VALUE OF A WIFE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1920, Page 4

VALUE OF A WIFE.

A PETITION IN DIVORCE. HUSBAND AWARDED £SOO DAMAGES. Hector Joseph O'Halloran, petitioning ut Wellington for a divorce from Mary Ann* O'Halloran on the ground of adultery, claimed from the co-respondent, Frank '-Albert, Loft, the sum of £2OOO as damages. Mr. Justice Herdman was on the bench. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for the petitioner and Mr. H. F. O'Leary for the co-respondent. Mr. O'Leary 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 Courtto pay damages up to £250. Twelve jurymen, were empanelled to hear the case.

Mr. Jackson said that petitioner himself found the respondent and the corespondent together in a room at a hotel in Woodville. He received from them an .admission, of adulterous intercourse. The only question for the jury to decide was tlie amount of the damages-

The petitioner said that he was a farmer and land agent, residing at present in Woodville. He married the respondent on June 13. 1905. There were two children of tliei marriage. In December of last year petitioner's wife was staying at the Masonic Hotel, Woodville. The co-respondent was staying at the same place, and witness noticed some intimacy between Loft and the respondent. About the end of December he found respondent and corespondent in the one room. He also came upon some letters showing what were the relations between the two. When respondent -was apprised of thia discovery, she admitted everything, and the co-respondent also, when interviewed, confessed, and offered a sum of tnoney-

Before Loft came on the scene, witness' relations with his wife were very happy. The respondent was a woman of good family, and was of more assistance to liim "than most women would have been. She had money, and helped him when he needed help. She was an excellent mother to the children. His Honor told the jury that they had to consider whether the £250 agreed on by the parties was proper compensation to the petitioner for the toss of his wife. The damages awarded should not be punitive. The jury returned a verdict for £SOO damages. His Honor entered judgment accordingly, with costs against the corespondent- A decree nisi was granted.