St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-30

missionary announcing massacre of the
Christians Of his mission and asking for as
Bistance.
AN INTERESTING. CASE.
4 Wife's Sat 1dg0inst her Husband for
Siander.
London Standard
Mrs. Georgna Weldon appeared in per-
son in support of her motion against an ord
or made by Mr.. Justice Mathew at chambers.
affirming an order made by Master France
staying an action which she had brought
against her husband, Mr.. Henry William
Weldon, for SANDER. Mr.. Wood Hill ap-
peared ON behalf of Mr. Weldon. Mrs. We'll
don began by reading her statement of
claim in the action, in which she alleges
that the defendant Cher husband) had at di-
vers times uttered words slanderous to her.
Firstly these. Mrs. Weldon is the best pur-
est, chastest woman alive; but she is hope
lessly insane in consequence Of quarrels in
her family.'' Secondly: "Mrs. Weldon,
against my wish introduced into my house
pack of dirty children, whom she cruelty i'll
treated, and she has driven me out of my
house by their screaming and cryingn
| Thirdly: II am glad to see that in spite of
her immoral conduct all her friends have not
deserted herr 'Fourthly: 'Georgina has
committed adultry with Sir--and another
person, and intend to bring charges of adul-
terry against herr And again: EGeorgina
is a hopeless lunatic.n Mrs. Weldon then
went ON to say that Master France had held
that under the act TO 1882 she could not
maintain the action against her husband as
she did not allege special damage, and on
which she asked leave to amend her statement
of claim, on the ground that her husband had
| deserted her for three years and had deprived
her Of her property. The barrister who was.
against her when she made this application
laughed at her oughtright just as if he was at
| a theater-[ laughter and so did number
of clerks then present, although in her opin
| ion it was no laughing matter that husband
should desert his wife and rob her of the prop
erty she had brought to him. He had de-
prived her of an income of $500 year and
her house; and it was to be said that because
of some informally she could not bring her
case into court.
The lord chief justice said he must remind
Mrs. Weldon there was a difference between
written and spoken words.
| Mrs. Weldon said she knew that; but she
was told that under the new rules she could
not put libel in her statement of claim.
The Lord Chief Justice-But this is not
legal SANDER.
Mrs. Weldon-Not legal SANDER to say that
a woman is hopeless lunatc! have seen
it so laid down in a book. Then he says,
| ''Mrs. Weldon is O dangerous lunatic," and
so am to anyone who annoys ME. Laugh
ter 81 would give anyone 200 who will
| hn1,, 10 fnl, trrbf ,s,,1
be done tonight But have the written
statement of Mr.. Weldon, which he signed
to an order of Sir Henry de Battle, to COM
nit me to lunatic asylum, and although by
law the person signing it must have seen the
alleged lunatic within twelve hours, Mr..
| Weldon when he signed the certificate had
not seen me for three years. In answer to
the questi on put in the form required, Mr.
! Weldon said these things: "What is her re-
| ligious persuasion?' Answer. $50 far as
know, Church of England Laughter
'sWhat her residepce?" Tavistock house,
Tavistock square, "What agel' A.
''About 40" ''When did she have her first
attacks" A. ''Twelve months since''
''What was the cause!' A. Hereditary in
sanity''---that is not true. ''Is the insanity
suicidal?" A. Doubtful" Laughter |
The Lord Chief Justice-Who appeared on
| the other side!
Mrs, Weldon--Two or three barristers
| Laughter.
MIR. Wood Hill---And am one of them,
my lord. Great laughter.
Mrs. Weldon--Yes, and Mr.. Wood
Hill says that this action is not maintainable
in tort, as it has no relation to property; but
/ say that woman's reputation is her prop
erty
The Lord Chief JUSTICE am afraid that
we can not construe the act in the sense you
would wish-it does not relate to character.
1 dare say, Mrs. Weldon, you have read
| Shakespeare:
Mrs. Weldon I have, and have got it
here. I will read the passage:
.'Who steals my purse steals trash; it's some
thing, nothing:
| Twas mine, tbs his, and has been slave to
| thousands.
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
But makes me poor indeed"
The Lord Chief Justice-Yes-"th not
enriches him.
Mrs. Weldon-Yes! He took away my
money and my house, which have made him
very rich. l only wish could get rich SO
easily. Laughter.]
The lord chief Justice here reminded Mrs.
Weldon of the provision of the act of 1882,
declaring that except as aforesaid ''no hus-
band or wife was entitled to sue one another
in tort.''
Mrs. Weldon-It would be a very good
thing if all the women in England knew
that: Laughter. Then 1 can not catch him
in any way. [Great laughter.
The Lord Chief Justice-Certainly not in
this way. Renewed laughter.
Mrs. Weldon--So that husband can libel
his wife, or do anything he likes. 1t is
very good thing that we are not told this be-
fore We get married, or else the men would
be very badly off. [Great laughter.
The Lord Chief Justice-Your appeal is
dismissed.
Mrs. Weldon-Very well; don't see that
the married women's property yet is, of much
good Laughter
Mr.. Wood Hill suppose, my lord, the
appeal is dismissed with costs
The Lord Chief Justice-Yes.
Mrs. Weldon then retired.
! Everybody Knows 1t.