Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-24
WHEN WIVES SELL HUSBANDS.
Many Instances in Which Women
Have Disposed of Their spouses.

From Tit-Bits.
During the recent hearing of case al
Paddington police court. Sydney, new
South Wales, it transpired that the plaintln
had sold her husband, against whom she
was now proceeding for using threatening
language, to a lady to whom she had given
an agreement mot to in any way hereaiter
modest the buyer or take any proceedings
against her or join her In any proceedings
in any court of law or equity"
The document went on to state: IN tue
event of any breach of this agreement Dy
me- l do hereby bind myself, my heirs, eA-
ecutors and administrators TO pay the saio
purchaser the sum of 950o as and for hqui-
dated damages Despite this being duly
signed and witnessed, the defendants So
licitor alleged that the wife had repenteo
of the transaction and was taking proceed
ings for a judicial separation. The sum-
mons was eventually dismissed
At Munich recently woman sold her
husband, good looking ne er-do-well, to a
neighbor for a small sum of money, ana
was pleased enough with her bargain until.
on distant relatives death, he came into
a considerable fortune. Then she attempt
ed to resume her marital rights, but was SO
effectually resisted by her ex-husband
present possessor that she resolved to have
recourse to the laws Intervention. To this
end she consulted a lawyer, only to fnd
that, through some technical flaw, her own
marriage was Illegal and her claims on man
For 100 francs a Partisan laundress sold
her husband, whose laziness and intemper-
ance seemed incorrigible. to the propr1e-
tress of a rival establishment Under the
new regime, however, the man was COM
PEELED to turn over new leaf, and soon be-
came such a model helpmate that his legal
spouse began to regret the transaction and
made advances to regain possession. These
the purchaser resented, and, on intercept
ing letter from the seller to her husband,
repaired to the formers house with stick,
which she welded with such vigor that the
victims cries reached the ears of a passing
policeman, whose authoritative appearance
alone imposed peace.
In the early sos the writer was present
at an inn in Cracow when woman put up
her husband to auction. She herself acted
as auctioneer, while the lot to be disposed
ola strapping young fellow of not UMPIRE
not averse to the proceedings-sat on stool
at her feet. Bids came briskly, and the
man was ultimately knocked down to a
comedy, If mature, widow, with whom he
left the hosiery, evidently on the best OF
terms with himself and his purchaser.
Even in our own country similar transact
tons are on record. The end of the
eighteenth century affords more than one ex-
ample of such illegal barter. In 1774 Mrs.
Crutley of Leeds employed the town crier
to make public announcement that she
would on a day named sell her husband,
described as good carpenter and a faith
the eulogy bestowed upon him, the man
must have had grievous faults, for he fetch
ed no more than shillings and a gallon
of gin.
slightly better price was paid for
Southampton man who in 1901 was sold by
his wife, Mrs. Bruce, at an inn in the
Hampshire town. He was fastened around
the neck with a halter, which was held by
his wife, who, having assured those present
that her husband was faithful, Industrious
ai,i reasonably sober, invited bids These
came brfskly, a guinea and a bottle of
brandy ultimately placing the husband In
possession of the proprietress of a chand-
ler's shop.
At Manchester few years previously a
man named Price was sold in the market
place by his wife, Who to stimulate the bid
ding, first proclaimed his many accomplish
ments, whereof the wide range extended
from bootmakng to flute playing This
Admirable Crichton was the object of a
Keen contest. and it was not until guinea,
new dress and a pair of fowls had been
bid that he was Knocked down.