File:Henry K. Lattin (1806-1894) in the Brooklyn Eagle on Saturday, August 17, 1878.png

UNCLE LATTIN. Some Phases of his Religious and Married Life. His Wire's Complaint of his Cruelty and Meanness His Side of the Case. Counselor Noble, of Long Island City, ia taking the tostlinony, a referee, In tho suit for dlvorco instituted by Sirs. Hannah Lattln, of Farmlngdiile, against her husband, Daniel Lattln, Counselor Brower, of Brooklyn, represented Mra. Lattfn, and esr - Judgo Kefd, of BaSylon, fs counsel for the defendant. Mr. Lattln Is 72 years old. Mrs. Lattln la about G3. She was a widow with two daughters, botb of wbom were married when she married Mr. Lattlu Ore years ago. Mr. Lit tin had been married, too, aud had some children. He was at oae time an extensive farmer, but old age oompellml him to relinquish native labor, and gradually he disposed ot bis possessions until only a mere garden patch was loft to him. He had a comfortable home, and as hia Inooaie was uo longer sufBoiont to enable him to retain servants, he began looking around for a life partner, aud found ncr in the widow Williams. He was an enthusiast in religious matters, a praying and exhorting brother In tho MothodlS', Church. Their married life has not been happy. When ho would knook Mrs. Lattlu down, as aho alleges he frequently did, he would exclaim, "Glory, hallelujah! Bless the Lord I" The suit ia brout'nt in consequence of this alleged "cruel and inhuman treatment." It Is obnrged tbat he neglected to provide the necessaries ot life for the house, aud th at during thHr whole married life he never expended In the aggregate more than four dollars for SHOES AMD CLOXHIKQ for Mrs. T.attin. He ia said literally to have lived upon his religion. He believed that be was sanotlded. He could endure for a woek without eating, and insisted tbat others should do the same. In April last Mrs. Lattln abandoned him and his home, and went to reside with one of her daughtora. The tostimouy for the pUlntlff shows that lo four years Mr. Lattln provided her with one pair ot shoes. In 1870 Mrs. Lattia ate some eggs from a lot that Mr. Lattin was saving to sell, and it is charged that he punished her by catching her by the throat and blaspheming at her, saying tbat ha would kick her so that aho would not bj able to fears the hennery again, and that by the law of Meses he would cut her head off. As ha said this, tt is alleged that he choked her. On another occasion, Mrs, Lattln cut up a pair of blankets to provide herself with underwear for tbe Winter. It is alleged that for doing this he ohosed her with a club, striking several blows at her head, which she warded off with her arms. "Lord, help Thy servant," he would exclaim, as ho struck at bar bead aud missed It. At other times he would shout "Oh I Glory I You'd better repent," as he plied his nsts, and when he got In a good blow tua favorito ejaculation was "Bless the Lord I" mb. LArrra'a tubn. "fou'vebeen tellin' all sorts o'lles 'bout me," said Lattln on the occasion of the last heariog. "But wait till my turn comes. O, Glory ! Yon'd better repent." Mr. Latttn'a turn came yesterday. Ha said he was disabled by age and could not work. His income is from three acres of land and the interest of $1,100. He denied unqualifiedly that he had ever need vio - j toward his wife, or tbat she suffered from tbe lack of food and clothing, tie saia mat ones no thought she was going to strike him with a slick, and be pushed ber down on a bed, took the stick from her but did not "punch" her in the side with It. Ha ueod on tbat occasion language whioh Judge Reld termed a "fragrant expreision," aod at Mr. Brower insisted that the language should go in the minutes, the Judge obtained from Mr. Lattin several "fragrant expressions" whioh Mrs. Lattin used on tho turbulent occasions. Mr. Lattin denied tbat HE PBOTHSD AT JHK MOUTH when scolding bis wife for making petucoits of the bed blankets. "She accuse! me of killing my first wife," said Mr. Lattln, "aud to provoke me called me verything but a clever fellow." Again, she would leave the doors open in cold weather, when she knew I wished them shut. Sometimes I would put my aim around ber neck in a playful manner, and ana would say. "I'll kill you I" I would say, "O, Hannah, I wouldn't." Then he added, ' - It was all wanlty, yon know all wanlty. There waa trouble, Mr. Lattln averred, bicauss he would notpermlt his wife's daughter (Mrs. Sayrea) and her son to live in ths house. "It was a bad case of daughter in law, and that Is all there is to It," said Judge Held. When Mr. Lattln, tn tne Winter of "78, was disabled by an accident, his wife remained "at Sarah Jane's," and tho neighbors had to coma In and help bim. Judge Held Did yoo ever Bbout and exhort so loudly as to koep your wlfo awake all night 7 Mr. Lattln said he did not. Mr. Brower Will you swoar you did not 7 Mr. Lattin I have always been iu tho habit of praising tha Lord, bat not so that sbs has not bad plouty uf time to sleep. I have been tn tha habit of prajing ever eiuoe ths Lord converted my soul lrom death unto lite. I bave been a professor of religion for thirty - six years. (Hallelujah.)" HIS PIBST WIPE'S OLOTHBS. Mr. Lattin was comparatively quiet during his direct examination, but the cross examination afforded "circus" for the spectators. "O, you oau't catch me ; I'm all straight I a'int a lyin'," was what ha frequently said to Mr. Brower. He said hfs first wife left clothea and that his second wife had them to wear. "How do yon knowt" asked Mr. Brower. "O, we took an in wen lory, we did," then shaking his Hit st counsel, "We're straight, wo Is I" Tho inventory placed tho value of the goods at $25. He reoollected having given his present wife sixty or seventy cents at one time to buy ohemlses, and did not give her mora because there was "so muoh clothes in the house." He eonld not recollsot that be over gave his wife money to exceed two dollars. His meat biuTfor nearly Ova years were $60. He was made poor one year by having a $30 cow run over by a railroad train. A PBEAOHBB AND BXHOBTEB. fr. Brower You are an exhorter, and sometimes proacb, do you not 7 Mr. Lattln Yes ; n - ach Jesus Christ and Him crucified ; (excitedly, and singing) "Jesus, lover ot my soul " "There, there, atop," said the referee. "Let ma to Tby bosom At" "Stop, I toll you !" and the referee rose from his seat. Mr. Lattin subsided at Judge Beld's solicitation. He said bis wife was like all other women shs had grit. Mr. Brower Was your nits ever frlgnteood at your religious demonstrations T Mr. Lattin She was never ingmram - . i raiaina the Lord. She weut to me anar once and made profession of faith. I tried to get her to cray. but sDe soon ion iw.j. " . - . . . . I J Urn ...'! ,l.f ?:.!SVa had Seen arrested once for strlk - . ' Krt Rtriick hia son. "And I wil defend myself and children, by the grace of God," c. concluded.

Counselor Noble, of Long Island City, is taking the testimony, as referee, in the suit for divorce instituted by Mrs. Hannah Lattin of Farmingdale, against her husband, Daniel [sic] Lattin. ... Mr. Lattin is 72 years old, Mrs. Lattin is about 65. She was a widow with two daughters, both of whom were married when she ... his wife's daughter (Mrs. Sayres) ... "at Sarah Janes" ... He was made poor one year by having a $30 cow run over by a railroad train. ... Mr. Lattin said he had once been arrested for striking an Irishman who had struck his son. "And I will defend myself and my children, by the grace of God," he concluded.

Henry K. Lattin (1806-1894) is referred to as "Daniel Lattin" in this article but in the report in the Queens County Sentinel, and in other versions, he is properly referred to as "Henry Lattin".

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