WIFE’S VALUE

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1927, Page 6

WIFE’S VALUE

AUCKLAND DIVORCE CLAIM

JUDGE AND JURY DIFFER

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, May 14.

Five hundred pounds damages were claimed against, co-respondent in an undefended divorce action yesterday, in which Hector Horatio Barry, stoker on the warship Diomedes, petitioned against Helene Barbara Barry, on the grounds of adultery with Percy King, taxidriver, Devonport. Counsel slated that the damages claimed represented, merely the petitioner’s financial loss (details were given) through the marred marriage. After evidence by petitioner and a private detective, Justice Stringer told the jury that there was sufficient proof of adultery. Damages must be based on the value of an unfaithful wife, without regal'd to petitioner’s outlay. In. this case the wife possessed no property, the petitioner having paid her passage from England and married her in New Zealand. If it were held that a wife were a loose woman, she wasn’t much use to a husband, who would be well rid of her. If, on the other hand, a wife had been deliberately seduced, the position was different. The Judge thought the case could be met by slight damages, but the jury awarded £350.