HUSBAND AND WIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 26 (Supplement)

HUSBAND AND WIFE.

MAN'S ORIENTAL IDEAS.

" ENTER INTO SLAVERY."

WEDDING RING INSCRIPTION;

Oriental ideas about wives weife attributed by counsel, to Mr. Barbu Jonesco, of South Godstone, Surrey,..in the course of tlip hearing of an action before . Mr. justice Finlay in a London Court recently. ; ' "Messrs. Drew and Sons, leather gooda merchants and jewellers, of Piccadilly, sued Mrs. Jonesco and her husband for £1328 for goods supplied, to Mrs. Jonesco. Some of the articles were said to bo' gifts for Prince Carol of Rumania, —who has lately returned to that country as King—and Messrs. Drow said that Mrs. Jonesco later told them to send the bill for these to the Prince, saying that if he did not pay she would, Messrs. Drew were represented by Mr. It. Fortune. Mr. Conway, K.C., and Mr. P. E. Sandlands appeared for Mrs. Jonesco, who pleaded that the debt was entered on defence. Mr. Fortune, who appeared for Messrs. Drew, said Mrs, Jonesco purchased in May 1928,. three suit-cases of crocodilO skin, two bearing the initials Of Prince Carol of Rumania and the other the in* itials of 'her husband. In July 1928, at h<*r request, an assisttant took to Mrs. Jonesco at her residence in Brussels ft 24in. crocodile skin dressing-case fitted with silver bottles which she wanted as a birthday present for her husband. lie was delighted with it, but asked his wife's permission to have the case altered to suit friends to whom he wanted to make a wedding present. That caso cost £305. Mrs. jonesco then bought another caso valued at £431 for her husband. Mention of the Hatry Crash. Mrs. Jonesco was then pressed for payment; and wrote: " The public issue of my property was to have taken placo by September 15. Owing to tho Hatry smash the market is so bad that the issue was postponed." She offered to pay interest, and i-24 was added to the account in that respect. After that, however, it was suggested that Mr, Jonesco was responsible for the whole of tho account except the cost of one or two small articles. When Mr. Jonesco • asked for the account it was sent to him and was included among his liabilities in his subsequent bankruptcy proceedings, Messrs. Drow, without seeking legal advice, proving for the amount owing. Mr. Jonesco agreed, when cross-ex-amined by Mr, Fortune, that his wife owned or had on interest in property, including a. block of five fiat 3 and a villa in Brussels. Site owned their residence, Oakhurst Court, and was a director holding a largo block of shares in Kenilworth Court, Putnfty. Sho guaranteed his account of £30,000 with the Bank Of Rumania. A . Very Strict Husband. Mr Jonesco said liis wifo had to ask his consent before sho purchased anything. " She does not buy. a dress for herself or the baby without telling me," he said. Mr. Fortune; /'liavo any of the damages you obtained in recent libel actions gone to .your wifo?" Yes; sho has received £7500 and has paid out about £SOOO of it. Mrs. Jonesco, in the witness box, said sho always consulted "her' husbimd 'before she bought any : valuable article. Ho was a very strict man on those matters. ._ . " Inscribed inside my wedding ring is tho sentence, ' Enter into slavery,' " observed Mrs. Jonesco with a smile. Mr. Justice Finlay held that Mrs. Jonesco ordered the' goods as agent for her husband. •- who admitted liability. Consequently, tho action against her failed, and sho> would get costs.