His abuse of his wife was so public his family could not keep up appearances by pretending it was not occurring. In 1791 Harriet's serious illness gave rise to rumours, apparently quite unfounded, that he was trying to kill her.
The extent of the husband's abuse became too visible for his family to continue feigning ignorance; in 1791, Harriet's health issues sparked unsubstantiated rumors that he might be trying to harm her.