| Show THE HUSBANDS LIABILITY Something of Interest to Young Men Contemplating Matrimony An interesting case was decided by Judge Zane this morning in which the liability of the husband for debts contracted con-tracted by the wife before marriage was involved The case was that of Miranda McKee vs J F Wilcox and 18 was the amount involved It appears that the plaintiff Miranda McKee was employed as a saleswoman in Jennings Sons store in 1881 and sold to the defendants wife before her marriage a cloak valued at 18 which was not paid for at the time and which was therefore chargeu to plaintiff by her employers as was the custom in such cases Miranda McKee in 1882 brought suit against the husband Wilcox before be-fore the justice of the peace for Farming nrecinct The husband refused payment on the ground that the party who bought the merchandise was not his wife at the time of the purchase and that he was not liable for the debts contracted by his wife before marriage A judgment was rendered in favor of plaintiff in the justices court and an appeal ap-peal taken to the Third District Court where the case was tried Monday Judge Zane in giving his decision this morning stated that in common law the husband was liable for the debts of the wife at the time of marriage The reason for this rule was that under common law the husband took all of the wifes property at the time of marriage and it was therefore no more than right that he should assume her debts The reason for this rule has not absolutely ceased in this Territory Although under the statutes the wife is given the right to hold and acquire property pro-perty by purchase yet her labor belongs to her husband and she is therefore prevented from applying her labor to the payment of debts as she could do before marriage The court was of the opinion therefore that the defendant ought to pay for this cloak and a judgment for plaintiff was ordered I |
