MATRIMONIAL LAW.

Bruce Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 1209, 4 June 1880, Page 6

MATRIMONIAL LAW.

The Judge of the Swansea County Court, the , Cardiff Times' says, recently gave an important decision in a case tried before him involving the much-vexed question as to the liability of husbands for debts contracted by their wives. Robert Jones sued John Thomas, for the value of gooda supplied to Thomas' wife, but the defendant repudiated his liability on the ground that his wife being " advertised " as he described it, he was not responsible for her debts should tradesmen persist in giving her credit without his permission being obtained. His Honor's decision was entirely in favor of this view; in giving judgment for the defendant, the learned Judge observed that, although a man's wife " might buy everything necessary for her household, the husband was master of his own purse, and could revoke his wife's authority at any time." This, it also appears, can be done by a mere verbal communication to the wife of the husband's resolution, without any advertising at all, the husband having '• only to take the trouble to revoke his wife's authority to pledge his credit, by simply "using his tongue. This is somewhat important information for men afflicted as some unhappily are, with recks less, expensive, or intemperate wives, and it may be taken as a much needed caution to not a few dealers who tempt wives to incur heavy responsibilities without the knowledge of their husbands.