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Show I : , THE READER'S COURTROOM . Molher-in-Law's Acls Are Legal 1 By Will Bernard, LL.B. : 1 Would the Courts Enforce A Purely Moral Obligation? Just before bis death, a broker asked his business partner to "look after my wife when I'm gone." Solemnly the partner promised to do so. Soon after the broker died, the partner realized that the company's com-pany's future was none too bright. He sold his share but did nothing noth-ing about the interest of his partner's part-ner's widow. It wasn't long before she realized that she had been left "holding the .bag." Angrily she sued the partner for damages, claiming that he had broken his deathbed promise to her husband. But the court refused to do anything any-thing about it. The judge said the partner's promise was unenforceable unenforce-able because it was based on mere "friendship and good will" Instead In-stead of some legal obligation. V- j Must the Mother-in-Law Help to Make the Marriage a Success? ; A young man married a girl ; whom his mother considered a i j social inferior. After the wedding, i the mother continued to treat . her ! j son's wife very coldly making no ; j effort to establish a friendly feeling feel-ing in the family. The marriage ! ', i didn't last long, and the girl fin- j ally sued her mother-in-law for j A alienation of affections. However, I the court turned down her claim. I The judge said that the mother-in- law's conduct, whether wise or un- j wise, was still legal. His Honor ex- i plained: "Parents may hold aloof i, from their son's wife, may decline I to recognize her, may show no interest in-terest in her. The law doesn't re- ; quire anything from in-laws, ex- ; ( cept that they don't meddle with the domestic felicity of the young j ! couple." If a Workman is Stabbed By a Maniac, May He Collect Compensation? A laundryman finished making a delivery, and started back toward his truck. Just then a maniac appeared ap-peared on the sidewalk, wielding a knife with great ferocity. He rushed up to the laundryman and, before other bystanders could restrain re-strain him, inflicted several wounds on the man's shoulder. When the victim later tried to collect col-lect workmen's compensation for his injuries, the company opposed the claim on the ground that the mishap mis-hap had no connection with the job. But the court disagreed and granted the claim. The judge pointed out that a laundryman' s duties require him to be on the street' at times, and therefore he should be protected against "street I risks." May a Judge Act Gallantly j, Toward a Female Witness? I I Injured In a night club brawl, a j ' i girl sued the management for ! i damages. At the trial, she ap- j ; peared In the courtroom with a ', nurse. The judge realized that the girl was still ailing so he handed the nurse, a blanket and pillow to help make the girl comfortable . on the witness stand. When the jury brought in a verdict against the night club owner, he immedi-i immedi-i ately filed an appeal. He claimed j that the judge's gallantry was im- I proper because it showed prejudice - I on behalf of the girl. But the up- 1 per court found nothing wrong in : ; r' the judge's behavior. The court : : " said that a judge can be quite im- : T j . ' partial and still show a little sim- ' J i i nle courtesy! |