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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 429
in most respects discharged the various obligations devolving upon a
husband, with fidelity. During said period, said Thomas conceived the
project of migrating to the United States of America. And by many
arguments, and highly embellished pictures, draAvn by said Thomas,
protraying the rich advantages, offered in the United States, to poor
people; your oratress, Avas thereby induced to leave her native land,
kindred, friends, acquaintances, and all the associations of her childhood,
and Avend her Avay with, said Thomas, to a land of strangers.
That, soon after our arrival in this paradise of lords and ladies, silver
balls and gold spoons, perpetual health and eternal youth said Thomas
began to contract vicious habits; those habits became more and more
permanent, until he became the loathing and offensive drunkard. The
first fruits of said change, in the life and habits of said Thomas, reaped
by your oratress, Avas coldness, neglect and abuse, Avhich soon ripened
into personal violence, too revolting to he mentioned. Your oratress
represents that said Thomas has often beat and pounded her, with different
kinds of Aveapons, and his fists, until she considered her life to be
in danger; that said Thomas has frequently turned her out of his most
inhospitable doors, and even out of her bed, in the dead and silent hours
of the night, in the cold and inclement season, when all AA'ere Avrapped
in sleep and repose, saA'e the Bachanalian and Maniack! Avhen the elements
of heaven Avere in motion; the rain descending in torrents, Avhen
the Avinds Avere lashing the Avaves against the shore, and sending back
their echoes, resembling the sound of the distant tornado; and compelled
her to seek a shelter, for herself and infant, Avheresoever a shelter
could be found. That said Thomas mal-treatment, personal and violent
abuse, and inhuman conduct tOAvard your oratress, became so frequent,
constant and alarming that she considered her life in danger, and that
it Avould be suicidal in her to live and cohabit any longer with said
Thomas. Your oratress therefore charges upon said Thomas habitual
drunkenness, a total neglect of all those social and domestic obligations
which devolve upon a husband, and personal abuse to such an extent as
to render both her life and limb in danger and unsafe for her longer to
live bed and board with the said Thomas."
Then folloAvs a prayer for divorce.
AnsAver: "May it plase your Honor's Avorship! Its meself, Tommy
Cohlan. (Me name is Thomas, your Honors, but I write it Tommy for
shortness) that will ansAver a long tale that's tould for Katie—that's
me Avife, your Honor.—by LaAvyer Stilts, because to tell the rael truth
of the mather, I have more love for Katy, nor many for the laAvyers, the
spelpecns!
"And IIOAV to tell the thruth agin yer Honours, Ave Avas married,
(that's me and Katy) by the praste in Ould Ireland, Avhich is joost the
best counthry in the Avorld your Honours, barrin the hnvs and the rints.
And among us Ave have got three childers, the last big enough to eranch
his OAvn praty, if he can get it. I forgot to tell yer Honours, that Ave
coom to this counthry—that's Ameriky—Avhere laAving is as asy as
lying, and they take their pay in Avomen's Avork. We niver had any