UNUSUAL CASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 112, 8 April 1927, Page 6

UNUSUAL CASE.

SETTLEMENT OCT OF COURT. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 7. What amount shoul 1 compensate a. husband for alienation of a wife’s affections brought about by friendship for another man ? Th ire are only two such cases on record in the English Law Reports, the first in 1745, the second in 1904, afthougti there have been several recently in Canada.

In the Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr. Hewitt, S.M., such an action was brought by Herbert Denham, a carrier, of Johnsonville, claiming £IOO from Louis <Sebne, another carrier resident about five, wiles away. The statement of claim set forth that defendant withoit.just cause had so persuaded br Denham’s wife, Olive Louisa, Denham, to Jive apart from him, and had alienated l her affections so, that he was deprived of the benefit of her society. “There was no suggestion of misconduct,” said Mr. Boys, who appeared for plaintiff. The principle of law, lie stated, was that if a man enticed another man’s wife to leave him he was entitled to damages. Jn this case the wife did not leave home; but Canadian cases showed that lb's did not enter into the legal question. Plaintiff was entitled to damages. The only question was the amount.

Defendant was a frequent visitor tc the house and the wife had become estranged from the husband. Defendant, perhaps, had caused this unwittingly. After the case had proceeded some time, Mr. Hewitt remarked that nothing would be gained by going on with it. He suggested a settlement opt of court, which eventually was done defendant giving ari undertaking not to visit the house again.