has kicked me in the
side when he had heavy cowhide boots on.
L. al, l. EnNf
number.
"0nce he was having some words with a
man who, he said, had stolen some nails.
told him that the nails were not stolen. He
caught me by the throat and threw me down
the cellar stairs, saying: III teach you to
talk 10 me- He has forced me to leave the
house in ali sorts of weather. and have fire.
quently taken refuge in the home OF Captain
Sidney Buddington, one OF the officers OF the
Polaris expedition. His wife has often
dressed the cuts and bruises which my hus-
band made on my face and hands.
Once, year ago last winter. we were Sit
ting by an open wood fire when he suddenly
got angry because | asked him to be better
TO me- Without saying a word he picked up
blazing stick and threw it in my face. 1t
struck me between the eyes, nearly blind
ing me. and then fell into my lap setting
my clothes on fire. | was dazed by the
blaze, which burnt my eyes, and am so old
that could not move quickly; but | man
aged to grope my way to the sink and extin-
| guish the flames with water. Instead of
helping me he sat still and said; Burn up,
| curse you
After this my son advised me to get a
divorce, and l filed the application, which
was granted, Ny son, Samuel Tiff, has been
very good to me. He bought all NV clothing
while l lived with my husband and has kept
me since left him, two years ago. think
| that the trouble between Mr.. Latham and
myself was caused by his daughters. who did
| not want me to live in the house, as | took
| up room that they wanted TO occupy, One
of them, Mrs. Elijah Bailey, is living with
| him, and the other, Mrs. George Gates, lives
| at Wallingford."
The suit has been a peculiar one. The ap-
plication was fled two years ago, but every
| time IL has come up for trial Latham has
| been reported sick. At last Judge Culver
determined to investigate his sickness. He
| found that on two occasions when Latham
| said that he was sick he had been attending
| to his farm duties as usual. When the case
| was called the last time Latham took some
| drug which untitled him temporarily for ap-
pearance at Court, and it was tried without
his appearance.
When the evidence had been given Judge
| Culver said; This is the worst case of cru
| city to a wife have ever heard. will grant
| decree of divorce not only on the ground
| of cruelty. but of intolerable cruelty, and
| give Mrs. Latham the one-third of her hus-
! bands estate allowed by law"
One day before the decision was given La
| than turned over his estate to his daughters
| by deed OF gift, only reserving $500 OF this
| amount Judge Culver has ordered Sl66 to
| be paid to Mrs. Latham in money.
The husband said: "My wife can come
| back if she wants TO. She had no cause to
leave me, and all the trouble has been made
by that worthless son OF hers, Sam Tiff.
| He would come over here and borrow money
| and tools and never return one cent S
| worth. This went on until
| could stand it no longer. His mother obeys
| him in everything and he enticed her to
| leave me. He has spent all of her money
| and wants to spend all of mine. That is the
| whole trouble. NV wife left a good home
without cause. but she can come back if she
wants to. will be glad to have her at any
time
Tiff and his mother deny Lathams state
ment in every particular. The neighbors say
| that he is hard working carpenter and has
| always taken good care of his aged mother.