THE LIABILITY OF HUSBANDS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 75, 6 April 1877, Page 3

THE LIABILITY OF HUSBANDS.

The learned judge of the Swansea Court, the Cardiff Times says, recently gave an important decision in a case tried before him, involving the much vexed question as to the liability of husbands for debts contracted by their wives. Robert Jones sued John Thomas for the value of goods supplied to Thomas's wife, but the defendant repudiated his ability on the ground that his wife having been " advertised," as he described it, he was not responsible for her debts, should tradesmen persist in giving her credit without his permission being obtained. His Honor's decision was entirely in favor of this view, in giving judgment for the defendant the learned judge observed that although a man's wife " might buy everything necessary for her household, the master of his own purse, and could revoke his wife's authority at any time." This, it also appears, can be done by a mere verbal communication to the wife of the husband's resolution, without any advertising at all, the husband having " only to take the trouble to revoke his wife's authority to pledge his " credit," by simply "using his tongue." This is somewhat important information for men afflicted as some unhappily are, with reckless, expensive, or intemperate wives, and it may be taken as a much-needed caution to not a few tradesmen who tempt wives to incumb heavy responsibilities without the knowledge of their husbands.