WIFE “GIVEN AWAY”

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18069, 19 March 1923, Page 9

WIFE “GIVEN AWAY”

HUSBAND EIGHTS NEW OWNER, The curious case of a wife who was alleged to have been handed over by her husband to another' man “by lawyer’s agreement” astonished tho Grimsby magistrates one day last month, when two labourers, Isaac Smith and "Walter Hudson, were charged witli fighting. _ They were found, peeled to the waist, battling in tho street . “It’s all about nothing,” said Smith to the Bench. “We made an arrangement that Hudson should hand over his wife to me. We had a lawyer’s agreement.” A Magistrate: Do you mean there was a legal agreement for him to surrender his wife to you? Smith: That is it, sir. Tho Mayor: It seems a _ strange arrangement. Arc we living in Eng. land ? Smith: That was the arrangement, and Hudson keeps coining round to see if his wifo wants Imn back. Ho came round this afternoon, and his wifo said to him. “You’re in lodgings. Aren’t you happy?” That led to words ami tho fight. Hudson told the Court that bis wife and child wont to Smith. Ho wont round to give the wife some money for tho child. She called him names and then Smith started to tight him, so ho had to defend himself. Smith: The way that man talks is something scandalous. A Magistrate: You don’t think- it scandalous to take his wifo Trowi him? Smith: No. It was by proper agreement. Tho Mavor said tho Court had nothing to do with the moral relivl ionshins of the nart'os. but. fm- the offence, of lighting defendants would be lined 10s.