Halcombe R.M. Court

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 33, 28 August 1886, Page 3

Halcombe R.M. Court

Thursday, 27th August, 1886. (Before R. Ward, E.M., and R. Linton, J.P.) An information, laid by Mr Larsen, «f the Halcouibo Hotel, for assault, ■was allowed to be withdrawn, Mr Staite for tlie informant intimating that the case hud been amicably arranged. H. Orabb v. Dalgleisli.— Claim £30. Mr Hawkins for plaintiff. The claim having been proved by Mr E. Crabb, judgment was given for the amount and costs and counsel's fee 2 1 s. Eliza Marsh v. Thomas Marsh.— Claim £35. This was a most interesting matrimonial case, and occupied most of the day, the court room being crowded. Mr Staite for plaintiff, and Mr Hawkins for defendant. The parties, both well advanced in years, got married about a year ago, but after twelve months of connubial bliss, they agreed to differ, and separated by deed. The defendant had a family of grown up sons and daughters of varying ages from 10 to 40. Differences arose between the stepmother and the defendant's family, which culminated in the separation. The plaintiff, Eliza Marsh, now sued to recover £17, money advanced by her to enable defendant to buy horses and saddles to go shearing, and for groceries and drapery, supplied from her shop to the grown up daughters. For the defence it was contended that " The Married Women's Property Protection Act, 1884, gave no right of action in a case of this sort, and further that the horses and drapery were presents resulting from natural love and affection. The E.M., in giving judgment, said the Act quite revolutionised the former law of rights and liabilities of husband and wife. The plaintiff was evidently a shrewd and clever woman, though rather illiterate, and her book keeping was not free from suspicion ; but he held that the defendant was liable to pay for the monsys advanced for horses and saddles, disallowing the other items. Judgment for plaintiff for £ 15, costs 365, and counsel's fee 2 la. The judgment, apparently, gave general satisfaction. The court then adjourned.