VALUE OF A WIFE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 202, 21 May 1920, Page 8

VALUE OF A WIFE

A PETITION IN DIVORCE HUSBAND AWARDED £500 DAMAGES

Hector Joseph O'Halloran, petitioning yesterday for a divorce from Mary Ann O'Halloran on tho ground of adultery, claimed from the co-respondent, Frank Albert Loft, the sum of Jj'JOOO ns damages. , Mr. Justice Herdnmu was on the Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for the petitioner and Mr. H. F. OLeary lor the co-respondent. Mi. O'Lenry told the Court that there was no defence to the action, and that the co-respondent had agreed-subject, of course, to the finding of the Court—to pay damages up to ,£250. Twelve jurymen were empanelled to hear tho case. ~ , .... . . Mr. Jackson .said that petitioner him self found the respondent and the corespondent together in a room at an hotel in Woodville. He received from them an admission of adulterous intercourse. The only question for the jury to decido was tho amount of the damages. Tha petitioner said that he was a. farmer and land agent, residing at present in AVoodvillc. He married tho respondent on June 13. 1905. There were two children of the marriage, In December of last year petitioner's wife was staying at the Mosonic Hotel, \VoodYille, The co-respondent was staying at the 6ame place, and witness noticed some intimacy between Loft and the respondeat. About the end: of December he found respondent and co-respondent in the ole room. He also came upon some letters, showing what wero the relations Iv.twcen the two. When respondent was apprised of this discovery, sho admitted fcverything. find tho co-rcfipond ctit ai6o, whim interviewed, confessed, and offered a sum of money. Before Loft camo on tho scene, witness's relations with bis wife wero very happy. The respondent was a woman of goi'/l family, and was of moro assistance to him than most women would have been. ' Sho had money, and helped him when he needed help. She was an excellent mother to'the children. His Honour told the jury that they had to consider whether the .£250 agreed on by the parties was proper compensa-1 hon to the petitioner fot the loss of his wife. The damages awarded should not be punitive. The jury returned a verdict for ioOv damages His Honour entered judgment j accordingly, with costs _ against the corespondent. A decree nisi was granted, j