WIFE’S AFFECTIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10368, 8 April 1927, Page 6

WIFE’S AFFECTIONS

WHAT ARETHEIR VALUE?

alleged alienation

STRANGE WELLINGTON CASE

WELLINGTON, April 7. What amount should compensate a husband for the alienationr of I s wife’s affections brought about by her friendship for another man t There are only two such cases on record in the English law reports, the first in 1745 and the second m 1901 although there have teen several recently in Canada,. In the Magistrate s Comt to-day before Mr Hewitt, S.M., such an, aclion was brought by Herbert Denham, a carrier, of Johnsonville, tor £IOO against Louis G'. Lebire, another carrier, resident about five m lire Statement of claim set forth twit defendant, without just cause iiad so persuaded or enticed his wife, Olive Louisa Denham to live apart from him and had alienated her affections, that he was deprived 6f the benefit of her society. “There is no suggestion of misconduct'’ said Mr Buys, for the plaintiff. The principle of law, he said was that if a man enticed another man’s wife to leave him he was entitled to damages In this case the wife did not leave home, Tint Canadian cases showed that this did not enter into the legal question. Plaintiff was entitled to damages, and, the only question was the amount. The defendant was a fiequent visitor to the house, and wife became estranged from her husband. Defendant perhaps, caused this unwittingly. , ~ After the case had proceeded tor some time, Mr Hewitt remarked that nothing would he gained by going on with it. He suggested a settlement out of court, which eventually was done. The defendant, it. is stated, has undertaken not to visit the house again.—P.A.