BILL FOR WIFE'S FURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20762, 3 January 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

BILL FOR WIFE'S FURS.

HUSBAND NOT LIABLE. VISCOUNT RESISTS CLAIMARTICLES NOT NECESSARIES. Judge Turner, at Westminster County Court, recently, decided that a set of Persian lamb collar and cuffs supplied by a furrier to a viscountess were not necessities, and that her husband was not liable for payment. The case was one in which Mr. Jules Honore Barelli, furrier, sued Viscount Adare for, £ls, the price of a set of Persian lamb collar and cuffs, supplied to Viscountess Adare in November, 1929. Mr. Rose appeared for Lord Adare. whose defence was that lie was living apart from his wife, who had no authority to pledge his credit, and he had advertised that ho would no longer bo responsible for any debts she might incur. Judge Turner: It is a question of what agency.

Mr. H. Stewart-Moore, for Mr. Barelli: And to satisfy your Honor that the viscountess was not sufficiently maintained by her husband, having regard to her position. Judge Turner: It is a question of what are necessaries " When Adam delved and Eve span, where was then the

gentleman " who had to use more clothes than other peoplp ? Mr. Stewart-Moore: 1 am going to suggest the articles were necessary for one in her position. Lady Adare was called. Mr. Stewart-Moore: Am I right in saying that you were married in 1915. and there was a marriage settlement for £3o.ooo—that is £I2OO a year? Lady Adare: Yes, it was a voluntary settlement. Apart from that settlement, did your husband have any money when he marlied you?— Yes. Can you tell me what it was ?—No. Is it not a fact that Lord Adare had no money, or practically none, when he married you ? —I think he. had money of his Own. Judge Turner: How can there be an implied authority if he had no money Air. Stewart-Moore: If she had not sufficient to maintain herself, then she is entitled to pledge Lord Adarc's credit. If a woman with £IO,OOO a year marries a man with £lO a year, she has certainly no implied authority to buy furs. Mr. Stewart-Moore asked Lady Adare whether she had debts of about £SOOO with dressmakers. Lady Adare replied that her debts would be about that. The amount was not only for dresses; it included furniture Judge Turner: 1 am satisfied that the collar and cuffs were not. necessaries, 'l'hero is judgment for defendant with costs.