Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-17

florists, was heard at Hamp-
stead, N. w, recently.
Albert Arthur East, 18, of Palmerston
road. Kilburn, was charged With taxing
awav a motor car without the consent
~ the owner and with driving a car
without an insurance policy:
A constable said that after a col
lision on Fitzjohn's avenue, Hampstead
East admitted that he had taken MS
EMPLOYERS car out without permission.
East was fined $40 on the nrst
charge and IS on the other.
THE chairman said that the convlc-
ton for not having an insurance poLcy
automatically suspended Easts license
for IL months.
validity of Hebrew Law
Upheld by Judges Decision.
Mundo Israelita, Buenos Aires (Jew-
ish weekly paper, published every
Saturday, in SPANISH "A judge at La
Plata has recently decided case which
is of the utmost importance for u.s.
since in his decision he established the
validity of the Hebrew matrimonial
contract (the "KetubaO, as an APP
proved and legal ratification Of the
conjugal state.
led I'D to this crucial finding. 1t seems
that a coreligionist Of ours, cltlzeIi
of La Plata, and a widower, contracted
a second marriage with young woman
who had recently come from Europe.
| The union was solemnized with all the
| stipulated Jewish rites, but was not re-
| corded in the civil register. A rev
months afterward, the man, taxing ao-
rf
| of the procedure, under the law, cast
! aside his wife. The good ofnces OF
many others of his race were OF no
| avail in persuading him to amend ms
| cruel delinquency.
The recalcitrant husband was only
willing to compromise the matter py
| giving his wife a small sum OF money
| with which she was to return TO her
| own country. In view OF this repre-
! hensible behavior, the poor woman. act
| ing upon the advice and unoer the
| protection of a learned Jew In the
| Buenos Aires capital, instituted legal
action against her faithless spouse.
AS can readily be imagined, the
court found itself in sort OF dilemma
! On the one side. the marriage was
null and void in Argentine law pc
cause it had never been recorded IN
| the civil register. On the other SIDE
|
vital, that here was poor woman
robbed Of her rights in pact. INTO
which she had entered with all honor
| and sincerity, and her child deprived
of a legitimate paternity. The judge
we rejoice to say, decided the question
strictly on its inherent merits. The
verdict was one conceived. not In law
but in human equity.
The marriage was pronounced Valo
one according to the Jewish law, ano
was thereupon duly entered and re.
corded in the civil register. The com
pact thus officially confirmed, the per-
! fidious husband was compelled tc
assume full responsibility both for his
wife and for his child. AS result. the
| young woman is no longer distressed
| and destitute, and her child will not be
| nameless.
The decision of the judge at La Plata
is highly to be praised. 1t evidences the
pure spirit of justice, and wisdom anc
discretion worthy Of all emulation. The
verdict rendered in this case reflects
the innate fairness and inpartiality o.
the law. refuting, as far too infrequently
has been the case, a strict adherence tc
! the cruel letter Of the code.
What is needed in this country, as In
many others, is less abstract law anf
more of the ethics of simple justice