EXTRAORDINARY MATRIMONIAL CONTRACT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1147, 14 September 1882, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY MATRIMONIAL CONTRACT.

A remaukable dispute was investigated at Plymouth, arising out of a breach of the matrimonial contract used in the Hebrew ceremonial. The defendant, Louis Abrahams, was in indigent circumstances when he came to Plymouth, although his profession afterwards was that he was worth £253 in Swedish bonds. To Mr Fredman, a brother Israelite, he expressed a desire to become married, but regretted that he could offer no good position to a wife. Mr Fredman volunteered to stand his friend, and introduce him to a young lady of the same faith with a substantial dowry. Abrahams was taken by Fredman to the house of Baum (plaintiff), and the defendant, after some serious conversation, made an agreement to the effect that he was to have the plaintiff’s daughter and £5O on condition that he the (defendant) could produce the £253 in Swedish bonds which he carried about his person in a belt. The defendant after this borrowed £5 for immediate use, and returned £1 the same day—this was on January 8 last. The action now taken was for the remaining £4, which the plaintiff complained he had never received, although he had asked the defendant many times for it. After the evidence had been given the defendant said : Mr Fredman says to me, “I know a man who wants to get rid of his daughter (laughter) ; he will give you a lot of money.” I went with him to Mr Baum, and Mr Baum says to me, u I will give you £5O and my daughter.” I agreed to this, but told him I had no money. Mr Baum gave me £5 and said, “ If you want a pair of trousers, you can have it” (laughter). I agreed to this, but did not write any agreement. The judge made an order for the payment of the money forthwith.