Litchfield enquirer., 1870-03-17
THE LEGAL DISABILITIES OF CON.
 NECTICUT MARRIED WOMEN.
III.
THE wIFE's PROPERTY.

able property owned by the wife at the time of the marriage, or which accrued to
 her subsequently,, became the husbands absolutely; and he was entitled to
 the use of all her real or immovable prop. erty (and, houses, &c., during the con tinuance of the marriage in any event, and in case of the birth of living issue, during his life. So, too, all debts due so her be. came his, when realized by collection and, in like manner, he became responsible fol
 all debts due from her. and might be sued therefor at any time during the continu- ance of the marriage, but not afterwards. All debts due from the husband to the wife before marriage were extinguished the moment the parties entered into that reia- tion. Courts exercising what is called equity jurisdiction. however. allowed prop erty to be secured by marriage settlement. by gift. or by will, to the sole and separate use of the wife, apart from any control of the husband, usually with. but in some ca. ses without. the intervention of trustee But no property of the wife was ever con- sidered in equity her separate estate, unless by express provision of the settlement. conveyance, or will, the husband was de- prived of his customary interest in that property V. s-.
 l.-IAe a0jfs's property under our presens
 It has not been the design in Oonaecti- cut. as in most States where reforms of the old law of marriage have been attempt- ed, to give the wife greater control over her property than she had at common law, but merely to secure to her and her children 8 maintenance out of it, and to secure them, also, the reversion of the principal after the death of the hus- band. The legislature began its modiflca- tions of the common law in 1S45, by ex- empting the husbands interest in his wife's real estate from attachment for his debts. In 1846 her wages were also exempt 
 wages, or of the investments thereof, to her personally, were made valid. In 1849. a statute similar to the one now in existence was passed regarding the wife's personal limited, at that time. to such as came to the husband in her right, by inher- itance, during the marriage. Daring the ten years following. the provisions of this ststute were extended to all property own ed by the wife at the time of marriage, or to her from any other source whatsoever. During the past ten years no changes of any importance have been ef fected, except the passage of an act in the interest of the husband exonerating him from any responsibility for any dehts con. tracted by the wife before marriage, and of Q statute in the interest of the Wifs's creditors allowing them to sue her at law. We briefly summarize the existing law as follows: s....> >. ..g-,sats-. as --
 The husband is still entitled to the pos session of all his wife's personal property (except such as may have been placed to her 'sole and separate use in the hands of trustee). He is entitled to the income on that property during his life. and his interest is not liable to attachment, except for debts contracted for the support of his wife and her children. Should he squan- der the principal of his! wife's estate, she may compel him to give bond securing her reversionary interest. pr to allow the ap- pointment of trustee in his place. Should he fail to maintain his wife and children in suitable manner, and also divert the income of her property from their support, hs will not only be deprived of the custo- dy of such property, but of his life inter
 est therein. .... .............. ......-.-.
 The husband may at, his pleasure. con vsy his interest in his wife's real estate to a stranger for the term of his life, or less, If living issue has been born of the mar. riage) but he cannot sell or transfer her personal property. or even his interest therein, without her joining in a written conveyance thereof. It is not Q little re- markable. however, that if the wife join in c deed of her real, or in transfer of her personal property, the power of the hus, band over the proceeds becomes materially greater than it was over the prope. U while in its original form. In case of the sale of real estate. unless the wife insist upon the investment of the proceeds in her own name, they will become the prop. erty of the husband absolutely (Haw.ey vs
 Bnryess p Conn. 284). So, too, should she suffer sale or transfer of her personal estate, he may expend the whole of the proceeds "for the support of the wife, or the issue of their marriage" without her consent. or may. with her written assent, dispose of them in any other manner whatsoever. thus absolutely defeating her reversionary interest. 4n ga A''.s = T
 The provision of the common law which gave the wife power to act as single wo- man in case her husband was a noa-resi- ' aent alien, bsnished, or transported. has been extended by our statute to all cases use and benefit of the wife, or directly to the use of khe vrifa and then if n, Ia, ,;sl