DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN 19TH CENTURY PENNSYLVANIA
An 1897 letter of admonishment from a Pennsylvania justice of the peace warning a local man against further physical abuse against his stepmother. The letter was written by John Meredith Vanhorn (1845-1921) of West Providence township, a farmer, then president of the Bedford County Republican League, and longtime justice of the peace.
Vanhorn wrote that he refrained from issuing a warrant for the arrest of Thomas White (1878–1934) simply “through sympathy on account of your affliction but matters of this kind must not and cannot be tolerated.” He noted Vanhorn could be fined $1,000 and jailed for a year based on the complaint made to him by his stepmother, Julianna White (1850-1933). “You should be ashamed to let any person know that you have no more respect for a woman than to strike them and allow them to be seen in public with such scars as Mrs. White carries.”
He concluded: “Now please let this be the last, and so far as I am concerned the case will be dropped, but should the like occur again, you will certainly be called to answer for the same.”
The handwritten letter is written on two sides of single sheet of stationary for the Bedford County Republican League. There is some creasing from prior folds and a closed tear along the top edge and another along a crease, but no loss to the contents.
The letter survives as a rare piece of evidence of the history of law enforcement officials complicit in covering up instances of domestic violence. Item #76872
Price: $150.00