REPLEVYING A WIFE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 538, 19 January 1882, Page 2

REPLEVYING A WIFE.

A man in Michigan has been trying to “replevy” his wife. The female, reader may suppose that this is some new kind of torture devised by the r malignant ingenuity of man, and we , hasten to explain that “ replevying ” is r a purely legal process. Mr Dell : Wright married a young lady named Randolph. The union can scarcely be called happy. There was not even a honeymoon, and the lady ran away an . hour after the ceremony was performed, declaring that she would never live with her husband. There was some little mystery about the matter, as the lady had been decidedly unwilling to,, marry Mr Wright, and her parents do not appear to have interfered. How-. ever, she relumed to the paternal homestead and Mr Wright sought advice from an attorney. The attorney was a smart man, and suggested that Mr Wright should “ replevy ” or “ replevin ” —the exact term is rather doubtful—his wayward partner. Accordingly, the two men went before a justice of the peace, and Wright made an affidavit that his wife was of the ' value of 100 dollars, that she was the proper goods, chattel, and property of; the plaintiff, that she was unlawfully detained by her father, and that she had not been taken for any tax, assessment, or fine. The justice issued a writ, which was deliveyed to the undersheriff, who at once proceeded to the house of Mr Randolph, found the “ chattel ” in question, and commanded - the parent to surrender her. This after some demur was done, Mr Randolph being evidently a law abiding citizen, and the officer duly delivered the property to Mr Wright, who paid - him the necessary fees. Then the affair grew exciting. The “ chattel ” in- • formed her owner that she was a free woman, and that she would go home again. She started on foot, was pursued by the energetic sheriff, and brought back, but again escaped, and reached the parental arms once more. So far successful, she immediately assumed the offensive, instructed her lawyers to bring an action against the justice, attorney, and sheriff for 15,000 dollars damages, and also took proceedings against her husband to obtain a divorce or annulment of the marriage. This was spirited conduct on the part of a “ chattel,” and we imagine that “ replevying ” runaway wives is not likely to become a general practice in the States. —Sussex Daily News.