Sarah H. Black seeks a divorce from her husband, James E. Black. She reveals that Black has been "caught in the act of having illicit sexual intercourse" with two of his slaves, a mulatto woman named Susan and "a negro woman named Ann or Annie." When confronted, she asserts that her husband told her that "a damed good whipping or cowhiding would do her good, and he would give it to her unless she minded her own business." She further insists that her husband repeatedly called her a "god damned old bitch" and instructed the slaves not to obey her orders. The petitioner cites that slaves on the plantation had threatened her and had called her a liar, but the overseer informed her that he had been "given orders not to punish any of the servants at her request." She informs the court that her husband is the owner of a large plantation, which is community property, and "some seventy or eighty slaves." She therefore prays for alimony and for custody of their children.
Result: Dismissed.
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Repository: Brazoria County Courthouse, Angleton, Texas
