The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-01-20
Random Thoughts.
BY THE EDITOR.

|
one Of the Cleveland papers upon the
woman question, showing how the law
in Ohio now stands in this matter, and
be winds up by saying that as the law
now stands, the man who marries has
more to lose than he has to gain. This
was said, of course, as regards property
under our laws.
Now if this be true, it is unjust to
the men, and ought, for their sakes, to
be fenedied. So intend, in few
weeks, to send a petition to the Ohio
Legislature, asking that Honorable
Body to repeal all laws making any
distinction on account Of sex. If the
object of my petition be carried out, the
dear men will be relieved from the dis
tress and hardship SO feelingly alluded
10 by Judge Tilden.
But let nae suppose a few cases,
which arise under our laws almost every
day, in our Probate Courts, and ask
Judge Tilden what he thinks of the
fairness and honesty of such laws.
A man and a woman marry, who
both own real estate The man dies,
and the widow holds as dover ,one-tkird
Of his land during her life. But if the
wife dies, the husband holds as curtesy,
all Of her lands during his life.
A man and woman marry who nei-
ther owns any property. BY their
joint industry and economy they acquire
both real and personal property. They
have children. The wife dies. The
husband takes all the property, abso-
luteIy, and can dispose of it as he
chooses, either in bringing up and ed
ucating the children, or he can again
marry, and lavish the hard earnings Of
the dead mother of his children upon
her successor. But will suppose in
this case that the husband dies. Now
the distressed widow, who as sorely
needs means to raise the children as
the father would it left alone, must have
the property put into court. Lawyers
and judges must be paid large fees, and
the widow, after being graciously per-
mitted to remain in the house free Of
rent one year, must then be getting out,
unless, at much expense, she gets her
one. third hfe estate set off to her, and
that is all she gets of the real estate,
while the husband, as have stated, in
similar case, gets it all, absolutely.
But then the widow is permitted to
get Of the personal property, to which
she may have contributed largely in ac-
cumulating, years. support Wonder
fully generous and liberal law Then,
after paying the debts, idea husbands
liquor and tobacco bills included) the
costs of court, lawyers fees, appriserS'
and auctioneer's and clerks fees, she
gets One-ha!f of the first four hundred
dollars, and one. third of the balance
This she gets as her own. In the land,
as l have shown, she only gets one
third during her life'
Let me suppose another case. A
man aud woman marry who have no
property, but each has children by q
former marriage The two families
acquire property, the wOman's children
contribute the same, by their labor, to
the acquisition of property, that the
children Of the man does. The wife
dies. The husband gets all the prop.
erty. In fact, he gets all the property
in every case. But if the husband dies
the wife gets the same as in the other
case mentioned, while his children gel
all Tie balance, and her children get no.
thing
But Judge Tilden says that woman
"a wife-may actually have her hus-
band arrested for assault and battery
committed upon her person! Perhaps
here is just where the judge sees that q
man now loses when he marries. He
loses the good old privilege of beating
his wife when he gets drunk. 1t is a
long time since l read the good old
English law books upon this subject,
but my recollection is that the husband
was never allowed to beat his wife with
a stick larger than bis thumb. With
stick Of less size than that, be was al
lowed to whip her to his hearts con-
tent, and the law protected him in this
right.
claim that the following is now the
law in Ohio:
"The husband may also be bound tc
keep the peace as against his wife and
for any unreasonable or improper con.
finament by him. she may be entitled