SELLING A WIFE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1955, 31 May 1880, Page 3

SELLING A WIFE.

Tha moral and material obligations of matrimony (says the “Wellington Post” of the 19th inst.) are but imperfectly understood among certain classes, even in this, the nineteenth century. An exceedingly striking illustration of the fact has been afforded by recent disclosures arising out of proceedings in the Resident Magistrate’s Court. About a year ago a man named George Nash was convicted of larceny under-peculiar circumstances, and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. It seemed that ho and a Mrs Macpherson eloped to Christchurch, the latter taking with her some £2O in money, a watch and other articles, the property of her lawful husband. The money was speedily spent, and Nash then abandoned hie paramour, as a last act taking the watch and pawning it in order to obtain means to secure a passage back to Wellington. Subsequently proceedings were instituted, Mrs Macoherson gave evidence against him, and he was found guilty of feloniously appropriating the watch. After the trial the hus.band and wife made up matters and lived together again, but owing to some cause or other the reunion did not prove a happy one. So tired of each other’s society did they become, that by mutual consent Macpherson sold his fair but frail spouse to a man named Winnie, tho purchase money being fixed at the very low figure of 10s 6d. A formal agreement was drawn up between the parties, husband, wife and purchaser all signing it, and two witnesses in addition appending their signa f ures to the precious document. The transfer of the “ property” followed immediately, and so far the transaction was closed. Mr Winnie, however, after a few weeks’possession, wearied of his bargain, and eventually declined to be burdened with it any longer, on which the deserted one went back to her husband, and, on his objecting to longer maintain her, sued him in the Resident Magistrate’s Court for maintenance, at the same time asking for a protection order. The case was to be heard yesterday, but through other business it could not be called on till late in the afternoon, when there was no appearance of either party, and it was dismissed. The reason for this was that the pair, getting tired of waiting for Mr Davy’s decision, sought out Mr Hansford in his private room, and he, with his usual kindness, not being aware of all the facts, endeavored to make peace between them. The first thing the husband did was to place before Mr Hansford a printed report of the trial of Nash, containing tho story of the wife’s elopement, on which the woman took a pocketbook from her bosom containing the sale-note, duly signed as above stated. This so astounded the worthy R.M. that, after examining it, he informed the disputants that both were a disgrace to society, and dismissed them in a peremptory manner. Tho consequence was that they did not trouble the sitting magistrate, and tho case, on being called, was dismissed, as above stated This not the first occasion on which a wife has been bought and sold in Wellington—a similar transaction having been brought to light in the Resident Magistrate’s Court about a year ago. The whole affair certainly, as Mr Hansford pointed out, is altogether of a most disgraceful character.