CURIOUS CLAIM.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 April 1927, Page 7

CURIOUS CLAIM.

VALUE OF WIFE'S SOCIETY,

By Twiaeraph—Press Association,

WELLINGTON, April 7

What amount should compensate a husband for alienation of a wife’s affections, brought about by friendship for another man? There are only two such cases on record in tho English Law Reports, the first in 1751, the second in 190-1. although there have been several recently in Canada. In the Magistrate's Court, to-day, before Mr J. G. Hewitt, S.M., such an action was brought by Herbert Denham, a carrier of Johnsonville, for £'loo, against Louis 0. Lobrie, another carrier resident about five miles awayTho statement of claim set forth that defendant, without just cause, had so persuaded or ent.Vcd defendant’s wife as to live apai't from him. and had alienated her affections so that lie was deprived of the benefit of her society. There was no suggestion of misconduct. said Mr Boy, for plaintiff. Tho priwip’e of the law was that if man entices another man’s wife to leave him he was entitled to damages. In tin’s case the wife did not leave homo, hut Canadian cases showed that this did not enter into the legal question. Plaintiff was entitled to damages. The only question was the amount. Defendant was a frequent visitor to the house, and tho wife became extrangod from her husband. Defendant perhaps calmed this unwittingly. After the ca«e had for some time. Mr Hewitt ’-em,•irked that nnth.ing would be gained by going on with it. Ho suggested a settlement out of Court, which eventually was made. Defendant if was, stated, undertaking not to visit the house again.