SALE OF A WIFE IN WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 124, 25 May 1880, Page 4

SALE OF A WIFE IN WELLINGTON.

{Evening PosQ The moral and material obligations of matrimony are but imperfectly understood among certain classes, even in this, the nineteenth century. An exceedingly striking illustration of the fact baa been afforded by recent, die closures arising out of proceedings in

the Besident Magistrate's Court. About a year Bgo, a man named George Nash was convicted of larceny under peculiar circumstances, and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. It seemed lhat he and a Mrs Macphereon elopsd to Christchuroh, the 1 alter taking with her some £20 in money, a watch, and other articles, the properly of her lawful husband. The money was speedily spent, and Nach then abandoned his paramour, es a last act taking the watch and pawning it in order to obtain means to obtain a passage back to Wellington. Subsrquently proceedings were instituted. Mrs Macpherson gave evidence agaioet him, and he was found guilty of feloniously appropriating the watch. After the trial tbe husband and wife made up matters and lived together again, but owing to s me causes or other the rf union 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 men named Winnie, the purchase money being fixed at 10a 6cL A formal agreement was drawn up between the patties, husband, wife, end purchaser, all signing it, and two witnesses in addition appending their signatures to the precious document The transfer of tbe " property" followed immediately, and so far the transaction was olosed. Mr Winnie, however, after a few weeks' possession, wearied of his bargain, and eventually declined to be burdened with it any longer, en which the deserted odg went back to her husband, and, on his objecting to maintain, 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 yesterd, 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 wa3 dismissed. The reason for this was that the pair, getting tired of waiting for Mr Davy's decision, sought out Mr Mansford in his private room, and he with hia usual kindnees, not being aware of all the facts, endeavored to make peace between them. The first thing the husband did was to place before Mr MaDsford a printed report of the trial of Nasb, containing the story of the wife's elopmenr, 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 tbe disputents that both were a disgrace to society, and dismissed them in a peremptory manner. The consequence was, that they did not trouble the sitting Magistrate, and the case, on being called, was dismissed, as above stated. This is not tbe first occasion ou which a wife has been bought and sold in Wellington — a similar transaction having been brought