The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
LOOK here- - = : :
"Lookin' thar agin." HA.,
A Wife for n Quart of Beer.
London Telegraph.


Before Mr.. Justice DenInan, at the Liv-
orpool Assizes yesterday, Betsey Wardle
was charged with marrying George CHS
nal at Eccleston bigamously, her former
husband being alive. The case was a
peculiar one. II was stated by the wom-
an that as her first husband had sold her
for a quart of beer she thought she was
at liberty to marry again,
His Lordship That is not what she
stated before the magistrate She said
then that he was idle and would not
work. When she left him she took the
child with her and he said if she would
let him have the child he would not
trouble her any further He added
that he would sell her for quart of
beer.
Prisoner. Please your worship, he did
so, G.aughter).
His Lordship. Is there anybody here
who knows that? ~ gFF=f -.
Yes, my lord, Alice Roseby and Marg-
aret Brown. ......
His Lordship. Call Margaret Brown.
Margaret Brown thereupon stepped in
to the bcx and was cross-examined by
his lordseip. She said she was present
at the second marriage. She knew the
first husband, Wsrdle, was alive; she
I t,11 tl,t hn huI l. g.,
of beer
His Lordship. You believed it would
be binding? Yes, sir.
His Lordship. And you thought it
right she should marry again? She wish
ed me TO give her away, and ! did so.
daughter, fftt q
His Lordship You helped her to COM
init bigamy. Take care you do not DO
it again or You will get yourself into
trouble. r-.-.- s..r
Alice Roseby was next called, and said
she saw Wardle drink one glass Of the
quart aAaE We
His Lorjshp4 Who was the bargain
made with? Whli George Obis,ml =
His Lordship. I am not stirethat you
are not guilty of bigamy, or of being ac-
cessory, before the TACT. You must hot
do thissort of thing Again. y People have
no right to sell their wives for quart of
beer or anything else, (Laughter)
George Cbisnal, the second husband
apparentlytlst out Of his teens, was the
next witness called.
His Lordship How did you come to
marry this ywa,aan?5 Witness jim the
Lancashire rernacular) Hoo did what?
Laughter Question repeated, A bowt
her. laughter.
His Lordship. You are not fool enough
to suppose youcan buy another mans
wife. o.. Laughter.) A ... ..
His Lordship. How mach did you
give her? Sixpence. Great laughter
His Cordship.; You are as guilty as she
is You are an accessory before the fact
to her committing bigamy. You have
committed bigamy yourself. Everybody
has committed bigamy in this case
Daughter Go down.
The witness left the box with alarcity
but was Immediately recalled by his lord.
shin. who asked him how long he had
lived with the prisoner.
Witness going on for 'hree years.
His Lordship. 10 you want to take
be, back again3
Wituess, Awl keep her if you loike
laughter
His Lordship.f You need not Keep hel
If YOU do not want. She is Wardle''
wife.
Mr.. swilt, addressing his lordship' saii
ALI he wished to say in behalf of this un
fortunate woman was this, that she seem
ed to have met with bad husband il
the first place, and an ignorant man II
the second. He could only venture I,
hope that his lordship would not thinl
il case in which she ought to be pun
ished-at least, not severely,
, His lordship directed that Wardl
r should be called, and this was done with
. out eliciting any answer.
His Lordship addressing the prisoneI,
1 |, is absolutely necessary that l shoui