The news., 1886-04-27

A special correspondent furnishes us the
following case OF apparent wilful and mali
cious cruelty:
New GRErNA, N. j., April 9th. 1856.
The saddest and most cruel tale that has
been told in these parts for many q day
came from the lips of Mrs. Abbie Willetts,
wife of Nj. Nj. Willetts, ST., of West Greek,
during her stay in this village of nearly
four weeks. She tells of having been on
several occasions beaten by her husband
until black in the face and more than once
was nearly choked to death. Many times
her life has been threatened and saved
perhaps only through the Intervention of
her son. Recently she was cruelty driven
away from her home with three of her five
children, the youngest less than two years
and the eldest but seven. They were all
scantily clad and when they came to New
Gretna had not sufficient clothing to pro-
tect them from the elements. Neighbors
who had known Mrs. Willets from early
childhood kindly contributed to their
wants and she and her children were made
comfortable.
Last week your correspondent went by
request of Il few who knew her and heard
from her own lips the story of her hus-
bands cruelty which has extended over
period OF years, but it has always been
smothered and withheld from the public
because of the love she bore her children.
Mrs. Willetts is q daughter of Samuel Crow
ley, of Green Bank, and married Willetts II
years ago, being his second wife. She is
but 30 years old and he is said to be nearly
so, and has by his first wife several daugh-
tiers of mature age and to these daughters
is attributed much of the trouble between
MIS-. Willets and her husband.
She was found last week in an old dilap-
dated building back of Kate Keen's tavern
in Bridgeport and when our erland was
made known she expressed Il Willingness
to tell OF her harsh treatment ut the hands
of her husband, AS forbearance had proved
of no avail for her protection from his
abuse.
con one OCCASION She said, sat mid
night, / was dragged from my bed TO the
floor, choked and pounded almost insensi-
Bile and might have been killed had not
one of my sons gained access to the room
and told me to run for my life. Catching
my babe in my arms escaped from the
room and took refuge i'll the barn where l
spent The balance of the night in the hay
now" This is only one of the many stories
of cruelty she related during the inter-
view, and she could assign no cause given
for such treatment.
She said THAT warrant had been issued
for her husbands arrest by Justice Isaiah
Cramer, of Cedar Run, but for some reason
it had not been served.
He has written her letter asking for a
consultation to see if the matter cannot be
fixed up. In the letter her husband pro-
posed to allow her the munifcent sum of
$2.50 per week for the support of herself
and the three young children and he to
keep the two elder ones, or s. 100 a week for
her owR support He also desires ssil
agreement OF separation drawn up, and
from the tone OF the letter this would
seem 10 please him most
Willetts is said to be worth from $l2 900 to
$4,000 and there is evidently some myster-
ious motive tor the treatment his wife has
received from him.
MI Crowley, father of the much-abused
ana unfortunate woman and his two sons
intend TO assist her i'm prosecuting Willetts
and your readers will then hear the other
side of the matter. 1t is painfully evident
that the woman's lot has been very I'M
happy one.