Marital Power Exemplified in Mrs. Packard's Trial, and Self-Defence From the Charge of Insanity, or Three Years Imprisonment for Religious Belief, by the Arbitrary Will of a Husband

by Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard

Excerpt from Marital Power Exemplified in Mrs. Packard's Trial, and Self-Defence From the Charge of Insanity, or Three Years Imprisonment for Religious Belief, by the Arbitrary Will of a Husband

Never mind, said I, I dont care if they are, I am not afraid to defend my opinions even before the Synod itself. I dont want to be locked up here all my lifetime without doing something. But if they are Calvinists, I added, you may be sure they will call me insane, and then you will have them to back you up in your Opinion and po sitiou respecting me. This argument secured his consent to let me go before them. He also let me have two sheets of paper to write my Opinions upon. With my document prepared, or gun loaded, as I called it, and examined by the Doctor to see that all was right, that is, that it contained no exposures of himself, I entered the Trustees' room, arm in arm with the Doctor, dressed in as attractive and taste ful a style as my own wardrobe and that of my attendant's would per mit. Mr. Packard was present, and he said to my friends afterwards that he never saw his wife look so sweet and attractive as I then did. After being politely and formally introduced to the Trustees, ih dividually, I was seated by the chairman, to receive his permission to speak, in the following Mrs. Packard, we have heard Mr. Packard's statement, and the Doctor said you would like to speak for. Yourself. We will allow you ten minutes for that purpose.

Genres: Nonfiction

163 pages, Paperback

Published August 24, 2018

About the author

AKA E.P.W. Packard was an advocate for the rights of women and people accused of insanity.